Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-14
KNOw-NOTHINGIsM AND DEMoC-
RACY-THE TWO LATE CONVEN-
TIONs AND THEIR PLATFORMS
"HYPERION To A SATYR.y

we 40 not take up our pen 10 praise the action
of the recent Democratic Convention in the State
of Pennsylvania. 1t is our simple purpose to
present 10 our readers brief dcftnce of it. We
will not be uncandid as to endeavor to dis
guise the fact that we greatly preferred the bold
and manly suggestions of Col. III. b. Wright to
the more timid counsels of Col. Black The first
offered resolutions that met the issues of the day
as plainly and directly the quot rings the meg;
the last offered resolutions that were too much
characterized by what Lord Coke calls ian
abundance of caution" The fault, if fault il be,
of the first, was that they were too honest to
leave room for deception and too explicit TO
leave room for doubt. The virtue Of the last, if
virtue it be, was that while they demanded con-
sentaneousness of action, they yet left some room
for freedom of theoretical opinion. We say that
We infinitely preferred Col. Wright's suggestions
and resolutions to those Of Col. Black Yet we
greatly prefer Col. Black to any that have ever
emanated from Northern Know nothing Con-
vention.
The platform adopted by the Convention Of the
Pennsylvania Democrats has been assailed by the
know-nothing presses They charge that it is
loose, vague, and indefinite. The charge comes
with bad grace from the Know nothing party.
It is, to use homely comparison, like the pot
calling the kettle black.
We lately had occasion 10 hold up to rdicule
the platform recently adopted by the National
Know-nothing Convention at Philadelphia, which,
besides giving patronizng nod of recognition to
the great God above US, utteriDg some whitening
sarcasms upon the immaculate Order it repre-
sented, abusing foreigners and extolling the
Union, did nothing else. But their resolves,
meaningless as they were, SO frightened the
northern members Of the convention that they
incontinently fled from their brethren. That con-
vention preiermiiied ere,y pressing issue, as we
took occasion, at the time, to show. Note the
differences between the late Know-nothing Con-
vention at Philadelphia and the late Democratic
State Convention.
The Know-nothing Convention was a National
Convention. The States, Territories, and Dis
trct of Columbia, were represented in it. II as
sem'bied for the sole purpose Of promulgating plat
form.
On the other hand, the Democratic Convention
was only Slate Convention. 1t met not to pro-
claim opinions, but to nominate candidate for
the Office of Canal Commissioner
Again: The Know-nothing party is a neu party
altogether icithout history aud anteeedents The
convention at Philadelphia was the first National
Convention held by that party, and if in politics
there be such a thing necessity, surely there
was necessity for plain, full, frank, unequivo-
cal declaration Of principles.
On the other hand, the Democratic party OF
&. a. Z
mountains, and as true steel. II considers it,
self bound by the platform of the last National
Convention, and that platform, surely, was salts
factory. Moreover, Know-nothings had crept
into it like midnight thieves They had acted as
spies. The had sought TO debauch and to betray
It. II knew not, without applying extreme and
almost inquisitorial tests how to detect, discover
and expose such spies. II feared, and wisely
feared, that the counsels of such disguised enc
mics, if followed, would lead to disaster. Ii
therefore deemed vague, but conservative gene
ralties, more prudent, than explicit, -perhaps in
sendary specialities. II feared treason. Called
for the sole purpose Of nominating candidate for
Canal Commissioner, being only State Conren-
iion, fearing Knop-nofhing treason, having his
Dry and anteesdenis, and being bound by the sat
sfactory platform promulged by the convention
hat nominated Franklin Pierce, il could afford
4, do. what, if done by the netc party at its first
,npention, would damn IL.
Again: When the Know nothing Philadelphia
National Convention adopted its meagre plat
form, the Northern members, with few exceptions
retired from it in disgust The platform was the
work OF Southern Know-nothings, aided by fec
Northern members. And such a platform for
Southern men TO make! II pretermitted every
thing that was pressing and VITAL and was loud
mouthed in its enunciation Of empty nothings
On the other hand, the late Democratic con.
vention was State conventions convention Of
the Democracy of Northern State iriihom one
nngie Southern representative And yet il pro-
mulged platform far better, far more conscrva-
tive far more constitutional and sound, than that
Of the Southern Know nothings in their National
Convention. The comparison is as Hyperion
TO Satyr"
Again: Not one single abolition proposition was
made in that Democratic Convention of a North
ern State!
Again: When II is remembered that the con-
vcntion rejected a resolution blaming the "Mis-
sourians" for their agency in the Kansas cleo
tons, and endorsing Governor Reeders course
Governor Reeder, a son, favorite and distin-
tnguished son, Of Pennsylvania, and Democrat
to boot, j is almost miracle!! The Kno,o no
thing Legislature Of Pennsylvania endorsed him and
his conduct in hGnsdsu What contrast! lie
Democrat, they know.nothirrsl
The rejection Of this resolution by the Demo
cratic State convention, "a Northern State-Goy.
Reeder's own State,) is fair offset to the reiec
ton by the same convention Of Col. Wripbt's
resolution in reference to the Territories. These
two reflections, taken together, show that the con-
vention, having assembled solely to nominate
candidate for canal commissioner, fearing Know
nothing trcachery, and, being bound by all the
principles, traditions, and antccedents Of the
Democracy, did not deem il necessary, partcu-
larly as IA National Democratic Convention will
soon have TO assemble, to promulge very minute
and specific creed.
Again: When the convention decla res ufbot