The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-29
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which si&S ShOula They TakSI
II Is admitted that there arc but two
parties in the dsld-AUne in favor Of the
other opposed to. the Administrations
Which side shOuld Democrats take ? The
Republican parry, bofOre they inaugurated
their President, abandoned their platform.
And whyi Because il was founded in
error. 1t Hacked the great principle Of
truth to give it life and perpetuatiOn. In
times Of great excitement temporary
hobby may live and flourish for day
the most pernicious and destructive ism
may break down the barriers Of sound
principle and justice, and carry every.
thing before it. SOphistry may distort
the plainCst Axioms Of political truth, Snd
turn the popular mind against them-but
an awakening judgment must ultimately
crush out error. "The sober second
thought Of the people" may always be
relied upon to arrest the progress Of per-
niciouS principles. Thus, for short pc.
riOd, Republicanism and its platform
played a conspicuous part in the great
movement Of parties, but We End il at
length contrasting to its errors and aban-
doning them. Republicans say tho Chi.
csgo platform will do to talk about but
not to stand upon.
How stands the Democratic party Z!
What record does Il present to the judg.
ulent Of the world! Planted upon plat
form Of principle-rsiteraIing and affirm.
ing at each election the tenets Of its faith
-adhcring to, as i'nmutable, certain great
landmarks Of policy--libcral and just and
national in its credit has neither turned
to the right nor to the left to compromise
with the isms Ofthe day. On the contrary,
it has resisted on all occasions an incor-
poration Of any new Hcdged dogma, with
its old, cherished and time-honored plat
form. II first sought to know that il was
right-gavc the reason for 80 thinking,
and then went ahead. II feared not to
appeal to the popular reason in vindica.
ton Of its faith, and relied upon the vir.
tue and intelligence Of the people as It's
Only guaranty, Of safety. And the con.
sequence has been, the triumph Of every
principle and measure contended for by It.
II our country occupied position Of un.
parallelcd prosperity, before the election
Of sectional President. the cause may be
attributed to Democratic guidance. II it
has made splendid acquisitions Of terri.
tory, thereby greatly adding to our wealth,
strength and national importance, il has
been the result Of Democratic policy. II
il enjoyed = high degree Of financial sound.
ness, general prosperity in all branches Of
business, q fair record in its intercourse
with ell nations, and peace and plenty at
home, it Was through the influence Of
Democratic measures Thus, then, that
party stands before the world Endorsed
not only BY the people, but by the sue
cessful workings Of its legislative policy.
In all the struggle for place and power
in all the efforts for new amalgamations
and unnatural organizations now going
on throughout the length and breadth Of
the land, no one darcs TO take open ground
against the leading features of it's policy.
Its enemies are even trying to steal its
name. This Of itself is . tacit acknowl.
edgmeut Of its claims to popular favor.
Under these circumstances, in these ex.
citing times, We repeat what We have
heretofore said, what course does it be
como all honest. right-thinking, Union.
loving, intelligent men, in and outside Of
that party, to take! Will they embrace
Republicanism, based upon one idea, and
which from the very nature Of things
cannot maintain supremacy in the national
sentiment, or will they unite with the
Democracy, which points to its record in
vindication Of the justice Of its cause, and
to the practical workings Of its legislative
system AZ evidence Of its meritsI These
are questions which como home at once
to the reason Of every man. Let them
not be answered rAshly nor unadvisedly.
The Democratic party, although in the
minority. cannot be enticed from the line
Of duty BY any new issues Of the day.
Although temporary defeat has oveItakcn
it, the great masses still stand and will
continue TO stand. firm and unshaken.-
The overthrow Of Republicanism will not
be less signal and rapid than its rise. Let
those then who have given it vitality
who affiliated with it from selfish motives
who have arrayed ono section against
another-bewaro Of the reaction. It must
and will conc, and that at no distant day.
HESRY CLAY.-The Abolition press,