The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-06-21


Congress.
THE PIETY PLANK IN THE KNOw-NOTHING PLAT
FORM.
Political charlatanry has never presumed upon
popular ignorance and lack Of penetration than did the
late know-nothing council Philadelphia in the adoption
and issuance of their platform Of principles The several
articles of the creed etheriszed and spruazed
that they appear like responses from the spirand
made through Convenient medium holding communi-
cation with departed reformers in religion and politics,
and addressed audience of moonstruck believers in
The rappings than the principles of band OF secondrate
brokeudown and disappointed political adventurers hun
gerng and thirsng after the heshpots. II is impossible
to read through their selfcompacent appropriation to
themselves of all the honesty piey morality philanthropy
and patriotism left in the country without being forcbly
reminded Of the graphic pictures drawn of their proto
types by the greatest of painters Of human character
The Phaea stood and prayed thus with himself God
thank thee that not other are-exortioners
unjust aduterers this publican fast twice in
the week; ! give tithes of all that possess.
The resemblance between the original picture and its
likeness daguerreoyped in the know-nothng platform
win be apparent we proceed call attention Of
its more striking features.
1t will excite universal surprise that in country in
which christianity by the constitutions of nearly all the
States by the decisions Of the most eminent Judicial
thories and by the consent Of the people Of America
considered element Of our political system it should
BIO deemed necessary by any political organization to pre-
facs its enumeration Of principles with 'acknowledg
ment of the existence Of Almighty Being The del
egates to the council must have felt that there
necessity for such declaration either because they
had been suspected Of being an association of in6dels
because their antecedents had furnished grounds to
charge their organization with infde tendencies, be-
they wished to the character Of peculiar pe
means Of promoting their political Objects because
they desired to proclaim their adhesion order to
special sect Of Christianity Our observation has been
that really pous like really honest men, apt make
parade and boast of their superiority in these respects
others Wehenrd eminent lawyer that when
ever he heard extong his courage he set him
down as mere braggart when he heard sound
ing his praises model pety he him down as
hypocrite and when he heard habitually thrusng
his integrity into other faces he ordered his
stabedoor to be locked These remarks based upon
close observation of human nature and refer to them
furnishing the probable clue to the extraordinary
claim pety and morality and purity go prominently
and boastfully put forth by the council In looking
the list Of delegates recognise Of the bright
umnaries Of morality and Christianity whose deeds of
beneyoence and whose works of charity have distinguish
ed and enbalmed their names We see in their platform
most deyout for the Bible and most anxious
soicnde lest it should be excluded from the common
schools but unable recognise amongst the dele
gates any of the agents Of Bible societies. or any of the
teachers of Bible classes in the Sunday schools We strong
y suspect that whilst the Bible missionaries are disrbu
ting the Good Book amongst the destitute they would not
80 ams visit of the delegates themselves who are
uneasy for fear It may be freely distributed amongst
the children We in the platform most commend
able zeal in behalf Of Professionalism and remarkably ner
apprehension the aggressons Of Roman Catho
csm; but have never heard of any Of them fasting
as often as the Pharsee giving 1.-THE of all they pos
sessed he did for the promotion of Professionalism We
strongly suspect that for every dollar any Of them ever
gave to distribute the Bible to sustain Professionalism
they have given hundreds to some Office of honor or
profit in the other Of those od parties which have
become corrupt that the Of longer asso
citation with them has become ntolerabe In the list we
see none of the eminent who have distinguished
their names by their exalted talents and their enlarged
public services, but do amongst them which
familiar household words in the wellknown
catalogue Of oicchunters As far we can recognise
quodam democrat who Is ready to swear that
President made bad of his patronage as
Franklin Pierce II we to take the trouble to e1-
anime the files OF the departments, we are sure we
would find ample evidence that President Pierce had
fted to appreciate and reward some Of the best
recommended democrats that proposed to sac
ri6ce themselves for the public good. We sec the
names of wings who not unknown to fame as be-
longing to that dsnserested class of patriots who look
upon il dishonor their country in official
stations when the compensation is entirely satisfactory
We see one renegade democrat whose receipts from the
treasury for outfits and nfs alone would supply the es
tute Of whole State with Bibles and we hear from him
that President Pierce has departed from the old land
marks of democracy in his failure bestow his
like other Presidents
We would not be understood DENYING to the know
nothing council all prctcnsions to actual piety We sup
pose that in fact they do acknowledge the existence Of
God and hope they do not intend to be understood as
making hnmliating condcsccnson in the aacknowledr-
ment' But we are bothered TO comprehend why they
should be so anxious to claim monopoly Of pety a well
as patriotism We willing concede TO them AS much
of patriotism any other like number Of renegades from
whggery and democracy that could be con0reVaed from
the ranks Of the dsafccted disappointed and ambitious
lovers OF spos We willing concede to them quite
as mach of piety as do other pretsndsrs who strain
ut gnat ana swallow camel or who zee the mote In
the eye of their neighbour but overlook thu h.. =; mi