Washington telegraph., 1855-08-22
From the Gazette S Dcn.ocrat-l
OUR POSITION.

Born and raised in the DEMOCRATIC faith. and
experienced in the duties it en'oins, we have aban-
doned none of its pTiarples but hEIDiy adhere 10
them all. And that We have been faithful III the
service we have rendered III support OF those prin-
cipes we confidently appeal tc al, OF whatever
partv who have known Us, frorii our nTsl connec-
Hon with public affairs alike in individual official.
and editorial capacities; we are fully conscious
nj having been actlIated, in all we have said and
dome hv sense of public duty, and sentiment
of devotion to the welfare OF our country.
Rn. while We ariently cherish and firmly main
tain these principles facts have forced upon the
conviction that the old party organisation, called
Democratir which was originally formed ior their
su,,Dort and for which, alone. we belonged to 1t,
has so far changed its character as to be utterly
incapable Of answering that purpOse-to maintain
:he constitutional ights of the several States and
thereby preserve the federal Union; indeed, has
not only become thus incapable Of good. but, BY
the abandonment of principle. by sehism IN its
ranks and corruption in its practices. is fast de-
generating into an engine OF evil which, unless ITS
career be speedily arrested, must end IN the sub
version OF the Constitution. and the ruia OF the
country.
or without regret. Indeed. we resisted IT long,
and even opstinately for with rs, the ties OF party
association which had bound us for 4 lie time.
were as strong they could be with any one, and
were given up with painful reluctance. but the
signs of the times were passing daily before US,
and facts were constantly forced upon cur observa-
tion. whose existence could not be questioned and
whose portentOus significance could not be disre-
garded The alternative presented 10 rs was our
attachment to the traditions and organization OF 4
party, which had once been sound IN prlnsipe,
national in its scope, and efficient Tor good, but
was so no longer. on the one hand--and our DUTY
TO our corufyg on the other Unlike certain
would politician, and at present Democratic Of
fee holder, in this State, we loved our country
more than our payfy; and in conformity with that
sentiment, we gave up the latter: and adhered %
the former.
This is intended. not as argument OF Illustration,
bat merely as announcements Of cur position, IN
respect to the political parties n0y: before the
country. But as have alluded TO the fGcfs
which have forced into this position 1t may
not be inappropriate, even here TO mention some
one or two of them, which cannot be considered
otherwise than Of leading Specification and iInPor-
tance.
Among these, is the fact that since the passage
of the Kansas-N Nebraska bill. in ali the northern
States especially in those called Democratic. where
elections have been held, or legislation had. the
nationality of the Deaiocraf;c party is abandoned,
and the sectional abolition, element Is now in the
ascendant. For proof OF this. look through all
New England, (including even President PIERCEs
own Ne:1 HAMPSHIRE where, in 1892, there were
but t,coGati- Democratic STATES. What is their po
sitiou, Democratic still-O yeSI Yet abolition TO
tne cole, aEG leu on Dy heHE} - ;s>Oil- Cudisc>
Sumner and John P. HaeI Then look to Wis
consin, Iowa, and even to Mr. Douglas own HI
s,oisI Belonging TO the Denl1rrGtic party stIli-O
yes, and boasting of IT. yet thoroughly Gbolitioa-
ised, and headed by such men as DuTkee, Ear
land, and TTumbull!
Again. it is fact that the Democratic party, in
its State organizations, in the North, FAR it
has met in Convention, announced its position
and put candidates in the field, has abandoned its
nationality, repudiated its old constitutional prln
ciples and incorporated abolition as an element in
its creed. For proof OF this, look 10 OaiO and
Pennsylvania, heretofore regarded the ciadels OF
Democracy In the North, where IL their recent
Democratic State CcHreiions the former expressly
and emphaticaily adopted and incorporated asui-
sIarery Indispensable element OF the party
creed, and the latter, which merely recognised
those States rights, without VI hich the Southern
States could not exist, in the Union, UCfet them
do,cn almost unanimously
Does this same Ds8,ocrGtir organization, in the
other States north of Masons and DixoIi's line,
hold out any better promise. OF encourage any
better hopez Ii so, we have been unable to dis
cover it. For. even in New York, where once ex-
listed the elements and seemingly the disposition
for harmonious reorganization OF the party, upon
national principles certain mai: gn influences sand
to have emanated from Washington have 50 bEok-
en- IT into fragments and arraYed II iEto hostile
factions as to destroy all hope OF Union
Besides, two other elements have been inteTpo-
,arfy which not only did not originally belong to
it, but repugnant to its true principles incon-
sistant with its legitimate purposes and danger
Gus TO the welfare of our community Yet. these
elements are recognised and proclaimed as part
of the true faith, by those who occupy the posi-
tions of leaders and teachers in that party organ
ization. The Objectionable elements we allu,e
to, are, first-the advocacy of increase 0. :or-
eign born population and the encouragement of
their growing importance, until they are making
rapid strides both morally and politically toyya ars
an influence which cannot be otherwise than
Wholesome and dangerous, even II It should not be-
come actually paramount in our country, unless
firmly resisted and seGOnd-that the members Of
4 Church. essentially political in lis oTgsniZation
and owing era allegiance 10 f0res ecsriaSfical
Prince should be entitled to equal rights and priv
leses, and should receive equal favor and encour-
agement, In all the relations Of HE. public well
as private, with own native bore citizens
whose religion Is between their Cos! ano them
selves, and whose civil allegiance Is given, uIdi-
vIded, to our government.
To these doctrines part Of orr political creed
we cos,id never assent, and we could not belong
for hour, TO any party which admits them
But that theV adIlittei-and earnestly insist
ed upon. by the so-caled Democratic party, 10
one can question, who has read Its recognised or
gans within the last few months, or obseTy Ell the
course OF its high official leaders. Indeed not on
ly do all the newspaper organs OF that party pro-
claim these doctrines but itol gLt be legitimately
inferred, from the teeming contents of taeir col
umns, they thought, from the time of the Revolu-
tion down TO the present day, that virtue, patriot
ism, intelligence, usefulness citizens and piety
as christians in country. had belonged. almost
exclusively to fa-siSners and R0l1iGu Catholics
Then what is more nOtoFious-moTe the subject
sf every day observation and experience, than
that to ignore those doctrines is 50 grave mis-
demeanor in federal Office, that instant dismissal
is the unconditional punishment
We have prejudice against foreigners, OF
Catholics certainly not to the extent of doing
them any injustice. We would not exclude either
from our country-we would not deprive anv who
are already here OF any OF the rights or privileges
they have acquired under our constitution and
laws, we would not withhold from those OF good
character, who may hereafter come. any Protec-
tion. or any privilege, which may be necessary.
for their true interest and welfare and at the same
lime compatible with the safety Of our institutions
But. while admit, that the time was when our
country needed and vas benefited, BY the coming
of foreign population, we believe that time has
passed, and We need no more Especially do we
believe that, instead of benefit, it Will prove an
injury to our country If we continue 10 receive