Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-03-27
ON WHICH SIDE STAND THE STATES
MEN OF AMERICA.

the course OF their wise men In view. 1t is
not presumable that any will deny that some
men are endowed with more wisdom, and have
acquired more knowledge, than Others Every
nation has its wise men, its great scholars, its
ilustrious generals, and its eminent statesmen.
Such men are sages. They have signalized
themselves by their services in their respective
walks of life.
The statesmen Of America have done more
than her scholars, or generals even, to make
honorable the name Of America Her two
most illustrious men, Washington and jackson,
distinguished themselves both in war and poll
tics Their triuInphs as statesmen perhaps ex-
ceeded their triumphs as generals.
The race of American statesmen is not yet
extinct We have many bright names to boast
oEnames that will proudly go down to future
generations.
A contest is now going on in this country
between two parties-thc Democrats and the
Know-nothings.. 1t is proper that we should
ask ourselves the question--on which side have
the statesmen Of the country placed them
selves?
Statesmen are men who have studied poll
tics, who have large requirements and great
experience. They are men whose opinions are
entitled to more than ordinary respect Are
there any men recognized as statesmen
American statesmen-who have declared them
selves in favor of the Know.nothing move
ment? If there is one, we do not know him.
We are aware that in every State men Of smart
ness, men of local influence and local reputa
ton; ambitious men, who desire to rise higher
and still higher, have either joined the Know
nothings, or are assiduously and tenderly
cultivating them. These latter are mere poll.
ticators and demagogues. They care not one
groat for what is sarcastically called the prin-
ciples of the party. They have but one princi-
pie, and that is self advancement. If Wings,
most of them, with blind federal malice, and
neradieable hatred Of Democracy, join the
Know-nothings Those Wings who keep the
eyes that God gave them, open, and who have
nothing to ask, avoid that secret order, as
pestilence. If Democrats-if trading, merce
nary, office-seeking Democrats, they either join
the Order, or they declare themselves anphibi-
ous politicians, who can either live on land or
water-who can retain Democratic principles,
and yet countenance and sustain Know-nothng
principles When they do this they are bidding
for office, and it ought to be marked and remem,
bered that none but candidates for Office, andas-
pirants for Office, assume this position. We have
but one wish about this class of Democratic
demagogues. That is, that they may be uni
versally, altogether, and to man, swept away.
They deserve nothing from either party. They
are trying to cheat both.
But we are rather wandering from our sub
ject. Who are the statesmen that have come
out openly, honestly, and like men, in favor OF
know-nothingism If there are any, we do
not know Of them. We do not know of any
statesmen in either the Wing or the Demo
cratic party who have proclaimed themselves
know-nothings. They are afraid to do So.
The most corrupt of them know that the Sc
cret order will necessarily be of short duration.
They know that there is political hereafter,
and that in such a hereafter they will have
nothing to expect
There may be some desperate old men,
some benighted, time-worn dotard politicians,
who know that beyond the next contest they
will have no chance for the Presidency for the
Senate or for the House Of Representative,
who may join them, who may hare Joined
them, and so announced themselves. But
such men are as effectualy dead as if they
were in their graves. We believe that, when
this Know-nothing pestilence blows over, and
Wings and mercenary Democrats who have
joined the Order come to their senses, no Wing
even can be elected to Office by Wings, lin the
South who shall be proved to have Joined the
Order. In the North they will be worse off,
for it will be declared against them that they
agreed to IGNORE the question of slavery"
Abolitionists will despise the men who agreed
even for moment to suppress that fanaticism.
This is Senator Stewards strength. He can
show, the worst of all things, clean Adolf
ton record. He can then show that, except to
get enough Know.nothing votes to re-elect him
Senator, he never had any intercourse with, or
tolerance for, the Order.
We cannot point to single American states.
man entitled to that honorable appellation, who
professedly belongs to this new, secret clandes-
tine and beclouded order.
When the American people see that none Of
the wise, enlightened, and experienced states
men whose opinions they have been accus-
toned to respect and follow, belong to this
Order, it is high time that they should abandon
and denounce it. An Order, political order,
composed of men, who cannot point to single
leader of acknowledged wisdom, established
character, and recognized craftsmanship, must
necessarily be composed of honest ignoramusses
bigotted Wings, and unprincipled mercenaries
and adyenturers.
DEcLINATIoN.-TheH Hon. j. C. Breckenridge
declines making canvass for Congress in the
Ashland distract w Ho oayc ba has haan