The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
THE ROCK OF OUR FAITH.
ENTERPRISES, LANCASTER Co., Pa,
Jnnu0,-ay < IS6S

EYTPRPRIsE, LANCASTER Co., Pa,
January S, 1866
| have been rejoiced to hear from our friends
in various parts of the Union upon the subject
of Know Nothingism, and equally rejoice to
find the Era, at this important crisis, giving
forth no uncertain sound upon the great
points of Democratic faith involved in the pro-
scription of foreigners.
l believe that the crock" upon which our
faith is founded, and against which "the gates
Of the hell of Slavery" shall not prevail, is the
right of the people to govern themselves. 1t
is for us to uphold this great principle, and to
denounce all who would attempt to establish
an ohgarchy here, which seeks to reduce men
to the servitude of rulers in choosing whom they
have had no voice; and if the protested Anti
Slavery men of the nation cannot so far sustain
that doctrine as to admit every bona fde male
resident of our common country to vote at our
elections, the quicker they abandon their pro-
fession of love for the cause of human freedom
the better
Nothing can be more fallacious than the
idea that secret oath-bound societies, acting
upon nearly the same principle or plans as the
followers of Loyola, are necessary to thwart or
destroy the operations of Catholicism Such
things are only the legitimate resort (if they
ever are of any one) of the weak and timid,
and not of party commanding seven-eighths of
all the power of the nation.
Surely such an overruling majority can never
have need of resorting to the degrading and
secret arts of cunning and chicanery.
If the effort first attempted at Columbia, in
this county, last summer, and again repeated
IN Cincinnati more recently, to form Nation
al Know Nothing party upon a basis satisfacto-
ry to the South, can be accomplished, (of which
L think there are some doubts then will Sla-
very be re-enthroned in this country then will
a new and unbroken shield of that accursed in
sitution be substituted for those Anticipated
and miserably broken down masses of corrup-
ton, known as Whgery and Democracy,
whose occupation is evidently gone.
The number of Anti-Slavery men who have
gone into this new organization seems to fur
nish a ground to hope for the best in regard to
1t, and would seem indeed strong evidence
against these evil forebodings; but we must
remember that nearly every one who has Joined
this party has been, in former times, a member
of one or the other of the great Pro-Slavery
parties; and what man has once done, he may
do again. In this district at the late election
for Congress, almost the entire Temperance
and Anti-Slavery force united with the Amer
can (27!i party, and elected the Hon. A. E
Roberts over Mr.. Hester, the present incum
bent, and better change for the cause of hu
man freedom could scarcely have been effected
Mr.. Hester was elected as Compromise
man but finding that kind of stock below pal
in this county, he tried being an Anti-Slavery
man, but it was too late he also tried being 8
Know Nothing, but that would not answer hi,
purpose any better the fiat had gone forth
and ne had to submit.
Mr.. Roberts was United States marshal al
the time the infamous Fugitive Slave Act was
passed; and for the humane and generous
manner in which he acted during the time he
held that post, the friends of Freedom in East
ern Pennsylvania will never forget him. Hi
nomination called to the polls men who had
scarcely ever voted, and men who had deserted
them for half lifetime, but who could MOI
withstand this loud call of duty.
And now that Mr.. Roberts is elected, willis
it is a source of regret to many of his bes
friends that Know Nothingism has had any
thing to do with him, or he with it, yet it is
satisfaction to know that opposition to Slavery
as it is, and as it is to be, now and forever, ii
part of his life, the corner stone of his mora
and political faith; and we would as soon lool
for Giddings, or Hale, or Sumner, or Chase, t
swervs from their faith, 90 he from his.