Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-12-16

w CACiuStSCIy AVI VI dSdtHSt SiaVcFy, Wnen II
has its strength equally in the North and
South, and when its fundamental doctrines do
not touch that question at all? How can it
consist entirely Of Wings when it elects Dem
ocrats to Office just as frequently as Wings
witness New Orleans. Baltimore and Massa.
chusetts. And yet again we are told that this
new party is infected with religious ~intoler-
ance, and that it hates and persecutes Catholi-
cism / yet in the face of these bold assertions
we are called upon to chronicle the election Of
Catholicsi in New Orleans, chosen BY the Know
Nothings, against Protestant candidates.
In good sooth, this systematic attempt to
fraduce and distort the tenets Of the American
party. is but a shallow and a senseless device.
It might do on the eve Of an exciting Presiden.
tial canvass, if played too late for exposure,
since we all know that falsehood will travel .
thousand leagues while truth is putting on his
boots. But It runs feebly now, is almost exc
hausted, and will ere long sink and perish
among the thousand worthless ISLANDERS of the
age. 1t is admitted that these charges, 50 often
and so wilfully alleged, are never officially re-
futed, because SO far as we are enabled tojudge
the Know Nothings seem to be perfectly i'm.
pregnable to assaults upon paper. They let
their deeds speak for them, and pay no regard
whatever to the torrents of abuse with which
they are constantly assailed. But as one fact
is worth more than a thousand theories, 50 the
policy Of the Know Nothings as Indicted by
their conduct outweighs all the terrible accu.
sations brought against them BY q partizan
press and q horde Of interested Office holders.
We assume no more knowledge of this Order
than ia accessible to every outsider, but we
profess to make an impartial use of our senses.
We have no prejudices to stand in the way of
Truth. and no motives Of interest to induce us
to shut our eyes to its revelations. Is any one
for instance simple enough to believe that if
this Order held the slightest affinity to the an.
t-slavery fanatics Of the North, it would mum.
Der thousands upon thousands Of adherents in
the South! That it would establish it.elf6rmly
In Louisiana, Mississippi. Missouri, Texas and
Alabama? That it would continue to achieve
victories in every political contest in which it
chooses to exhibit it, strength! Or4that it
would maintain the formidable position it now
occupies throughout the slavery holding por..
ton of the confederacy2 In like manner we
may ask, il the Order were nothing better than
4 rehash Of the Wing party, would it not for.
felt the confidence and support Of the host Of
Democrats who have every where contributed
to its efficiency and success. Say that the
Wings have always evinced q prociivity TO-
wards Nativeism /; Heaven knows that among
the most prominent Democrats the same ten
dsncy has been Observable. The power of the
American party in Philadelphia is confined
chiefly to districts which swarm with mechan.
ics and laborers-meu who on questions of po-
iitics side with the Democracy In Baltimore
ut the recent election, the heaviest Democratic
wards gave the largest native majorities. In
New Orleans it is notorious that many of the
leading Democrats were, at the head Of the
native organization ever started,
Let as, once for al. As our brother Of the
Mobile Register wisely says, judge ofthis tree
IL fraas. fths American party will only
y a.ugnrate q new era in the poIity Of our gov
eminent, it it viii substitute ! pervading sent.
nent OF nationality sos The .baas lust Of place
md luere that now a~nilnates parties, X it win
anpihilats corruption. preserve the purity Of
he ballot box. drive huckstssing and venal
,6es-huntsrs into obscurity, tesch n to love
md valae our own country and her natchlsss
ustitutions; put down the wretched strife cof
a~ctiens. and kill of every man who courts
and Germany for sotes, and leads sig-
lorsnce into fraud and w~iekedDess-if Il viii do
bbess things, why il may send The whig parry /
. Coventry, and the demosrstic party 70 Salt
liver jast ~ . . nj pleaass. We shall not
egret the fate e. either Tor Tie noice. .ff I