Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-09
Catch Words.

Catch words, or cant phrases. are the most con-
temptible of all forms of expression and either con-
vey no meaning at all, or else intended to stig-
matize by inuendo what their promugators dare not
attack openly. For instance look at the latest of
this class Young America sold Fogies," and
such lke-to what do they amount? what intrinsic
value or meaning have they? what does Young
America mean what does it want that Old Anne
RIGA does not also want what features or meas
ures would it engraft upon the Democratic creed g
These are questions which should be well understood
and definitely answered before Young America :"
can be supposed to mean anything; and if an expa-
nation is not gvcn must suppose that it is either
q mere unmeaning catch~word, that it means
something not fit to be told. Such things can and
must take no root in the Democratic party. We
must know what we do, and will not permit our
time-honored stand-bys to be stigmatized by cant
phrase.
Every one-idea party-every party of new and un-
sifted notions starts with stock of stereotyped
phrases-taking catch-words and such-like machine
ry, intended to supply the lack of argument and
make up for the want of experience We should
have thought that the days of the hard cider and
coon-skins, coupled with that log-cabin, might have
taught the people lesson in humbugs which hard
~ needed the enforcement of a modern in
stance, which is rough and ready" to our hands.
But we do hope that whatever the opposing party
may do, whatever c!ap-traps they may resort to-,
the Democratic party will scout all sold Fogyism ="
and Young Fogyism' and only look to the charac-
ter and qualifications Of the man, whether his age
he thirtyfve seventyfve. Above all, it behooves
the Democratic party to pay heed to this, since it is
the true conservative party of the country and the
only directly dependent upon principles. late
number of the New York Tribune, the most infuen-
tial Wing paper at the North, in an article urging
the nomination of Gen. Scott, distinctly makes the
admission that the Wing party is and always has
been minority and that the only chance for them
to carry the Presidential election is to nominate
candidate who, by personal popularity, military
cclat, Or in plain terms cap-trap, can carry some
votes outside of the wing party. The Tribune fur
Their recommends the mum policy, with Vera Cruz,
Cerro Gordo Chapultepec and Mexico, for a plat
form. Shall we initiate such unworthy example ?
Shall we allow rallying cries or cant phrases
to have any influence in our party. Emphatically
we say-no! Judge Douglas, the gentleman who is
pushed forward by these % Young America orators,
has ample qualifications to sustain him in fair
fight for the nomination and for the Presidency He
wants more and should receive no less. He comes
as a Democrat-a good and tried Democrat-and not
as q time-serving Demagogue mounted upon any
Young America" hobby, and he has no right to
thank his ndiscreet friends for placing him. even by
the most remote implication, under the suspicion OF
such thing. We think it the duty of all reasoning
and rejecting men in the party to let their views on
this matter be known at once to give all clap
trap its quietus.