Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-01

"know-nothingismp gives to "bigotry no sane
ton, to persecution no assistance" when 1t
proscribes q man for his religion, and disfran-
chises him on account Of the accident Of his
birth? And are the members of that order
those who unhappily have united with this
secret organization, prepared 70 reject the sen.
timents and the advice of Washington, and
$50 demean themselves" as not, as good citi-
zens, to give to the government and its Con-
stitution, "on all occasions, their efectual sup
port?" The portrait of Washington hangs
upon one side Of the hall of the House OF Re-
representatives.; on the other side may be seen
that Of Lafayette, who, at perilous period OF
our country's history abandoned all the en-
dearments Of home, and gave his blood and his
fortune to secure to us the blessings which
Washington, in the letter i have read, extols,
but which know-nothingism now denounces.
Applause. Does that recreant heart exist
which could calmly see the portrait OF Wash
ington torn from the walls Of the Capitol2
mo, MOL You say HNo," my countrymen,
and yet the sentiments OF Washington were
those which led Lafayette, in the ardor of his
enthusiasm for the principles of civil and reli-
gious freedom, to cross the Atlantic, and dedi-
cate life and fortune to that holy cause.
[Applause.l And where is the know.nothing
who would tear the portrait of Lafayette
from the halls Of Congress, because he hap.
pened to be born in France7 Here much
confusion arose in the hall, in the midst of
which Mr.. G. w. Cutters voice was heard, and
cries of Go on, Go on. The gentleman who
interrupts me is friend from Kentucky, whose
remark did not hear. will hear him. Mr..
Cutter then remarked, that the French republi-
cans would have torn Lafayette's portrait from
the Hall when he made Louis PHILIPPE king,
and might have made him President. Ay,
and the gentleman would have us understand
that his know-nothing friends partake OF the
spirit Of the French Jacobins, fends, who not
only murdered kings, but sacrificed, in their
fury, innocent women and helpless babes,
lGreat applause men who, having no ideas
of regulated liberty, made the streets of France
run red with the blood of their victims. APP
plause.l trust in God that no such spirit
prevails with any part of the American people,
and such scenes as have made France re-
proach and by-word, may never be enacted in
our midst. Applause. But none but men
animated by the spirit Of Jacobinism, could be
found, in this or any other country, who, re.
Numbering the services of Lafayette in the
cause of political and religious liberty, would
dare lay their unholy hands upon the portrait
of that illustrious patriot. Here was much
applause, accompanied with some confusion.
Mr.. Stanton, after slight pause, resumed.
But, fellow-citizens, ] have said enough up
on this subject to show the odions character Of
Know-nothingism, and to give you in the rest
lessness of those who profess its principles, an
illustration of the dangerous tendency of that
organization. Let me illustrate what / shall
further say with an anecdbte. There lives in
old Kentucky, on the side of much travelled
turnpike, man called Jim Simpson. Some
time since fellow living few miles of, want
ed to visit Jim, but thought he would take a
near cut, instead of following the turnpike
which he had travelled hundred times. Ac.
cordingly he took down the nearest hollow, and
after he had travelled some threefourths of a
mile, he found himself lost; but meeting a
stranger he inquired: "Say, stranger, can you
tell me the way to Jim Simpsons" "Oh,
yes; but why didn't you keep the big road n
II wanted to take near cut and get there
quick" g Ay, that's your object, is it? Well
follow that lane for about three-quarters of a
mile, and you viii come to school-house.'
"Well, what then? 2" "Why, then turn TO the
right and take up the road for about mile
and quarter, and you will come to a church. !"
aWell, which way then?" "Then turn down
the left hand road, and follow il for another
mile and you will see blacksmith shop" "Gc
on" "Why, then 60 round the shop, take the
path. and it viii lead you into big woods
Well, what then p Why, If goa dinf lost
RI be damned (Great laughter.
Now, my -countrymen, with this anecdote
would illustrate the duty Of the democratic
party. II has been the misfortune Of our OPP
ponents, in all times, to run aside after all
.nr4g of oll.a 18th ao~tc sc aod
factions without regard 10 principles, and the
result in the end has always been disaster and
defeat. Let us not initiate the example Of our
opponents. There is but one course for the
democratic party to pursue, and that is, at all
times and under all circumstances, TO keep the
big plain road, never turning either to the
right or 10 the left, no matter what temptations
Of political advantage may be spread before us.
We have never been more successful than
when we presented to the country the example
of faithful adherence to our principles, a
united devotion to the old landmarks Of the
party, and scorn Of all extraneous alliances
for purposes ofexpediency. tits true, too, that
we have never gone off after false gods, and
wandered from the true path OF duty and oil
principle, that we did not suffer from II. II
we would put down the cdious doctrines OF
Know-nothingism, all we have TO do is 10 pre-
sent TO them an undivided front and march
straight forward upon the plain, big road II
is the road which must always lead us 10 vic.
tory-the road which jefferson trod, and the
road OVER which Madison, and Jackson, and
Polk, and other democratic presidents have
marched in triumph. With the Constitution in
our hands, and the true principles Of democ.
racy in our hearts, Knov-nothingism, nor any
other ism which is nurtured by intolerance and
persecution, can ever successfully triumph over
us. Applause. rE8 ~ Glo1
Interesting Discovery.-we learn from a