Year: 1861




whether law and order is better than anarchy
and disorder, whether California shall be
portion of u great and powerful nation, or
weak and feeble neghbor of Mexico while
the people are with one voice, demanding
that party chiefs shall cease their noisy dis
putatious with regard to the soundne5s and
unsoundness of party doymas, we regret to
say that partizanship seems Wiling or uh-
able to leave the scene of its recent battles
The san Francisco Times is an able ana
earnest supporter Of the Government III 'l'S
hour of need and it deals courageous olo"s
at treason wherever il exiets 80 tar, 1t
speaks the sentiments Of Union men. The
Times is also defender and supporter of the
Republican party, of which party it is an
able and bold organ. SO far it speaks for
Republicans 1t advocated the election oI
Abraham Lincoln and it also etrenuousIy
eJntended for every syllable Of the Chicago
platform This was all legitimate; as was,
also. the opposition to the Republican nomi-
nee and platform. But since the result OF
the election was known, fearful events have
transpired. Armed conspiracy has emerged
from secret council chambers and seized upon
the Government property in seven OF the
States of the Union Not only this, but be-
cause the Administration refused to evacunte
Fort sumter, and declare it to be without
the jurisdiction and control Of the Govern
mcnt, civil war h4e been inau5 5uraied ny the
traitors, aud loud and dehint threats are
made that the Federal Capital is to he made
the bAttle ground between those who would
destroy and those who would preserve the
American Union. While those events have
been trnnspiring general public sentiment
has made itself heard in favor of Union OF
Union men upon some basis, which shall ig
more the party platforms Of the past The
cry has been Tho Federal Union it mus
be preserved Party leaders have been
warned by the popular voice to beware of
all attempts at turning the present calami-
ties to partizau account The desire has
been universal for the formation of Ii Grand
Union Party--not Union in name only; but
one 50 clearly true and regardless Of private
political views, that any man might cooper
ate with it. whether. in November last, he
voted for Douglas. or Lincoln, or Breckin-
ridge, or Bell. This sentiment seemed SO
thoroughly understood that we were aston
ished at seeing in the Times Of Monday, in
the ealulatory of Frank NJ. Pixley, Esq the
following language;


The writers of this journal will have no
better time than now to say TO all who ever
co-operated with the Republican party, that |
in the conduct of its organ we shall maintain |
the Republican principles as they have been
established at Chicago and as they are inter
preted in their practical workings by the
present Executive of the United states On
that platform, we made before the people of
the United States an intelligent canvass, we
elected our President in the Constitutional
mode He is our President now, and he is |
eudeavoiing to carry out the instructions
upon which he was. elected, and it is no time
for party men TO talter or desert the flag
The paltry political sophism that we should
sink party, now, when REBELLION exists, is a
doctrine TO which we do not subscribe.
These may be the views of unyielding


party leaders, and we are compelled to be-


lieve that thcy do represent the feelings of
influential Republican party managers. That


the solid and right thinking members of the


party will endorse them at this fearful crisis
in our national affairs we do not belie;e
J Indeed. we know to the contrary: we know o.


pltriotic and intelligent members of that
party, and the numbers are not few, who do
lot believe that to sink party, now, when |
| rebellion exists " is paltry political soph |
ISM On the contrary. they unhesitatingly |
set their faces against men who seek to connect |
with the great issue of Union and DiSun-
ion" the question of territorial policy, which |
is, happily, well nigh obsolete. For our own
part, we have no heart to wrangle over the
miserable bone of contention which, when
the country WAS at peace, was the all-absorh-
| ing topic. We are more interested now in


the question, as to who shall prevail in the


civil war which is desoaling portions of the


country. We wait with fearful anxiety to


hear the result of the first great shock of


battle, when the friends and the foes Of
the Government shall have met on the bor-
der We are openly, and we trust dis
tinctly. heart and soul on the side of the
Government, and We do confidently hope
and believe that victory will perch on the
Eagles which have thus far never known de-


feat Az such time does it become the
party friends of the President to emblazon
upon their banners, and across the red and
white field of the National flag, the Chicago
platform Do those who now press their
peculiar dogmas upon the country mean to
say that the flag Of the country must bear a
new device, even though it go down in the
contest? We have nothing 10 common with
such men. We do not approve Of the prin-
ciples of the Chicago platform. 1t is good
platform for II Confederacy composed entirely
Of free States Ii slavery shall commit sui
eide during the present war, it will he well
enough. But while, in slave-holding COM
rnuniies, the Union has defenders we cannot
assist to visit upon their heads the sins of
the enemies of the country. The Union is of
more consequence to civilization than is slav.
cry or anti-savery. If slavery chooses to
beat its brains out against the rock of the
Union--so be it. If that should be written
in history, it will also be written that no
gavanic batteries were applied 10y the ad-
herents Of the Union, for purposes OF resus
citation.