The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-31
FROM OHIO.
CLEVELAND, May l9, 1856.

CLEVELAND, May 10, 1856.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
There are now some four or five months be-.
fore our State election, but the campaign is
opening In good earnest. The most sagacious
of us cannot yet foresee the result. New forces,
you are aware, came one dark night and took
down our old lighthouses, SO that the oldest pi-
lots can hardly tell whether the Anti-Slayery
craft will ride safely into port or be drifed upon
some low, treacherous pier, which Know Moth.
ingism has projected far out at sea. We can
only work with caution, and hope for the best
However, our parties and politics" are be-
ginning to become de6nable. The 9Th of JAN
uary marshalled and differed the Administra-
ton forces, and the 18th of July, for which the
rest OF mankind" are now preparing, will de-
eide what questions are at issue, and what prin-
ciples may hope for triumph in October A
word in regard to that Convention. Many of
our recent local elections we're managed in this
way: The Know Nothings first prepared their
list OF candidates. under cover, of course,) and
then, by systematically packing the Peoples or
Republican Conventions, insured their renomi
nation. This is Know Nothing policy par en-
tnence and par excellence. And the Know
Nothing organs, in this section of the State,
did not blush to declare that they intended to
control, IN the same way, the counties, the dis
tricts, and the State. Now, the early and con-
slant workers in the Anti-Slavery enterprise
have no sympathy with this unmanly policy,
nor with the narrow and proscriptive principles
which it aims to establish. They will go into
that Convention with fair and open intentions,
willing to work in the spirit of candor and
Cancellation, with those who may honestly diff
fer with them about means, if they are only
pledged to the common cause. But should the
mr. loft do fb<aN
to it officers and platform-dictate candidates
for State offces-attempt to pledge the great
Republican party of Ohio, not to pure and gen.
erous Americanism, but to its mean and detest-
able counterfeit-disappoin the performances
and thwart the wellmeant efforts of old and
tried torces-and so arrange their plans that
they may be oracles of the triumph-could you
blame Anti-Slavery men for denouncing the
fraud, and for marshalling their ranks anew I'M
der their own flag, and with their own stand
ard-bearers? Certainly not. They have been
in the field long enough to see their cause hon.
ored in defeat, and strengthened in disaster.
And they will not forsake it now, to build up
this new folly, and feed with Office the hungry
legion who give it life. They look with con-
tempt on the unblushing presumption of these
secret political Orders, debating policy to a
party which has not even shadow of affinity
to them, and scheming for power through the
WORKOUT and discarded articles of the old par
ties.
The idea of union between two such organ
izations, having not one principle or motive in
common, is absurd and idle. This is now the
voice of the Anti-Slavery press of Northern
Ohio with one or two exceptions. At first, the
attempts to fuse the so-called American and Re.
publican parties, we're looked upon either favor
ably or without concern. A very few papers
fought the battle alone, and were rewarded by
censure for their zeal. But they are now fol-
lowed by nearly all the rest, wisely making
amends for their lost time. 1t is not a little
amusing to see how fercely one or two of these
newcomers deal with SAM in his insolence
who were at first profuse with their smiles and
bounties. But they are right now, and will re-
main so.
The Know Something's, whose organs talk
wisely and promise much, will prove but a poor
auxiliary to the Anti-Slavery cause. "Jona-
than" they tell US here, is going to reform and
fraternize with SAN at some future period-ef
feet some wonderful change in his morals (which
have been neglected. and his habits of thought
which have run wild j and the "pair of noble
brothers" will then take an indefinite journey
to an indefinite place, not laid down on the
maps. Well, suppose the plan succeeds-sup-
pose SAM yields (which is not very probable
Wnue ne is strongest 10 the SOHcltatfOnS OF his
estimable brother, and repents, which is not
impossible, nevertheless
For while the lamp holds to burn,
The viest SHINES may return;o
and suppose they start on their contemplated
journey together, what then? Will Kansas be-
come free State any the sooner? Will slave
mobs become any the less insolent and lawless?
Will the right of free speech or the sacredness
of human life be invested with securer guaran-
ties? Will slave auctions become any the less
frequent or less revolving? In word, will the
Anti-Slavery cause gain feathers weight? If
so, God speed them to their journeys end. But
it cannot be. Secret political societies never yet
held the cup of cold water to the lips of suffer
ing humanity. 1t is only tyranny which forms
its plans behind the thick wall, the drawbridge,
and the moat! The cause of Freedom is secure
in its sacredness and what weapons will not
bear the light of heaven are of no use to it.
Therefore do we trust that before election our
friends will drop these "men of straw" for
sake these ubiquitous issues, and return like
men and Christians, to the good cause which
needs all their energy and all their devotion.
D. A. G.