The Placer herald., 1871-02-18
A MYSTERY TO w.

Democratic platform in the coming State
canvass. We frankly confess our inability
to account, in full, for this strange course Of
these few papers in opposing one of the foun-
dation coyner-stones Of Democratic faith and
practice Democracy has always bsen the
friend Of the people and the enemy Of cen
tralization and greedy monopolists; and these
questions in their most threatening aspect,
both in a State and National bearing are
now before the people, and is it possible that
there are Democrats too timid, too coward
ly or too itching for money or Office, to stand
out boldly for the doctrines of the party and
the rights of the people. The reason for the
course of the Sacramento Reporter has been
fully explained by the Santa Clara Argus in
an article we published last week, and these
reasons lets the Reporter out Of the party
and places it beyond the reach of doing far
ther damage to The party or its principles.
But the position the Reporter now occupies
does not, we are confident, extend to the
other papera we have in mind. Stanford &
Crocker's money has not nor cannot corrupt
such men as own and publish the Colusa
Sun, the Sonoma Democrat, the Mendocino
Democrat and one or two other papers in the
State that argue in favor Of lodging one CT
the plainest and most vital questions that
agitates The public mind. Of this there Is
no sort of doubt in our mind, and by the
gentlemen Of these papers we wish to be IN
deratood as being very emphatic in this dec
laration We never had nor have we now
an iota of doubt as to the unconsttution-
ality, impo!itic and Democratic princi-
pies Of all these subsidy schemes, outside Of
Governmental demands.
That the State has the power TO author
ize any set ef men in any community to vote
away the property of their neighbors to pri-
vate corporations or individuals, is a doctrine
40 monstrous and anti Democratic that it is
scarcely possible to believe that it could find
an advocate or apologist in any Democrat.
But these Democratic papers 90 not contend
for either the power or policy Of such "a doc
trne, but merely show the white feather,
retreat, dodge and beg that the party ignore
and skulll this most sacred and vital of ell
issues before the people. In the utmost
good feeling and brotherly love for these, our
Democratic cotempcrares, We would ask
ourselves, our party and the people? The
subsid y question is now uppermost in the
minds and most prominent on the lips of all
men of every class and grade in all sections
of the State, and it must be met and tough,
paign, and that party that fails to take issue
for the people o. for the monopolists will, il
self, be ignored, condemned and despised
both by the monopolists and people. We
are with the people and against the subsidy
monopoliss and it would give u. great
heartfelt pleasure to see every Democratic
paper in the State range itself also with tbs
masses and against their enemies, the lobby,
greedy, grabbing subsidy seekers. The
monopolists are in the field with their money
and minions, having already announced pub
licly, that they intend to control b b,th party
Conventions; and what sort ola Democratic
soldier or sentinel is ii that begs and says,
ooh, Mr.. Monopoly, | amt against you,
won't fight you, | am neutral-take all you
can get, but merciful grabber, spare, oh,
spare me that may gather few more
crumbs from the political table" 1t may be
that these Democratic papers have some per-
sonal dislike to Governor Haight, or some
extreme desire TO have some special friend
| be our candidate for Governor, and this is
probably the true cause for their terror at the
bare mention of the subsidy question. If
such is the fact, We say in all candor, you
are pursuing the Very course to force the
people to make IIaght the next Governor.
! Proclaim your man, place him in the field and
make the people and party believe that he is
as sound and as reliable as Governor Haight
against these odious public thieves and plum
derers as he is, and you will find support, -
support from Democrats and honest men.
Fmdley, McCoppin, Roach, Johnston, Hol-
den and others named will find no enemy in
us hen they have done as much to make
us believe them as sound on this subsidy
question as Haight has. Some of these men
have far greater personal claims on us than
has Governor Haight, but in all candor we
muet say to them that they must declare
themselves on these swindiag subsidy
schemes, and must associate with pure men
and good Democrats and not have the sup
port of Stanford and his greedy minions.
The support of any man by these public