The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-02-25

1t is interesting and instructive to OBJ
serve the queer changes which time-and
very brief periods of time at that-pro.
duces upon the sentiment Of San Francis.
co, as indicated by the irOth upon the
surface. The question Of merit rarely, it
ever, enters into the calculation of these
sudden changes Of the popular breeze
circumstances and not principle controls
them. 1t is notorious that during the
Vigilance Committee rule in 1856, Broder-
ick and Baker were forced to flee to the
mountains to escape the punishment
which the popular verdict awarded to
their supposed crimes. A few years later,
with no single fact upon which to reverse
the popular verdict, but upon circum'
stances foreign to the issues then pending,
the same party which banished and sought
to hang those individuals as social pests
and outlaws, exhausted the vocabulary
of culogy and the appliance Of public
demonstration in honor OF then memories.
In 1856 Gen. Sherman, then citizen Of
San Francisco, offered his services to
Gov. johnson to head military force to
put down the Vigilance Committee, and
on one occasion drove member of that
Committee from hotel table, declaring
that he would not cat from the same
board with stranger" In consequence
of his sentiments, his business was de.
stroyed and he was constrained to leave
the country. Should he return here to-
day, the dust would be licked from bis
feet by the men whom he then insulted
and despiSed. When Gen. Grant resided
in this city, there were none so poor as to
do him reverence; to day he would be
worShipped Us god; tomorrow, should
he fall under the disyleasure Of the Presi-
dent, he would be whistled down the
wind with as little regard as cast off
garment. Only four years ago poor Joe
Hooker was excluded from the club rooms
Of San Francisco Us a "bilk" and "bum-
mer", but two years later an elegant
sword, with gold SC bbard, was on ex-
hibtion, designed as n small testimonial
/ to the gallant chief from his old friends
and neighbors in California. lie soon af.
/ ter fell into dSiavol at Washington, and
the sword was never sent Five years
ago the leading loyal paper in this city
was fined under the act against Indecent
publication" for publishing the details
Of an affair IN which Dan. Sickles was the
prominent actor. A little over a week
ago, preparations we're made to welcome
the same SickleS to the society Of San
Francisco With such honors as had never
been rendered to any other visitor; he
did not come, and now no decent man
can be found who is willing to admit that
he took any part in the demonstration.--
1t was intended, not to honor Sickles, but
to humliate Mcdowell, and achieve lit
tie cheap notoriety to the selfappointed
managers Of the affair, who can never
gain distinction or social position by their
merits Ninety days since, Gen Mellow,
ell was the object of the most fusome
adulation, but in an unguarded moment
he betrayed the instincts and educated
prejudices Of gentleman in his social in.
tercOurSe preltTring the society Of per-
sons of refinement and moral character to
the vulgar and diSsolute whose sole claim
to consideration was violent and indecent
professions Of loyalty, and now every
blackguard in the city can assail his per-
sonal character and reflect upon his mill
tary career with impunity. But short
time since, the leaders of the ruling party
here were very anxious that Beast Butler
should be assigned to the command Of
this military Department, on account Of
his distinguished military and administra-
tive ability. Since he has been removed,
all will admit that he is charIatan, only
fit to fight women and steal spoons
These apparent unrcasoning and incon-
sistent changes in public sentiment are
owing to the fact that the more decent
and quiet portion Of the community have
allowed the more noisy, reckless and un-
principed to take the lead, rather than
subject themselves TO the disagreeable
contact of conteSting with them.-[Dem.
Press.