Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-01
rHE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.


THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
We think the signs of the times clearly indi
cate the speedy extinction of the Know-noth
ing party-or its absorption and incorporation
into the Anti-slavery party. That it was a
cunning continuance of the Abolitionists of the
North to entrap Southern men into union
with them, we have never had doubt. 1t
sprung up suddenly in the North. Contempt
raneously with its rapid rise, occurred the sud
den cessation Of Abolition clamor. Men who
before had proclaimed their Abolition senti
ments from the house tops, and had advised
agitation-agitation as the great and sovereign
remedy, became as mild as May days, as mod
est as virgins, and as mute as mice. This pro
found mystery and incomprehensible miracle
that Abolitionists should be so suddenly struck
dumb was the wonder of the day. At last
tharo eauIo emanation-a revelation-a So
luton of the mystery and the miracle. The
central organ Of that very virtuous and open
party called the Know-nothings, getting into
straits here in this goodly and virtuous City of
Washington, came out with the authoritative
announcement that the Know nothings had
, agreed to sink, to waive, to stiae to strangle,
to suppress the question-the ONLY VITAL
QUESTION of the day-slayery. In other words
it announced (of course we do not quote its
language) that Knownothingism had deter
mined on the adroit, but clandestine plan" to
lie low and keep dark"
But this trick of the aboitionized Wings OF
the North to save Rome has only had the
effect of making Rome howl"
Imposing restraints on abolition tongues and
abolition instincts, in order to keep them quiet.
is like packing buck negroes in boxes to run
them off on underground rail roads As a
great man is once improperly reported to have
said" their sufferings Is intollerable,' "crib-
bed, cabbined and confined" they are compel
led to groan. The pressure must be removed,
or soul and body will perish. When removed,
voices viii be heard that will startle the day
and make "night hideous" with horrible
sounds.
This has been the result of the northern
know-nothing experiment of sitting, strang
ling and ignoring the question of slavery
You may attempt to arrest the tides, to stop
the sun (which was sort Of Know nothing
TRICKY to get at present a sufficient supply Of
water to extinguish big fire in Washington
or force the Gas Company here to furnish good
clear gas to this godly metropolis. You may
attempt these formally enumerated impossi.
bilities, but in the name Of common sense do
not attempt to keep foul mouthed Abolitionist
from denouncing the South, and from abusing
the Democratic party.
Senator Wilson, the "Organ's" State Rights
strict construction" man deserves the credit il
credit it be, Of being the first to halo after he
got out Of the woods-the first to yell and
and scream after he got out of the underground
railroad box, in which the polite Massachusetts,
Know-nothings had placed hon. He broke out
land the organ "ignored" bis speech) at the
Burlingame lecture. But he broke out again
1t was in the Senate chamber. The Organ
could not then ignore his abolitionism. Be.
tween the two, we do not hesitate to give the
palm to Senator Wilson. He was an Abo-
litionist, and although he had for some time
kept discreetly silent, he found that he could
not longer repress the Etna uprisings of abo.
lionism. The organ was, lovely spectacle) a
State Rights" paper and opposed to the abo-
lition Of slavery in the States by Congress
but it concealed its sentiments; it suppressed
material issues AS "lamb before its shearersr
la
is, that we have less to fear from the man
of bad sentiments, who boldly utters them
than from the man prcfessedlg Of good senti
ments, who, from any motives, conceals them
But the Organ was little scorched by the
abolition lava Of the Massachusetts, abolition
volcano, when he broke out in the Senate
people saw that 1t was scorched His remarks
we're authenticated" and in terms as mild as
mothers milk, the organ declined further TO
endorse him. Triumphant Massachusetts Sena.
tor-debauched and deceived Aheican On.
gan
But other explosions have taken place which
distinctly show that Abolitionism and Know.
nohingism in the North are one and the same,
aud that the "stiAing" and "ignoring" process
so dishonesty attempted is but "rope Of
sand"
The point to which we would come, is this /:
If the Know-nothings we're designed to be a
national party-and no other party is worth
straw; if they have made failure; if they
split; if the northern Know.nothings have be-
come Abolitionists, and the southern Know
nothings will not agree to be Abolitionized,
then what is the use Of maintaining the organ.
ization.
The Know-nothings Of the South will find,
il they keep up the organization, that they
will commit far greater folly, far greater
"blunder' than this State Rights" Journal
the American organ, thought the repeal Of the
49,. a n