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

polltclans OF a certain school entertain q diff
.ferent opinion. Some of them, having assum.
ed the obligations of Secret Party aiming at
peculiar objects, attend Wing or Democratic
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 as 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-
tain the name, Wing, or Democrat, that they
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
ganZaton 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-
tablish the Law of Liberty within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Federal Government, to
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
noun. 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, from the Administration Party, and
just 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 foreignborn 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, in favor
OF foreign-born Protestans. We speak of the
National Order. It's objects precisely those
we have specified, and no matter what the mod
ifca,ions of policy adopted by the members in
different localities, their action OH the whole
sustains that Order.
The Know Nothing Party makes those OBJ
jects paramount seeks power, for the pur'
pose of securing them. 1t is not an Anti-Sla-
very Party, does not seel, Ant;-Slavery objects
its triumph will not be the triumph of the Anti
Slavery cause. On the contrary, it is as much an
antagonist of the Republican Party, as the Ad-
ministraton is wherever it increases, Repub-
licanism decreases; every one Of its triumphs
involves as much the defeat of Repubcanism
rs Administrationism 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 n Know Moth
ing and Republican, any more than he can
be Democrat and Wing, or 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 antasonistic organiza-
tons! A Republican may entertain certain
views prevalent among Know Nothings, but
he cannot belong to two opposing organiaa
tons. If he take part in the proceedings Of
the Republican Party, and sustain them, how
can he be a 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
piete triumph Of one must involve the utter
overthrow Of the other?
We like honor and good faith ia politics, as
in all the transactions Of life.
In Massachusetts, and New York, party po-
sitions and relations are pretty clearly defin-
ed. The Republicans az those States are not
Know Nothings. Their position t. wards the
Order is one not only of independence, but
open. honest opposition. Messrs. Wilson, Fos-
ter, Buriingame, Banks and their associates,
members for a time of the Order, united with
the Republican Party, sustained honorably its
nominees, hold now no connection with know
Nothings, but are Republicans and nothing else.
This is cur understanding. Are we right? They
are honorable men, All we cannot be wrong.
In New York, it is suitacieat 70 say that the
Republicans put themselves reoori aSeinst
the Order. No one doubts as to their position;
and the same thing may be said Of the Repub-
licans Of Wisconsin.
But, in no other State have they clearly
ascertained position. We say this With pain
and notification for we would gladly make
Ohio exception, if could. We cannot
The position of our friends there is doubtful.
Mr. Chase, the Governor elect, we know, is
neither a Know Nothing by membership or
sentiment, bat nearly every man on the ticket
he headed, icas a member Of the Order We
cherished the illusion that, as honorable men,
they considered their participation in Repub-
lican Convention, representing the Republican
Party, equivalent to remuneration of ale
glance to any other Party. Was it but al ilIu.
sion? Do these men still retain membership
in the Secret Order? 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. Will our Ohio friends
lock at the following paragraph, copied from
the American Organ of November I'd:
"Thomas H. Ford. Of Ohio.-The Auburn
New York; American gives very lively ac-
count OF the appearance of this gentleman in
| that place, and of a speech made by hina It .
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 ns
| an American, elected as an American, and is en-
American, heart and soul.
"The editor of the american after the meet
NJ Il