The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-08
AN APPEAL TO ALL LIBERAL MINDS

President Pierce has spoken for the democratic party in
his last annual message the great questions of the
day and he has also spoken for thousands Of patriotic
wings who have resolved henceforward wage uncom-
promising warfare upon secret political parties pledged to
the prescription of religious belief the hand and to
the Acknowledgement of all citizens of foreign birth the
other On this ISSUE although the message does not 60
out OF the way to rehearse the current arguments of the
day. assumes position alike unequvoca and mpregna
BILE The flag of the Equality of the States and the Equal
y of individuals is bravey unfurled and all who believe
in these cherished doctrines should rally under its
folds Let not faction anatcsm deceive ITSELF that that
flag be permanently Frustrated When the delri
um of the hour has passed away the ranks which
waves will befound decimated perhaps but broken and
confident; and when those who about COM
mand in the several States in which they have recently been
victorious shall fall pieces of their own accord because
there elementto unite them together then the party that
which fanatcism will have disgraced Well is it for the
country that have in the presidential chair ct
who so boldly his resolution stand by the
imperilled rights of conscience and universal equality
Well it for the nation that this citizen does not forget
the sacred guarantees Of The past the glorious hopes Of the
future While he stands firm we have leader and we
resist present combinations will find themselves once
in the majority in all the States of the Union.
Apart from the repusiye exclusion enforced by this new
ORDER apart from its unmany and ant-repubican secrecy
of its achievements is calculated to inspire almost uni
versa Indignation and aarm--we alude to its studious
prescription of some of the purest the land If
Gen. Washington now alive and avowed his cele-
brated letter to the Catholics he would be discarded at
Jackson would be DISTINGUISHED because he the
son of Irishman; Jefferson would be repudiated
for the pledges of his inaugural address; and that
earlier patriot Roger Williams, would be outlawed be-
cause he dared to and to suffer for the holy
principle of religious liberation. Take the trophies
of know-nothng vengeance already secured Joseph r.
Chandler of Pennsylvania wing of distinguished ability
was emorseessly sacrificed for his religion sin the house of
his friends" Following this connexion look the result
in Massachusetts, Two of the and efficient
representatives in the present Congress leading members
of the whig party-we Charles W. Upham and Will
liam Appetonhave fallen before this unsparing pro-
scripon In the democratic party that which note
exception in the whig ranks becomes tie memorable rule
Men who have reflected ustre upon the American charac
ter whose experience learning and devotion to the coun
try have made their names household words'such men
have fallen before the tempest of prejudice But proudly
do they bear themselves You would take them for vic
tors not victims They feel that they have gone down
good cause, and they knop that their banner still mapcs
When those who have been mised into opposition to
such these fully from their delusons they
will start with amazement ut their work. They will
find that in losing their old and weltried servants they
have gained host of reckless demagogues-the mere
traders of politics. the charatans of fanatcism
It is right that all men should aspire to station in
ree country; but the day that sees this great ma
who have claim upon the people but that of being
'ble TO hatcr popular preudicc--that day will be
dark day in history, for it will be the starting
point of our downward career You cannot ignore high
alents, long services ripe experience without wonndng
Yourself and your country There is democracy in
evatng unfit for station, simply because they have
been able till prejudice took the place of reason to
ain position These truths which il would be mad
less and to conceal When the men who have
'een overthown in this storm of prescription shall
o their homes and mngle with those who have aided to
well the storm il will not be long before they will find
ublc opinion returning to its accustomed channels Their
wn services will be freshly remembered and fondly
ecalled their wrongs will be so many arguments for Q
heir restoration to power; and the of their sue
will arouse in all breasts sensations of shame and
conde in the leader who avows prosecuted prn
ipe and stands for the right in the midst of inamed an
agonisms The tempest is not yet over but there is
right spot in one part of the horizon at least which
hows that the is yet botted from the heavens
tells us that the democratic party still surpiresi I
Io