The mountain Democrat., 1865-10-07
TAs DsmoSratas Party.

proud, defiant and formidable front, sud
Ia daily gaining strength. How nObly It
survives defeat disssnsiOns. dcssrtiOns
and treachsry! How grandly 1t towers
above oil other political organizations o.
Dark days have lowered over itS progress,
but it has defied the tempest and braved
its fury unscathed. But . few months
ago Abolition organs exultantly annOunc-
ed that "the Democratic party is dead :"
now they admit it is powerful Orgsniza.
ton, full Of vigOr and confidence, wonder
how it has preserved it's organization
through series Of defeats and in the face
Of the vilest ISLANDERS and the bittsrest
persecution that would have crushed the
life out Of any other party, and passion.
ately appeAl to the lOyalists 10 rally to the
Abolition standard in order to defeat it
The Democratic party has remarkable Vi
tality for . dead party" Its funeral
OratiOn has been pronounced over it more
than once by its enemies, and especially
by those who betrayed it; but in spite Of
their treschery it still lives.
When the essential nature Of the Dem.
Ocratic party is understood, the fact that
it has survived so many defeats and dis.
asters; that in the face Of persecution and
odium it has maintained its ground that
it has never courted popular favor nor
sacrificed principle for success, will sur
prise no one. It is based upon the Con,
stitutiOn Of the country, and will live just
so long as the Constitution has adherents;
and its strength will be in precise proper.
tiOn to the number Of those who stand by
and maintain the organic law of the land.
Other parties, such as the Abolition. or.
ganized on = sectional platform, knowing
no principle and greedy for spOils, and
catching at any hobby that promises sue
cess, have no certainty Of living a day,
and are in constant danger Of dissolution.
Defeat demoralizcs and destroys them.-
They have nothing to recommend them
to the support Of an intelligent and virtu
Gus people. This is the difference be.
tween the Democratic party and all other
parties that have had an existence in this
country, and this difference the intelligent
masses understand.
The mission Of the Democratic party is
inseparAbly identified with the destiny Of
our country, and its truths are so deeply
seated in the great national heart, that
their sway can be submerged but for n
brief period. and then only to arise with
renewed power and increased splendor.
Nor would we be here understood to refer
to Democracy in that general sense as dis
tinguished from monarchy and aristocra.
cy, but to that creed-that cherished old
Jefersonian creed-vital with the genius
Of our republican institutions, and which
has, and must ever, so long as We remain
a free people, control the policy of the
Government. 1t is only in the atmos.
phere Of such political truths as were dear
to Jefferson and jackson and other illus.
trious Democratic statesmen, that any one
can hope to obtain the full and perfect
stature Of Democratic manhood. We are
not Of those who contemplate the result
Of the last Presidential election, seeming.
ly so inimicSi to the interests Of our party
and the country, with downcast look or
saddened heart. Under the circumstan-
ces, with the fearful power and immense
patronage Of Federal and State Govern
ments. an army of Office. holders and
swindling Shoddy contractors and venal
journals and unscrupulous politicians ar.
rayed againstus, we polled an enormous
vote-a vote Of the free, intelligent, in
corruptiblc masses, whom power could
not intimidate nor Establishments seduce.
And never did the Democracy present a
higher, purer, nobler front than on the
day Of the last Presidential election, when
it required courage Of the highest order
and patriotism Of the loftiest character to
vote against the candidates of the domi-
nant party. There is Providence in DO
litical as we'll as religious creeds. The
man who has faith in the principles be
processes. and in the virtue of the masses,
will ever have the consoling assurance
that the darkest hour is before the dawn
Of day." and that all our reverses will ul.
timately tend to purify, strengthen and
make successful the Democratic party
The masses are just beginning to fully
appI eciate, after trial of Abolition rule,
the mild and salutary and beneficent prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party; and its
principles have survived too many orjeals
to permit US now to despond. A bright
day is dawning, and if the Democracy
turn out in their strength on the 18th in
Slant, they will redeem California, and
crush the sectional, intolerant and fanati-
cal Abolition party.
SECOND BEsr.-Frequent fights occur
between white and black troops, where
both cOlors are stationed, in the South.
The "nigs" are generally the aggressors,
and as generally come of "second best. "