The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24

For some days past the wire-pollers OF the
old political parties have been busily engaged
In electing officers to rule over their commit
tees The wings have had their meetings, and
the democrats, hard shell and soft shell, have
both had theirs; and all have plunged into the
practices which are rigor ously observed on
these interesting occasions. Much braody mas
been drunk, aad many oaths used; half the
rowdies in the city have had frolic over these
primary elections Some-smart fellows
have voted IS wings, softs aud hards; thus
making clean JOB of it, aad pocketlng money
from all aides. Others who do the heavy work
Of elections have displayed equal freedom from
prejudice in their readiness to fight The whole
business, from the nominations to the close of
proceedings has been as disgraceful scramble
as usual. Very few respectable men, if any,
have had anything to do with it; the business
has been lett to broken down idlers, grog shop
keepers rowdes and vagabonds who have
been guided by no other motive than views Of
personal gain, or desire for spree.
This is the way in which the politics Of this
city, and in q measure those Of the State, have
been managed for many years. Can any won
der that the Know No.hings should succeed as
they do? We hear Of no primary elections
among them, whereat the rum bottle and thick
sticks are the only arguments used: no
rowdies meeting to divide up a ward
among them, and ensure the trium ph," as the
cant phrase is, Of whomsoever pays them best
No dishonest announcements in the papers that
1.-The party" is to meet at such or such a gin
palace when the only people who will frequent
that place Of meeting will be fellows who are
VIGOROUSLY on sale, voter, sticks and all. Very
differently have the Know Nothings proceed
ed. Rum and riots have had no share in their
victories. If the leaders have met to discuss
their plans and prospects, they have done it
quietly, and without noise, fuss, or rowdyism.
In Judging Of their men, they have not asked
who paid most or who treated most literally;
but, who was likely to make the most efficient
public officer? Proceeding in this wise, and
presenting in their tactics this bold contrast to
tie long-established practice Of the old parties,
the Know Nothings have Independently Of their
principles insensibly gathered around Them
every man who was sick of corruption and
blackguardism, and desired to restore the poll
tics Of New York to something like an honest
and reputable footing. This class comprises
nine tenths of the worth and intelligence of the
city. Years ago, respectable men were dis
gusted with the electoral practices of wings and
democrats, and craved earnestly for some new
party to set the example Of attempting to carry
out the SYSTEM of universal suffrage without
grogshops, without DULLES, and without BRIDE
~. At length they have found ii. Thus far,
the Know Nothings have fulfilled the promises
held out by their chiefs, and the anticipations
formed of them in this respect.
They may, like all other parties, relapse,
after while, into the follies and disgaceful
practices which have degraded the wings and
democrats. The danger h even imminent.
But if they are true to themselves, and
rightly conscious Of. the true secret Of their
success, they will adhere steadily to the plan
| they commenced with, and resist to the death
any attempt to engraft upon their organize
ton the corrupt tactics of their political pro
decessors. They will set their faces against
those hotbeds Of corruption and infamy called
primary conventions and managing commit
tees, and will make whatever nominations they
require without the Intervention of the dis
honest huchsters Of the political world. They
win make to themselves . prohibitory law for
the government Of their voters, excluding rum
and its influence from any share in their pro-
ceedings. If they do this, if they insist on de-
parting in every essential particular from the
rules and systems which are used by the three
factions now sontending against them, they
may confidently rely on the support Of every
respectable and enlightened citizen. Men may
object to their principles, and question the
soundness of the doctrines which are under
stood to form the basis of their party creed
but in spite of this, so thorough is the detesta.
ton of the vile means by which the old parties
are used to carry out their plans, and secure
their principles, that people will rather vote
for the Know Nothings with whom they do not
coincide, than the wings and democrats, whose
electioneering maneuvres they execrate and
abhor.
AMATEUR AMERICAN DgPLoMArs--SEE WHAT
THEY CAN Dove are informed, chapter and
verse, by one Of the Wall street journals, that
our distinguished military contemporary, Gen.
James Watson Webb, ($52,675 67,) has been
lately engaged in London as an amateur
American diplomat; and that to his sagacity,
promptitude, pluck and keen perception, are we
indebted for the pacific adjustment of the late
threatening rupture between Pierre Soule and
| Napoleon the Third.