Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-09-01
Principles or Men.


Hamlet.-Do you see that cloud, that's al
most in shape like camel.
Foionius.-By the mass, and 'tis ke cam
Han..~Methinks it is like weasel
PL--It is backed like weasel
Hum.-Ur like whale
Pot.-Very like whale.
So instructed the Prince of Denmark,
so echoed his hearer. 1t was like q
camel, like a weasel, like a whale.
The Prince might have exhausted the
category of antediluvian and past de-
luvian beasts, birds and reptiles, and
received to each the assent of the
cham berlain. But there was "method
in his Madness" The application is
obvious, Hamlet is the political ora.
tor, Polonius the audience. The can
didate is camel, a weasel, or whale,
according to the dictates of the orator.
The people always nod an assent.
Men are what they are painted.
The saint may be presented to the
multitude reeking with filth, and be-
fouled with calumny. The patriot
may be shorn of his virtues by the
tongue Of scandal. The white robes of
honor may appear to have been dab
bled in blood beneath the red glare Of
the foot lights. In the heat of a po-
litical contest we can not properly ap-
preciate individuals. In the dust and
smoke of battle the features Of tie
commander cannot be analysed. But
principles are eternal and so fasten
upon our understanding that sophistry
cannot loosen their hold or falsehood
destroy their controlling power. Men
die, men change, but principles live
forever and grow more stable with the
lapse of time. Thus it is that no par
ty defender merely upon the purity or
popularity of his representatives can
survive. All republics have proclaim.
ed that love of principle is stronger
than love of men. 1t is the plat
form that receives the homage OF the
people and not the men who ride upon
that platform. 1t is the maintenance
of the principle we all seek, and not
the elevation of the man. And this
element of human nature ought to be
and is the great strength of the Dem
ocratic party. of California to-day.
Laying aside all consideration of men
the measures will win because Its
platform meets the appreciation of the
people, and its principles are recognize
ed as the true principles of popular
government. The issue is between
the platform ofthe Democrats and the
platform of the Republicans. The In
dependents have no platform but only
go in for men. Their only hope is to
secure from the other two parties a
sufficient number of men worshipers
and disaffected aspirants for office to
gain the victory. That they will fail Is
only to say that the people Of this COM
monwealth are too intelligent to give
in their absolute allegiance to corps
of individuals.
But let all who fully cherish the
princip les of Democracy remember
that though those principles are now
gaining strength throughout these
United States, though they are gain.
ing new advocates every day and
marshalling the virtue and patriotism
of the land for a great and decisive
victory, that the battle is not yet over
and the strength of every arm is need
ed. The abandonment of the party
now and the formation ofa third party
is to strengthen the Republicans and
threaten the very life of our free in.
stitutions. 1t is the third party move
naent now that is relied upon to save
the corrupt horde that have so long
ruled. The ring of Office holders at
Washington are watching intently
the result of their new tactics in this
State. They are watching you intro
duce the Trojan horse within your
midst. Then let all who love the prin-
ciples of the Democracy see that they
do not endanger those principles by
depositing their ballots for other can
didates.