Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-21
SIGNS OF THE TINES.

Our people may for time be led astray, but re-
turning sense of justice visits the false leaders with
a terrible retribution. The bond of the Union
grows with the growth and strengthens with the
strength of the Democratic party; and though this
party may occasionally meet with disaster, reac-
ton always restores its losses, for it is foun-
ded in the patriotism and virtue of the Masses and
cannot be conquered.
For several years past our country has been in
tested with numerous pestilenal isms against which
the Democratic party waged war with various
cess. At last all these vile and abominable isms
were brought togethcr-these fungus productions of
corrupt and rotten hearts-making one gigantic ism
called Know Nothingism. Its mission was the de-
struction of the Democratic party; aud under the
of night bound by horrid oaths and in secret
concave, it rallied its forces for desperate struggle
1t was combination truly formidable and State
after State yielded to its secret power. Still the
Democratic party, true to the Union and the Consti
tuition, met it with dauntless 'front.' and fell before
it, defeated, but not dismayed Almost every free
State carried by the united forces of the sns,
and these forces exulting in victory, rushed forth
to subdue the Southern States also. Virginia, led
by the ndomitable WISE gave the first check to the
advancing columns of the victors. North Carolina
poured in her fire with tremendous effect; and Ten
nessec, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and other States up with their Democratic
hosts and aided TO make the victory complete. In
Kentucky and Maryland only, of all the Southern
States has this monster ism trumphed; and in the
former State its trophies were city in confagra
ton and the corpses of men, women and children
Unfortunately slaughtered. Both these arc border
States and we believe the abolition influence turned
the scale in both
And even in the Northern States where the ALI
ance of the sms first effected, we manifest
signs of returning sense. In Ohio Know Nothing
ism has lost about 60, 900 of its troops in twelve
months. In New York it has got into power in
minority of 10000; and has maintained its rule in
Massachusetts in minority of about $4,000 In
these three States it has lost nearly quite 300 900
voters in one year. 1t has on Y succeeded now by
small pluratics where it lately trumpbed by i'm
mense majorities. In Maine and Wisconsin it has
been completely routed. Other Northern States
will follow. The spirit of conservatism is aroused
and the people are beginning to see and Judge for
themselves instead of blindy obeying the orders is
sued by few leaders from the midnight Council
chamber The South is true to the Union and the
Constituton-she is Dem6cratic-and the national
Of the North combined with the South now
forms national Democratic party that cannot be
overcome, and under which the Union, the rights of
the States and the institutions OF every section Will
be secure.
There may be, and no doubt will be, some stormy
times yet Ali popular governments subject to
these violent agitations; bnt their tendency is to
purify the political atmosphere, storms purify and
render saubrious the air we breathe, as the Wa
tors of the are kept from stagnation by their
unceasng commotion. The relative powers Of our
federal and State governments too we'll balanced
and too clearly defined for either to e3croach upon
the other to any ala, ming extent long the con-
servatism of the people can be preserved; and that
conservatism, though at times it may seem dcgen-
Grating, will always rally in the hour Of danger and
restore the equilibrium. 1t is nothing but the So
Der, honest action of the masses, to which there is
always tendency; and one that will crush beneath
its steady tread the selfish ambition of designing
demagogues with their horde Of deceptive isms
In the fall of Know Nothingsm the doom of other
isms-conponent parts of this giant ism-is sealed
All were thrown into the vortex and all must
perish together The people tired of them
they have been duped by them and their eyes have
been opened to the monstrous frauds attempted TO
be practiced upon them, and feeling of indignation
has been the consequence and beneath this feeling
the false leaders and their humbugs will be sunk ILL
to merited insigniticance