Saint Paul Weekly Minnesotian

A Cold Democratic Atmosphere.—Why Didn't they Cheer!

The Democratic meeting of Thursday night was intensely hyperborean. It called for political overcoats. The "burst of enthusiasm" Sibley said he expected did not burst. General Shields put on his richest brogue, and threw himself into his most military attitudes suggestive of Mexico and gunpowder; Graham screeched his liveliest tune on his cracked flute of a voice; and Cavanaugh talked, as usual, about the Irish and the Catholics. It was all in vain. "The harp of a thousand strings" didn't respond. "The sperets of the jus men made perfeck" were silent.

Alas! how could that crowd of poor, distressed laborers, many of them looking forward anxiously to the morrow, respond uproariously to a platform which threatened to exact from them their last miserable pittance, to pay the interest on two and a half million of bonds, held by the non-resident speculators who now govern the Democratic party.

How could they have confidence in that party which, in the midst of fair professions, has always disappointed them? Which, with the cry of "free homes" on its lips, defeated the Homestead bill? Which, in the name of the National Democracy, has put up the Government lands for sale?

How could they hurrah for a party which endorsed the administration of Mr. Sibley, when many of them had in their pockets the wretched and useless stuff so recklessly and criminally issued as bank notes by the administration?

But, why didn't you cheer, if the State is ruined? Why didn't you cheer, if you are yourselves reduced to beggary? Aint it the glorious old Democratic party? The same in Minnesota and New Orleans, in Maine and Oregon, and whipped everywhere!

The Democracy forever! Three cheers!! Haven't the railroad speculators made a good thing of it? Haven't they cleared nearly two millions by the operation?

What matters it if your meal sack is empty? What matters it if your sick wife and children are languishing for the necessaries of life? Aint the "party" going to tax you to pay the interest, so that the bonds will be more valuable to the honorable gentlemen who now hold them?

And haven't they passed a law giving the tax collector the right to take your last cow and your bed from under you, and why don't you cheer?

Cheer, you divils! Hurra for the Democracy!

Cavanaugh says it is the same in South Carolina as in Minnesota. There the laboring men are bought and sold, and the leading Democrats of that section say that all laboring men should be so disposed of. And when they have taken all you have, all your worldly goods, will it not be a kindness to put you up at auction to the highest bidder? The Railroad men would buy you. They'll be the only men in the State who'll have anything when the ball gets through.