Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1854-10-28
The Present state of Parties.

xnG EEGScnt state Oh faEtkc&.
II is surprising how rapidly intelligence is con.
veyed from one place TO another IN our county,
The Washington Union, the organ OF the admins.
lration, has got news Of the election in The three
great free stales along the slave border. AS an ev.
dence OF its prompt attention TO the subject quotes
from North Carolina print, the Raleigh Standard,
an article relating TO those elections, to which it
gives conspicuous place in its editorial columns.
II begins thus:
awe give, in another column, elections re,urns
from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana The friends
and advocates of the constitutional rights of the
South in these slales have encountered disastrous
defeats Anli.Nebraskaism, or in olher words
abolilionsm, and determination on The part Of
the free states crcnmscr5e slavery, If possible,
have swept nearly everything. Know Nolhingsm
has had some agency m producing The results but
the main element OF evil is abolitlonism."
We are happy 10 perceive this indication lhs
they take the true view OF the mailer al Washing
ton. Not much of The late election is TO be ascrb.
ed 10 Nstiveism. The unpopulari,y of The mea.
introduced al the las, session by Senator Doug
las adopted by the administration and carried
through The two houses by corrupt cans, has done
more than any other cause 10 break down, in all
those siales, The party which supports The admins.
iralion. There never was better choice of terms
than made by the Raleigh print in speaking of
the great question on which these elections turned.
There is determination on The part of The free
states to circumscribe savery"-lhat is 10 say 10
resist its further spread in the United Staes-a de-
termination 10 which The late measures OF Congress
have given far higher degree OF strength and in
tensiiy that il ever possessed before. The repug.
nance OF the North 10 the extension of slavery has
been set al defiance and treated with scorn by the
politicians al Washington, until what was simple
repugnance has been changed by series of ex.
asperalion into The resolu,e determination OF which
the Raleigh print speaks What we have seen in
The late election is not the last manifestation oi
There is one point, in the mean time, TO which
we wish 10 draw the alten lion of those who occu-
py themselves with what may be called ths phio.
sophy OF the formation oil parties. II is he natural
tendency of men in all states of society where the
expression OF opinion is free, 10 form themselves
into parties that is 10 say, people who hold The
same views OF public policy will associate and act
together. There is gregatious instinct which al
tracts men 10 these associations, like that which
leads wild horses TO wander in droves Men feel
a sense of power and security which they are band.
ed together, and confidence the opinions which
are defended by men oil strong intellect acliEs
with them.
In ordinary times there naturally arise two par
lies in every free state, cne of them in favor OF
paterna government and much legislation the
other in favor OF simple government and spariDg
legislation. The people satisfied 10 range Ihem.
selves with one of these parties as long as the oh.
ects for which they are toImed are kept in view.
When, however, the active men in these parties
become corrupt and attempt 10 effect by the aid of
party organization purposes which not fairly
within the scope OF their party creed. element Of
d.cord is introduced, many Of The old adherenls Of
The party separate from il and form new combina
ons.
This is the case al The present moment. The
men whom The democratic parry has placed in
power al Washington have been busy. almost ever
since they took charge OF public affairs in The
work OF giving their old supporters a prelext for
abandoning Them Thousands OF their friends have
fallen away, but in separating themselves from The
support OF The administration they have mol given
up their habit OF party association Ttmay surprise
some OF our readers 10 learn lha, the Know Nothing
faction includes a vast number Of recruits from the
democratic party, who form some of it's most active
members. In every part OF our stale it is certain
that numbers oil those who were formerly depend.
ed on to cast democratic votes, forming what s
called The rank and file Of The Know Nothing lod.
ges or inclined TO favor their objects
These men do not find IN The measures OF the
democratic party, as IL exiss IN Washington, any
thing to awaken their enthusiasm, and they find
much which they canno, approve. The old lies
which bound them 10 il are decayed and broken
but they cannot remain neutral or inactive The
instinct of party is still strong within them they
must have their political association, their organza.
ton, their candidates hey must vote with an ub
ect The Know -Noihrng movement finds them
IN This condition II presents lis tallacies plausbly
10 their minds theie novelty and an excite.
ment IN lis discussions Which interest them, and
they are drawn after IT aud induced to JON it,
AT Washington hey deprecae with great earn.
| eslness the formation Of This new party but lei
them reflect whether The fault is not in parl their
own. II Mr.. Pieces administration had not done
so much 10 make The democratic party unpopular,
The Know Nothing party would never have had
halt the strength it is now enabled 10 command --
Evening Post.