Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-07-05
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

The terrible storm OF political chicancery
and intrigue that has been sweeping through
our country with such terrific violence tie
past yeat, has al last began to subside. and in
the wake Of its expiring throes, breaks forth
in liz renewed splender, the bright sun OF
Truth, whose enlivening and penetrating rays
are fast ~dispelling the clouds of trickery, false
hood and deception, with which the political
mind Of our beloved country was deeply and
darkly enIhroujed. Men are once more be-
ginning 10 reason and act with each other' in
relation to their political rights and privileges
according to the teachings of our fathers, and
the precepts Of common humanity, whilst ul-
ira fanaticism and prescription for opinions
sake, are rapidly being consigned 10 the filthy
and poluted element from which they sprung,
there 10 remain as they ever have been here
tofore, the active auxilislies OF a rude, barba-
rous, and tyrannical age, dramatically oppos-
ed 10 everything that constitutes the code OF
political principles Of a free and enlightened
Republic. The great "Native American" or
know Nothing party, that promised the
people SO much in The way Of renovatiug and
remoddeling The political creed Of our country,
has through some unfortunate and misguided
stroke, been :shivered 10 atoms, in the very
first year OF its advent, and its tattered and
disjointed fragments sent glimmering to the
four winds, and like ancient Rome, its death
might be referred TO its weight and its vices.
We have ever believed, and every days de-
velopment but adds proof upon proof, that this
midnight institution was never intended by its
original designers, 10 more securely guard the
laws and institutions Of our country, and to
protect the native born American in his natu-
raj rights, against the .yrannical infringe
ments OF those 'Ebloody fprriners;'' but for
the purpose Of remoddeling and rebuilding an
exploded political organization, whereby the
cunning and the knowing ones might safely
possess themselves OF the fat offices OF ouI
land wealth and position, upon the cupidity
ofa deceived people. As a proof of this it il
q world wide known fact, that the Wing par
ty as a party, was defunct. 1t retained at i'll
demise scarce enough hardy followers TO give
its old jaGe1 carca Sc decent interment-i
had been traiIed and dragged through the dus
| until the gravel OF a defeat had scratched The
very soul (if ii ever had any entirely out o
the old thing, leaving it a useless, shapeless
limbless, ~lifeless mass. To revamp the old
sore was the organization Of "Knov Moth
ings'' instituted, with the additional ideas o
Native protection and Foreign prescription
put forth in midnight darkness and secrecy,
as a gull trap once more to allure the confa'
ing, but unwary people. Thousands of goot
and unsuspecting Democrats and liberal mind
ded Wings entered within the pale Of Know
| Nothingism, under those auspices, and we
may add thousands of these very men, afte'
being thoroughly initiated into the mysteries
of the order, and having seen "Sam" in al
his disgusting de!ormity, have come out again,
and we trust, from recent developments
| WISER and better men. True, the active ad
vocates OF Know Nothingism, have to a Ger
tain extent, been reaping the benefits of thu
unjust and unhoiy prescription, but The thun
der cloud that closed over the Philadelphia
Convention, and left that secret body a mas
of disiointed and shapeless ruins, has set tboSv
political trickstering Office seeking gentlemen
to trtmble in their boots, while their brillian
anticipations have been suddenly envelopet
as if by magic, with the darkest and mos
dismal cloud OF gloom. The signs OF The time'
tell them beyond all doubt, that the grant
scheme , f a national Know Nothing party
ma tured in secrecy and darkness, is a tota
and disastrous fai,uTe-that the great prlnci
pies Of political equality and justice, that nov
regulate anu control the government, canno
thus he subverted and overthrown, and tina
the great masses Of American citizens are no
vel prepared 10 enter upon the unholy pilgrim
age of prescription for opinions sake, and par
t~icularly too, while the right of opinion i
written in characters Of blood in the grea
charter Of our civil compact.
In view therefore, Of this state OF things
we would say 10 the Democracy of Prebl
county, and 10 all men Of free and liberal sen
timents, and who are in favor OF open sn
un.rammelled political discussion, Rouse up
grid on the amor Of industry and watchful
ness, for there never was so fair a prospect, S
bright a field for the triumph OF your niue
loved and time honored Republican principle
as the approaching campaign presents. A
that is required 10 obtain one of the most bril-
liant victories in favor Of the doctrine
equal and xact justice 10 all men Of what
ever persuasion, moral, religious or political,
that ever adorned the political horizon Of Ohio
is industry and uniformity in action. W
have the men, and we have the principles
then let US go forward at once with alacrit
10 the great work.
tTThe Know. Nothing delegates 10 tn
Philadelphia Convention held a mass meetin