The true Democrat., 1855-11-20


 city, That we ascertain what they promise us for the future, let us look to the so-called plat form, adopted and promulgated by the Grand Council which assembled at Philadelphia in June last. If time would allow, should wea- ry you and exhaust myself were to attempt a thorough analysis of this insidious, spacious and hypocrltcal production. Nor is it neces- sary. After those commonplace truths, those moral and political axioms to which we all as- sent, everything in it which rescues it from the scorn and contempt of every man with an American heart and republican sentiments in his bosom, was stolen from the democratic Baltimore platform of 1852. In doing this, they have implied compliment to our party, for which we must forgive the grand larceny they have perpetrated upon it.
 The first question which suggests itself to every rehectlng mind, in reviewing the rise and progress of this party is, that if its objects be just, lawful and patriotic-if it is seeking alone the public good-if its controlling members are not impelled by sordid and unholy ambition. or by criminal and unchristian fanaticism-if their intents be not wicked, but uncharitable' why come they in such questionable shape? Whence the necessity and policy of shrouding their deliberations in profound oath -enioined secrecy?-of concealing all they do, and all they mediate behind an impenetrable mask?
 Under a despotism like that which tyran- nizes over France, where the death penalty is inflicted for whispered criticism upon the go- vernment which expresses them, men are justi- fable in forming secret societies and associa- tions, having for thier object the amelio.ation of the laws under which they live. On the Is land of Cuba, almost within sight of our own shores, where the deadly embrace of the gar ote Is the mildeSt and most merciful punish ment inflicted for an effort at political reform, secret organizations are perfectly compatible with the laws of honor and morality. Owls and bats, and obscene brds and foul beasts and infamous and lawless men seek their prey and plunder, and hunt down their victims un- der cover of darkness and by stealth We un- derstand the instincts and motives which guide and impel them. But in country like ours, where the tongue the pen, and the press are as free and unshackled as the air we breathe where the humbleSt citizen under the broad @g!s of the constitution is secure in the pur- suit of any legitimate object as if he were the President of the United States; by what argu- ment can honorable men justify themselves r organizing party upon principles so contrary to the character of our people and the genius of our free institutions. My friends, the Know Nothings feel that their schemes are lawless and revolutionary, or they dstrust the public intelligence and public virtue, thereby denying as the advocates of monarchy every where and have ever denied, the capacity of the people for self-government, and striking blow at the fundamental principle of representative .overn- ment. It may, and will be denied that this is any longer secret organization, but we know the contrary. We know their meetings are exclusive, and their deliberations are within barred doors, all participating in them, swearing a terrible oath never to reveal their import We know the names of their officers, an d the names and number of their order, only from conjecture. Yes, my friends, 1t is, and must oi necessity be secret organization. It could not live in an atmosphere of light and truth Deceit and darkness are the conditions of t, being
 But that there may be no question or doubt as to the character of this party, in respect to its secrecy, 1 will read from its chief organ, a paper published at Washington, and called the American Organ" That the article which am about to read may be understood, 1t is ne- cessary to premise that the American Organ and the New York Herald, another organ o the k. Ms, and the ablest and most in1uen tlal Of all their organs, have fallen out, and that the American Organ" calls the Herald the Satanic" Hear what the American Or. gan' says: "W We take occasion to say to the Satanc,' that we shall not deal in gossip should we hereafter see fit to unfold the chi- canery and corruption practced in Philadelphia during the year 1855, by politicians. We say further, Nat not one tthe of aohat occurred a Ph'brlelphla in June, 1855 has get been toH- It may never be told-it may become necces- Sary-that will depend upon circumstances h1tt tha tb, IL I \ " must not lay the flattering unction to its soul Gift has any) that its clustering Accommodations and ill directed abuse will shut our mouth, or silence our press whenever in our iudg. ment, our duty to the American party de- mands that we should speak or writeo
 Such Is the language of the "Amercan Or. gan," its editor member of the council, and enjoying peculiar opportunities for seeing and knowing what was "practiced in Philadelphia m June, 1855" After reading this paragraph we may congratulate ourselves that the Know Nothlngs are secret organization, and God grant that It may never be necessary to com municate any more of their Philadelphia pro- ceedlngs to the public than they have done.- They have done enough and disclosed enough already to shock the moral sense of the whole civilized world
 The next principle in the articles of faith of this new party are its religious intolerance, and its prescription of foreigners. Indeed these are all except the presumption, arrogance, and hypocrisy which pervade every line that give It distinctive character. They are enough to cover It with everlasting infamy. I will read to you the oth article in their platform: Re- slstance to the aggressive policy and corrupt tendencies of the Roman Catholic church in our country, by the advancement to all politi- cal stations executive, legislative, judicial or diplomatic, of those only who do not hold civil allegiance directly or indirectly, to any foreign power, whether civil or ecclesiastical and who are Americans by birth, education and training, thus fulfilling the maxim, Americans only shall govern America'"
 On the one hand, in imitation of the barbar- ous and degraded Chinese, they would build an impossible wall around the States and Ter ritories composing this Union. On the other, they would revive one of those questions which through ages of sorrow and suffering, deuged Europe in the blood of our best citizens. They would impose shackels upon the human intellect-they would invade the sanctity of conscience. When, my friends, it becomes necessary before an American audience in the middle of the 18th century, to plead the cause of religious toleration-t uphold the right of man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, every patriots mind must be filled with the most gloomy fore bodings as to the fate of his country For mv- self but for my unfailing trust, and faith in the virtue and intelligence, the correctness of the "sober second thought" of the American peo- pe-my confidence in the ability of that party which has borne us in safety and triumph through all the dangers and trials that have thus far ever encompassed us, to support us through any that may await us in the future and my firm reliance upon that divine provi- dence which, amid those trials and dangers, has never deserted us, should despair of the Re- public.
 Religious intolerance, my fellow-citzens has been the cause of more bloodshed of more suffering, more tears and anguish than all the other evils together, that have ever afflicted mankind. Religious wars have been the mos bloody, cruel and relentless that are recorded in the histories of all eras of the world. The