The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-29
SERVING TWO MASTERS.

Conventions, enrol themselves as regular mem
bers, call themselves Wings or Democrats, take
part in the proceedings, and resort to every
means to secure the nomination of candidates
bound by the same secret obligations them
selves. If they succeed in this work, they sup
port the nominees, and claim them afterwards
as the candidates Of the American" Party.
If they fail, they oppose the nominees, and do
all they can to defeat them. They simply re-
may be able to subject Wing or Democratic
Convention to the preconcerted arrangements
of their Secret Party.
But, it is with the Republican movement that
these politicians are most busy. The Republi-
can Party is as much a distinct, peculiar Or
ganization as the old Democratic or Wing Par
ty used to be. Its paramount object is, to sub
vert the usurpations OF the Slave Power, to es-
tabish the Law of Liberty within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Federal Government, to
place the Administration of that Government
and the State Administrations on the side Of
Liberty. As the questions which divided the
old parties, and those which engage the atten-
ton of the Know Nothing Party, would inter
fere with that unity of purpose and operation
necessary to the accomplishment of this para
mount object, it rejects them, puts them aside,
will not entertain them in its scheme Of policy.
The Know Nothing Party is as distinct from
the Republican, in its objects and organiza-
ton, as from the Administration Party, and
just as much opposed to one as the other. Its
paramount objects are, to protract the period
of naturalization TO twenty-one years, and to
exclude from Office foreign-born citizens and
Catholics. 1t is nonsense to deny this, on the
ground that. in Louisiana. it makes an excep-
ton in favor of Catholics and in Ohio, III favor
OF foreigD-born Protestants. We speak OF the
National Order Its objects are precisely those
we have specified, and no matter what the mod
ifcatons of policy adopted by the members in
different localities, their action on the whole
sustans that Order.
The Know Nothing Party makes those OBJ
iects paramount seeks power, for the pur-
pose of securing them. 1t is not an Anti-Sla-
very Party, does not seel; Anti Slavery objects;
its triumph will not be the triumph of the Anti
Slavery cause. On the contrary, 1t is as much an
antagonist of the Republican Party, as the Ad-
mnistration is wherever it increases, Repub-
licanism decreases every one Of its triumphs
involves as much the defeat of Republicanism
as Admnistrationism no one of its triumphs
paves the way for n union of the People against
the Slave Power, or weakens the adherents Of
that Interest on the contrary, they all tend to
protract and widen the division of the free
States.
1t follows that no man can be q Know Moth
ing and Republican, any more than he can
be Democrat and Wing, or a Pro-Slavery
and an Anti-Slavery politician. Neither the
terms nor the things are convertible. a Dem
ocrat may entertain certain Wing ideas, but he
cannot belong to two antagonstic organiza-
tons A Republican may entertain certain
views prevalent among Know Nothings, but
he cannot belong to two opposing organi1a-
tons. If he take part in the proceedings Of
the Republican Party, and sustain them, how
can he be Know Nothing? If he take part
in the proceedings and nominations of the
Know Nothing Party, how can he be a Re-
publican? How can he serve two organizations
at the same time, when every step gained by
one is step lost by the other-when the com
plete triumph Of one must involve the utter
overthrow of the otheF2
We like honor and good faith ia politics, as
in all the transactions Of life.
In Massachusetts and New York, party po-
stions ana Felstions are pretty clearly deiin-
ed. The Republicans az those States are not
Know Nothings. Their position t; wards the
Order is one not only of Independence, but
oPea. honest opposition. Messrs. Wilson, Fos-
ter, Buriingsme, Banks, and their associates,
members for time of the Order, united with
the Republican Party, sustained honorably its
nominees, hold now no connection with kGow
NG!kings, but are Republicans, and nothing else.
This is cur understanding. Are We right2 They
are honorable meh, OH We cannot be wrong.
In New York, it is Sufficient 70 say that the
Republicans put themselves on reoorG against
the Order No one doubts as to their position
aud the same thing may be said of the Repub-
licaus Of Wisconsin.
But, in no other State haze they clearly
ascertained position. We say thia With pain
and modification, for we would gladly make
Ohio All exception, if we could. We cannot.
The position OF our friends there is doubtful
Mr.. Chase, the GovernoF elect, we know, is
neither Know Nothing by membership or
sentiment, but nearly every man on the ticket
he headed, toas member Of tie order. We
cherished the illusion that, as honorable men,
they considered their participation in a Repub-
lican Convention, representing the Republican
Party, equivalent to a remuneration Of ale
glance to any other Party. Was it but al ilu-
sion2 Do these men still retain membership
in the Secret Order2 If they do, they are not
Republicans the People Of Ohio and other
States have been cheated-the Party that sue
ceeded was, the American" Party!
After all that has occurred, we can hardly be
blamed for our distrust. viii our Ohio friends
look at the following paragraph, copied from
the 4merican Organ of November ID:
"Th0mas II. Ford. Of Oaio.-The Auburn
New York; american gives 2 very lively ac-
count OF the appearance Of this gentleman in
that place, and of a speech made 10y hiHl It 9.
meeting got up on the occasion of his visit by
the Republicans. From this account it seems
that, though Mr. Ford was elected Lieutenant
Governor of Ohio upon the Republican ticket
on the 9th of October, yet he was nominated as
an American, elected as an American, and is en-
American, heart and soul.
The editor of the american, after the meet
ing, sought out Mr.. F., and held a very pleas.
ant conversation with him, which he thus in
part reports
SO He says the late election in that State was
thorough and complete American triumph.
and that IL the American party had nominated