The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-29
The Piety of the philadelphia Plat
farm.

After ten-days Of toll and trouble, OF strife and
agony, of sectional struggle and personal conten.
ton. OF low intrigue and furious con,royersy-aE-
Ter every argument OF persuasion and of compu'-
sion had been exhausted in the vain attempt 10
establish harmony of feeling and uniformity OF
opnon-al:er schism had torn the body in pieces
and destroyed lis power and respecta bty-thr
rur0t of the Know Nothing Council >in PhiIadeI.
phia promulgated platform, in which their max
inns of morality and their principles OF public policy,
expounded with the painful precision OF a log
ica deduction, and the copious detail OF n criminal
indictment.
This Know Nothing platform is wonderful
production. There never anything like i:
before and quite sure there will never be
anything like it again. 1t is equally original and
inimitabe. The genius that conceived it should
avow its paternity, and enjoy The applause of an
admiring Dalion. The person that could combine
so much Of political wisdom and pious precept,
must surely illustrate in his own life all the virtues
of the Christian and all the accomplishments of
The statesman. Who is he
In this country. the State and the Church are
distinct and independent. The interests Of rel.
gion have never been confounded with matters of
public policy. No party has venured to incor.
porate a confession of religious faith in platform
of political principle, until Know Nothingism be.
gan tSdesperate experiment upon the public virtue
aud the popular intelligence. The first article Of
he Philadelphia platform afirms the existence of
Deity and the agency Of special Providence, and
the ekcUenth recognizes the authority Of the scrip
lures This Is the Know Nothing Confession Of
Faith. Is il to be understood TO exclude the doc
lrine OF the divinity of Jesus? 1t evades the issue
at least, and 6r the simple reason that the grand
chaplain Of the Order IS disciple of Socinianism
and the majority OF its members in the North be-
long 10 the Unitarian communion. The party
that ignores the second attribute of the Godhead
may raise recruits IN Massachusetts, but will find
no favor among the Christian people of the South.
erD States.
But all this pretence OF regard for the interests
of religion is the merest cant and the most shame
full hypocrisy. A party that numbers not righte.
Gus men enough in its ranks to save it from the
fate Of SOdom, to sci up as the special patron of
the Protestant religion A party whose piety
is illustrated by the profigacy of Hiss, to affect
an exclusive concern for the public morals! Jo
seph Surface abounded much in virtuous senti.
ment as in vicious conduct, but the veil OF affected
honesty could not conceal the hideous deformity
of his real character. The morality of Know
Nothingism is the morality of the villain in the
play, and the soundest platform even would fail
TO up the essential corruption and evil OF It's
nature. Indeed, its professions OF purity only
serve TO expose its criminal conduct in the strong
lISnl OI CohuoSt. ne prOtest I'LL lnIS HtdueIPHld
platform against the sel6shness and vanity of pol
ilicians, its professions of regard for the public n
teresfs, and its promise to restore an era Of prm.
tive simplicity and virtue in the administration of
the government, come with all the effect OF the
bitteres, irony from party which is responsible
Tor The shameless excesses oil its Massachusetts
members, and for the indecent disclosures in The
Legislature OF Pennsy sylvanIa. There is as much
modestv in the painted blush of the prostitute, as
there is Of sincerity of conviction ano honesty Of
purpose in the pure and patriotic professions OF
the Know Nothing plaform. The people will not
be deceived by such vain pretences and die mock
cry of political integrity. They have had these
pledges before, and they have seen in this very
party the most 6agrant corruption Of private NOR.
ais and violation OF public virtue.
The Philadelphia platform is as obnoxious in
its political principles in its religious proles-
sons and the party exhibits as little Of wisdom
in its policy, az of virtue in It's conduct. This
aecuarion We will make good in another article BY
critical scrutiny Of the several provisions of the
Platform.
ENTIRELY UNNEcEssARY.-There IS sign