The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-09-02
The Democratic Convention.

The proceedings of the democratic conven.
ton which met at this place on Tuesday
will be found in our columns to-day. The !
report is our own, no. having been furnished
by the secretaries in time for this weeks
paper, with the official record We have,
however, the official proceedings before us
now, and, except the sketches Of debates,
which they Of course do not contain--the
reports agree.
We refer to these proceedings with pride,
on occount of the manly and truly demo-
cratic and national ground they assume on
the great questions Of the day. Whatever
may be said Of other quarters, the unani'
nous expression has gone forth at leas. from
the democracy of La Sale, in favor Of adj
herring to the time honored land marks Of
the party, to nationality and the Cnion.-
There is no time serving spirit manifested
here-no trucking to sectional preiudiccs or
excitement but the proud position Of the
democracy as tho only great national party
Of the country is fully and boldly main
tanned.
In reference to candidate for congress, a..
though decided majority of the convention
Enthusiastically preferred Mr.. Cushman, the
delegates were left unnstructed, except to
act as unit, and to labor for securing can
iiate whose CONSTANT democracy, intcgri
~ and standing should be such as to COM
,nand the support of the entire democracy,
who, united, ever triumph in the end
Mr.. Delano, the nominee for sheriff, is
one of our oldest citizens, known by nearly
every man in the county. His democracy
has aftcn been tried and never found want
ing. lie is o hard listed, hard working
straightforward mechanic, with every quail
fcaton to make thorough going, active,
and efficient sheriff We could get no better
timber
For Coroner, although a prodtlcss and
thankless Office, the nominee, Mr. Morris, is
one of the most substantial citizen Of Peru,
by whom the acceptance Of the Office will be
more Of favor than to confer It.
The convention, with great propriety, We
think, expressed its disapprobation Of the
secret political association which has recent
~ arisen in this country (the first in our his.
tory called the Know Nothings Not being
in the secrets of the order, we are of course
unable to judge how far their objects and
aims deserve condemnation. For all we
Know, their aims may be grossly misrepre-
scented. 1t is said they bind themselves by
terrible oaths, to oppose the election to any
office Of all catholics or foreigners, whatever
may be their merits as men or patriots, and
that they submit themselves in these matters
to the guidance ofcertan officers or leaders.
surrendering all freedom ofthought or speech
OF Judgment or conscience, TO their direction
This may or may not be true. We hope it
is not, for we should be sorry to see any MAN
reduce himself in 50 degrading position-
Yet there can no question on one point
that, as political society, the measures
they aim to accomplish, can never be openly
and fairly canyasscd before The public, for
the reason that the public are unadvsed as
to what they are. They thus violate the
Foundation principle OF all republican or
democratic government, which is, that every
measure to be passed upon by the people
shall be openly and freely canvassod ar.
ror can never be dangerous while reason is
left fee to combat it, But there can be
no combat with secret conclayc They arc
an enemy in ambuscadc-thc cougar crouched
for its victim. They fall upon the objects
Of their hostility unawareS--thcy STAY their
enemies when asleep aad helpless. Dcmoc.
racy can have no sympathy with such an
organization