The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26

show kept up of two political parties, under
the names Of Wing and Democrat; but it il
all hypocrisy, designed to deceive the people
and no member of this House pretends to deny
it, Every political man throughout the cOun.
try. who has observed the course pursued by
Wings and Democrats for the last two years
knows that the affinity in sentiment and feel
ing is infinitely stronger between these social
ed parties than between the sections of which
each is composed The two creeds recently
constructed at Baltimore are so nearly ldenti-
cal as to leave no doubt on this point. Indeed
their similarity has spontaneously drawn from
the people the title of "Siamese platforms.
The only issue in the canvass for Scott and
Pierce, is their own comparative personal pop
ularity 1t is evident, then, that so far as po-
litical principles make parties, land ! know OF
no other element that will sustain political
party long, there are now, practically, but two
parties in the country The Wings and Demo-
Gratis, being united on all the great questions
now absorbing public attention, form the party
of retrogresson the friends Of freedom form
the other, which may emphatically be styled
the Party of Progress.
Sir in the history of American independence
we discover four important epochs, each mark
ed by high political excitement on great pOlitl-
cal questions.
The first was the conflict between the Colo
MES and the mother country the second, on
the alien and sedition laws; the third con-
corning the rights of American seamen the
fourth in regard to the National Bank. In all
these great struggles for political ascendency
there was on one side a conservative, retrogres
sve party and on the other Democratic, pro
gressive party. The party of freedom, in eve
ry contest, was triumphant 1t will be so in
the present struggle marking the fifth epoch
To be sure, the Hunkers taK about "reform'
SO did George Ill so did the enemies of pro-
greSs when they undertook to put down free
| dom of speech under the sedltion laws; so did
the bankites when the officers refused to permit
an examination of their books There were no
means proposed for the relief of the poor and
oppressed then; neither are there now; but,
on the contrary, every member of the fraterni-
ty is forbidden, under pains and penalties to
plead their cause, both in and out of Con-
gress," in the social circle, and through the
press Oh, most pitiable humiliation 1t has
left them not so much as the certainty of a
mess Of pottage in exchange for their birth
right
The Progressive party, Mr.. Chairman de-
mands personal liberty for all the people, wher-
ever the General Government has jurisdiction ;
freedom of the public lands to actual settlers;
the homestead exemption; the election of Pres
ident, United States Senators, and Postmasters,
directly by the people; the reduction and re-
organization of the army and navy; the pro-
lection of commerce in the Improvement of
harbors and rivers; cheap postage, and free
dom of speech and Of the press on all subjects,
not excepting the immaculate Baltimore plat
G.. Al Al.
people judge which class of measures tend
most to advance civilization, protect the liber-
ties Of the people. and perpetuate republican
Sir, have before me an address on this sub
ject, written by an able Democratic editor of
Wisconsin, the Hon. C. L. Sholes,) from which
will read merely paragraph:
But this whole question of slavery has to me a
deeper significance than appears its face 1t is but
part Of the great strife which is agitoting the
world, between wealth and idIcness on one hand and
honest labor in all its conditions on the other
Slaves are held because they labor, and enable tho
master thereby to riot in idlcness 1t is not the IN
atUtdHUi who is cnslaved but it is hb0y that is bound
and cast at the feet of idlcness. The slave-hunter
does not scour the country to find his human chatel
simply because he wants the man, but because he
wants the hl6Or the man represents. When then, we
are called upon to aid in slavery extension we are
called upon to put labor in chains and under the
lash in "A new extent of country; and when we are
called upon to chase and chain slave, il is To- run
down and tie up much labor dwolls in his mus
cles and sinews. 1t may do for wealth, and deness
and arisocracy, to do these things but every man
whose standing and interest depend on honest labor,
whom he ac,iuiesces in permits these things, is
binding the chains upon his own limbs-is degrading
his own calling. and lowering his standing If
the slavery principle finally trumphs in Govern
ment, then idlcness has got the upper hand of indus
try And think you its effects will be felt north
of Mason aud Dxon's line IL is longer the black
man who is slave to the white but it is labor that is
cnslayod to idleness and the slave will be the aborer
whatever his color and the master the idler, what
ever his color. The strife is, whether our Govern
ment shall be the Government of the laborng masses,
or tho Government of the few oilers and the triumph
of slavery is of necessity the triumph of ideness
against industry
This. sir. presents the real issue, not only in
America, but on the Eastern Continent Eu-
rope is at this moment rocking to and fro with
mingled emotions of sympathy and indignation
This undying principle, love of liberty, will
soon burst forth in some of the transatlantic
States, with a burning lava more destructive
to tyrants and despots than was that which
buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum
| rejoice to see the true friends of freedom
in this country waking up to the universally
of this great struggle for constitutional liberty
Kossuth, the patriot and statesman, the great
apostle of freedom, has done much to awaken
the sympathies and energies of all true repub-
leans on both sides of the Atlantic. This great
chord of sympathy must hereafter be kept
alive and cherished, by advocating, in Europe
and America, just and liberal domestic and
foreign policy in governmental affairs Kos
suth has uttered many truths on this subject
which will sink deep into the American heart
Meanwhile we are having practical illustra-
tons of the overbearing and centrallzing power
at home, which are opening the eyes of the
people to the real danger that surrounds us
If the laws of nations are to be made operative
anywhere, they certainly should be enforced in
maintaining the rights of individual States
throughout the civilized world While the adj
yocatcs of despotism, both in Europe and
America, sympathize with each other, and form
leagues TO strengthen oppression, should not
equally efficient means be instituted by the
friends of Progress, in support of law and
order Yes, sir, the time has arrived when we
should not only speak, but act, on this subj
Hear IA few words from an address read short
time since in London, as was drawn up by the
friends of Italy, with Mazzini at their head
." lou must tell your workingmcn not to fear that
the agitation for international mastery should prove
n deviation of forces from vital internal questions
that the very existence of the actual Cabinet sprung
up after tho establishment of despotism in France,
shows how connected European enemies are that
the death blow to despotism and aristocracy the
continent would be death-blow to British arisoc-
racy, and that the emancipation of the working
classes is not mere interest but principle which
is to be conquered everywhere nowhere We trust
you for the tu6mont of this task Trust us for the
accomplishing our own. And may this mutual trust
and active cooperation toward n single aim be the
orcrunnor of that alliance that have long dreamed
Of for the general good of humanity rs of national
one between new born Italy and England"
Sir, let the friends of the same common cause
in America SO acquit themselves at the polls ON
the great question soon to be presented for
their suiiragcs, that it may be said they too