Year: 1861

Those Union men outside of the Ropubli-
can party, who were ever disposed to regard
the leaders of that party as sincere in pro-
| Tossing desire for the obliteration of party


lines, must by this time have become unde-
ceived When Fort Sumter fell there was SO
general an uprising of the loyal people of the
country, and emphatic an expression
among them of desire to see our common
Government, rather than any political party,
upheld, that partlzan clamor wastempsrarily
silcnced. The first party cry that was heard
in California was that of the Republican
State Central Committee. They put forth a
circular recommending the formation of
Union Clubs throughout the State, as an act
of especial loyalty to tic present Admimis-
trdtioN.' This phrase was u most distasteful
one to those Democrats who had just emerg-
ed, bruised CALLED and wearied with a three
years war made against an Administrations
The words suggested the formation of a po-
litical Administration party of which the
Chief Executive Of the United States should
be the Dictator, as Buchanan had been of his
This was strange beginning Cor those who
professed q desire TO see all parties swept
into oblivion by the grand wave Of patriot
ism then rolling over the land. We called
attention TO the partizan phraseology of the
circular at the time and do not remember
that our criticism met with any response.
We were privately told that the State Com
,,,;.toa xvoe NOT full whnn IL wos issuo1 that
most of its members were seeking places at
Washington, and that the party at large
would not endorse the attempt TO wrest a
partizan advantage from the terrible calami-
ties which were visiting our beloved country
and rallying every citizen to the support of
the Government. Well, Union Clubs were
formed, some few of them as an act of "es-
pecial loyalty TO this Administration" but
by far the greater number as on act of 10y
atty to the Government of the United States.
Upon the latter basis club was form ed in
this city, which we joined at the first meet
ing. For short time the Republican pa
psrs were wary and cautious. The business
of putting the label of "Republicahsm"
upon all Union Democrats was left TO the
Secessonists. No Republican was heard to
say, then, that loyalty to the Government
was equivalent to embracing the principles
of the Republican party. How is it now
The Republican leaders have become alarmed


MRy of their followers took them at their
word, and did determine to act with those who
who are the least tenacious of party platforms.
The Presidential triumph had created thirst
for power and plunier which must 90 un-
relieved, if the party banner should longer
remain in its folds. A pretext was soon
found for unfurling it. The Democratic State
Central Committee composed of Jealous sup
porters of STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS met at San
Francisco on the 18th Of May, and spurning
all propositions for fusion with the Breck-
inridge party, because of the reasonable ele-
ment it fOstered, proceeded TO call a State
Convention Of all Union men, irrespective of
party, to meet July 4th and nominate
ticket in opposition to the enemies of the
Government. The test recommended by the
Committee was plain, strong Union test and
was free from any partzan ingredient.
Had the Republicans been anxious to abandon
party creeds, here was an opportunity cffer-
ed. Every sound Union voter in California
could have participated IN the election of
delegates to the State Convention, whether
he voted for Douglas, Lincoln, Breckinridge
or Bell. But the Republican politicians
would be the very last men in the State to
dream of ignoring party. They wanted
Democrats to ignore party and join them.
That was the whole extent of their intense
desire to "obliterate party lines" Accord
ingly their press sent up at first faint cry
of partizanship against our Committee.


The cry increased in strength, as the old
party spirit, which had briefly slumbered


was aroused in the minds of their followers