The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-29
W A s HI N G 7 @ N.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY %, 1874.

p We continue the publication, on the first
page of our paper of to-day, of the speech Of the
Hon. E. Joy NORRIS, of Pennsylvania, on the
Tariff, and shall conclude it in our next
THE GREAT SERIO- CONGO CONvEN-
TON.
There is a paper published in London called
Punch, which turns everything the least extrav-
agant or ridiculous into burlesque. The most
complete farago Of nonsense and inconsistency is
related with snch an air of seriousness, as to
make it irresistbly laughable; and, at the same
time, such vraisimilitude is kept up to some
real transactions, that the latter are completely
Don Quixotted, and are laughed down. We all
know the irresistible effect of ridicue; it is
weapon against which nothing can stand, save
that which is sacred; sometimes scarcely that.
Now, situated as we are, at the political centre
Z of the United States, we have opportunities of
seeing much, and we generally have our eyes
open, that we may observe all that comes within
the angle of our vision. Thus circumstanced,
and seeing what we see, we have been almost
persuaded, at times, that the crowded heads Of
Europe had entered into conspiracy against
republican institutions, and were determined to
dence we have of this-what induces us to be-
lieve they have conspired to destroy our republic
can form Of Government, and by what means they
intend to accomplish it, We answer, that we
are sure the great farce, or burlesque which has
been going on for year past, and is now in pro.
gress of being acted in this country, tending to
throw ridicule upon our Government, upon the
practice of laudng the candidate of the party and
ascribng to him every virtue and to his opponents
every vice under the Heaven, and upon the man.
ner of placing candidates in nomination, has been
got up by them for the purpose of making and
our republican institutions ridiculous in the eyes
of the world, and even in our own. Whether
we are right in this suspicion not, it is evident
to every human being, that if the monarchs OF
Europe had come to determination to get up
mock candidate, mock enthusiasm, mock conven-
tion, and mock nomination, for the purpose OF
burlesquing our institutions and customs, they
could not have done it with more comic serious
ness, carried it through with more laughable
gravity, than it has been done by John Tyler's
"peculiar friends" And truly the ridiculous
side of our customs-and everything has more or
less of the ridiculous about it, save that which is
sacred, as we have before relnarked-has been
presented in such broad light, and with magni-
fed and cariacatured features, that il is impossi-
BILE, even for the most grave, to refrain from
laughter.
In the first place, an editor is procured to take
charge of the official paper, who, being one Of
the most amiable, kind-hearted, benevolent, con-
fding, unsuspcious, truth-loving, credulous men
lving-who, without guile himself, never dream
ed that man could say one thing and mean ano-
ther--entered upon the task Of writing up Mr..
Tyler in perfect earliest. He was told that Mr..
Tyler was an honest man ; he believed and pro-
claimed it. He was assured he was an injured
man he believed and proclaimed it. He was
told that he was great man he believed and
asseverated it. He was told he had saved the
country, and, what was Of vastly greater impor-
lance mad resuscltated the Democratic party he
swore to 1t again and again. He was told that
he was beloved by the people: again and again,
in the most earnest manner, he reiterated it. He
was assured that the interests of the country re-
quired that Mr.. Tyler should be elected to the
Presidency he believed it, and insisted that it
must be done. He was told that justice must be
done to John Tyler; and his incessant, beseech-
ing, and piteous cry has been, "Justce to John
Tyler" We have high regard for John Jones
ne is special favorite with us we esteem him
Ior MS honest smplicy-just as we esteem hon.
est Sancho. We love him for his unsuspicious
nature, and even for his gullibility without
being aware of it. he has carried on the part of
this great farce assigned to him, in the most in
imitable manner; had he been acting theatrical
part, it could not have been as well performed
it was not snake believe" with him, whatever