Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-04-06
Who are RESPONSIBLE

Dcen lntfuSteO tnc guardianship OF the
priceless germ of liberty and the per.
pctnity of Republican institutions.
The prevailing tone of the press and
popular sentiment are so nearly allied
that it is impossible to draw distinc-
ton. AS we can find no better criteri.
on by which tojudgc of theintelligence
and marked characteristics of village
than through the columns of the village
newspaper, so We may find in the lead
ing journals of nation All infalliblc
record of the prevailing views and SEN
timcnts of Il nation.
1t is not with any doubt us to the cor
rcctncss of the assertion that we now
charge the Democratic press with being
the great cause of our national difficult
ties. The dogmas of the leading DEM
ocratic journals were seized upon by
the lesser luminaries and scattered
broadcast over the land, both North
and South. The most absurd, base,
LYING SANDERS were circulated in the
South without fear Of contradiction, as
Republican papers were prohibited by
State laws from circulation there.
We have before us now q paper Mtc"d-
ed for circuluiion in the South, filled with
charges against "black' Rcpublicanism
which it would be courtesy to ascribc
as the origination Of devils! And still
this precious moroccan has the sanction
and is endorsed by the signature of
II, Of O''gon! What say you, frcemen
of America, of the practical workings
of the boosted freedom of the press !.
We confidently assert that not one
fifth of the people in the South have
ever read our platform, or arc aware of
the objects sought by our party, except
as defined by oificc-sccking tire-caters
and Democratic newspapers; and is it
surprising, we ask of any candid mind,
that the people of the South, taught
from infancy to look upon the North
as natural enemy and aggrcssor-is
it surprising that these malicious char
gcs should be believed by them? They
are told that the term "Rcpublican
and "abolitionist" are synonymcs; that
we favor emancipation; thatwc are OPP
posed to the rendition of the fugitive
slave; that we arc striving to incite the
negro to instruction; that we were
the instigators of the John Brown raid !;
that we are amalgamationists; and
that we totally disregard the Constitu-
tional rights of the South. And this
is but part of the array Of charges,
arc also accused of corruption, ertyura-
gonce and bribery, as the shortest meth
od of rcfuting" facts of like import
against the late Administration.
We have before asserted that Demo-
cratic policy was fully expressed in the
three words: Rule or ruin. Well
nigh have these newspapers, under the
control Of such masses of corruption as
Joane and II, enacted their damnable
plot. The programme was deeply laid.
From the split in the Charleston Con-
vention till the Inauguration of Presi-
dent LINCOLN has the farce been played
to the text, with the exception of the
choice of Davis instead of Jolanc for
Emperor of the Confedcratcd States.
We believe the great mass of Southern
ern people arc at heart loyal to the I'm
ion, and with such we would gladly
compromise; but with the traitorous
leaders we desire no compromise. They
have placed their nccks in the halter,
and there let them hang. They have
put themselves beyond the pale Of
safety under any phase the matter may
take. They have Gains mark upon
their brow, and when our difficulties
arc amicably arranged, they will. as did
their prototype Arnold, exclaim: 81
have not friend in America" They
will receive the sentence bestowed upon
traitors by every one who can lay claim
to the name of MAN, be he freeman OF
scrf, "Go your way, you are not Of us. u
-.e>-
16y" There arc three papers in Oregon advocat-
| ing coercion, which means the rule of banditti
ruin, desolation perpetual civil war.-Eioneer.