The Shasta courier., 1861-07-13
A Word to Democrats.

IN the great and absorbing interests that at
the present time engalph the nation. Let no
petty strife or pickering divert you from the
discharge Of those duties which are the in
alienable right of freemen and members of |
glorious party. The country demands this,
nothing less, nothing more, and triumph
awaits US such as has not been witnessed
since the unhappy breach that was made in
our organization during the early part of the
administration of James Buchanan. We i'm
plore you to let bygones be bygones, to stand
united, and present firm and uncompromis-
ing front to our common enemy, the Republi
cans.
We possess all the elements of greatness
and strength in our party, and why, in the
present crisis Of our national affairs, waste
our substance on distractions, dead issues,
and shiboleths of the past? Ours is a vital
and living party, and principles should al
ways rise superior to personal considerations.
The masses are sound, and will cling with
tenaeity and vigor to our time-honored usa-
ges and customs, with an eagerness that will
gladden. the heart of every patriot, land strike
terror and CONSERVATION into the ranks of the
common foe.
The only hope of the country rests in the
Democratic party, in keeping it free from all
isms, end especially Republicanism, for we
can have no afiliation with it without i'm
pairing that healthy national tone and moral
effect that has always characterized us in
the past, and will be our pride and boast in
| the future.
We apprehend that there is not Demo
crat in this State who would voluntarily wish
to see the Republican candidate succeed over
Mr.. Conness. If there are any such, we
claim the liberty of questioning the partisan
ship of such a class, who would desert their
country in the hour of its greatest peril, and
abandon it to. the. ruinous, and, for aught
we know, undisputed rule of a sectional and
fanatical organization that is the very anti.
podes of ourselves.
The great aim and object of our enemies is
to destroy the harmony and unity of the Dem
ocratic party. This course of procedure is
manifest among the discarded and threadbare
politicians who, disappointed in their aspira.
tions, adopt the motto of 'rule OF RUM as
their policy. If they cannot succeed in swim
ding the people, upon pretenses Of the most
shallow character, out of those rights that
the Constitution and laws vest them with,
they resort to such trickery and shabbiness
that is a disgrace to the morality of our age.
Will the people, in their sovereign capacity,
sustain these harlequins and mountebanks in
their mad freaks, and insideous designs of
throwing a irebrand into our midst, simply
to crafty the malevolence of their feelings?
We trow not. They must be rebuked, and
the majesty of the people vindicated, else we
are reduced from the proud name of Ameri-
can to a state of political serfdom, and to a
scale lower in the ranks of civilization than
obtaining in Russia.
The age is not propitious for trimmers,
bummers or loafers to manage Conven-
tions; and throw a charlatonic influence over
the conduct Of delegates, SO as to divert them
from the object that they were selected to
give effect to. The reign of such political
Munchausens is happily portion of the
history of the past, and never in our day can
spleen, malice OF covetousness, no matter by
whom exercised, take away those cherished
rights that are inherent to citizenship.
The pusilanimity of quasi Democrats, those
lukewarm, milk and water gentry, that are
curse and disgrace to any party, must and
shall be rebuked, and their infamy consigned
amid the rubbish of the garret, and their
names obliterated from the Democratic cate.
CORY. The present is no time for hair-split-
ting, and unity of action and intention form
thevery basis of our party in the approach.
ing contest.
If an aggressive warfare is to be- wagcd on
US, let it come from open and avowed enc
mics, and we well know how to deal with
them but the covert, secret, and dark Ian.
tern attacks of mock friends, are ten times
more dangerous and detrimental, and must
be exposed to the indignation of an outraged
community; and if the occasion should re-
quire it, as public journalist, it will be our
duty, though painful it may be, to expose to
the light of day their "splendid poverty"
The die is cast, and those who are not for US
must ofnecessity be against us. Though we
are disposed to be lenient, yet the time may
come when political sinners may require
"churching."
| STATE PRINTER.-The nomination of John
R. Ridge for this important Office has given
entire satisfaction to the people of this Sec
ton Of the State, where he is well known by
many of our old residents as former deni-
zen of this county. Mr.. Ridge is gentle
man of sterling qualities, and has rendered
probably more service to the Democracy of
this State than any man connected with the
public press. For many years he conducted
the Marysville Democrat with signal ability
and uniform courtesy. An honest, worthy,