Year: 1859

Ed'tors OF the Pioneer and DentocTat


Feeling desire for the success of the
State policy of the Democratic party, as the
policy adapted to prevent taxation, and
develope our resources, and of its National
policy as the only true policy, whereby we
can form more perfect union, and insure
the blessings of peace to our country" I
wish to throw out few thoughts which
have influenced my own mind, with the hope
that they may not be altogether useless in
influencing the minds of fair men in all
parties. And in writing on the issues Of
this campaign I shall not write as par
tisan, but as business man and citizen,
repudiating names, and endeavoring, if
possible, to look at measures as they are. In
this article I shall be general. 1t is one of
the worst signs of the times to see men so
welded to party, that any sort of men or
any sort of principles which their party may
adopt, are swallowed whole, and no ques-
tions asked for conscience sake. They only
ask what the other party is for to know
what they are against.


If some men are only against the Demo-
cratic party, they think they are perfectly
consistent, whether they hug the rotten car
cass of Know Nothingism, or roll in the
mire of Abolitionism, contrary to all ideas
of sound policy and craftsmanship in vogue
before the year 1854, and ontrary to all
their own antecedents prior to that time.
For every body condemned Native Ameri.
canism and Free Soilism, (since degenerated
into Abolitionism,) before 1854.


If the Opposition put up candidates who
have left their country for their country's
good, with knapsack of gold on their
backs, proved to have been obtained by foul
means if said candidates are held up be-
fore them as "venal and corrupt" by evidence
from their own party; if they are avowed
atheists, who issue pamphlets tn prove the
Saviour of mankind bastard, and are not
allowed to take an oath in the Courts of
the country, because regarded by the law
as incapable of feeling the responsibility of
an oath, still scores of men are in that party
(who profess to be Christians,) so blinded
and bigoted by party spirit, that they find
no difficulty in voting the whole ticket
Atheists, Swartwouts and all. Atheism is
not so bitter pill to them as Democracy.


They will 60 against Christ and God
himself to be against the Democracy.


These men turn up their pious noses in
holy horror at Democrats voting for certain
nominee on the Ramsey county ticket, who
has been acquitted by jury of every charge
brought against him, although assistant
counsel was hired by the county to insure
his conviction. They strain terribly at a
man who has been acquitted of corruption,
but swallow whole CAMPBEL1s of corrup.
tion-proved to be guilty-if only labeled
opposition to the Democracy"


The great reason why hundreds of these
men vote as they do, is simply the force of
habit. They have always been opposed to
the Democracy, as their fathers were They
think they would be turncoats, if they did
not continue this opposition, without regard
to changes Of times. circumstances, plat
forms and parties themselves. They let
names decide their politics, and care moth
ing for principles.


1t is to such men I want to talk and rea-
son not as partisan, as l said, but as a
passenger in the same boat, having the same
interests, and doubt not, the same objects
in view-the greatest possible good to the
greatest number. The stereotyped objec-
70 tho ~
is, that it is so corrupt, stuffs ballot boxes
and steals generally. They want "a change" ="
they say. Well, let US see who they want
to place in power, and whether it is reason
able to look for any improvement.


The Democracy having been in power al
most since the beginning of the Government,
and therefore having made it what it is,
must be credited in general with having
done reN. The Government will stand
inspection" 1t has even proved that it
will "stand fire." We are confessedly the
Model Republic of the uorld. Now, while 1
admire the good done, cannot and will not
justify the evil. lam not so blindly bigoted
as to Justify everything my party does.
Neither have so high an opinion of any
organization, political or religious, as to
think that bad men may not creep into it
and pervert its principles to the basest uses.
There was Judas even among the twelve
chosen men of God.


Aud knowing that it is easier to find fault
with the work and mismanagement of those
in power than to do better, | must have
good assurance that change" will be g. re
form," before give up good principles, that
have been imperfectly carried out, to adopt
bad principles, even if we'll carried out.


Let us see then if it is not easier to find
fault than to do better.


1st. The Ramsey party say they were
beaten by illegal votes. The facts seem to
be that Goodhue, Washington and Waseca
counties were as deep in the mud as Otter
tail was in the mire of ballot box stuffing,
and that votes were imported from Wiscon-
sin in such numbers as to swell the vOto of
Goodhue and Washington to as unnatural
and suspicious size as Ottertail, and the
only ground of complaint with Republicans
was, they were beaten at their own game
unnecessarily, however, as there seemed to
be fair majority of 40 or 80 for Sibley
without the Objectionable votes.


End. The great 100000 loan 'swindle'
and all the bribery and corruption charged
on the Legislature which passed it-even
the Banking Law itself out of which aided
by Rep1blioan oaths, and Republican
Bankers all our currency evils have sprung
belong to the Republican as much as to the
Democratic party, for nine-tenths of all the
people, Republicans and Democrats voted
for the loan, and both parties united in all