The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-03


experience and the principles of common sense,
ard they may achieve great and positive re-
suits. They can if they will Let them
abandon this scarecrow of the Pope of Rome,
this raw. head and bloody bones Of Jesuitism,
this perilous folly of Catholic prescription, this
tom. fooleIy of persecution against the poor
Irish; this mummery and aummery of the
amendment of rituals and third degrees, this
clap trap and blasphemy of dark lanterns and
horrid swearing of blind obedience to hungry
spoilsmen, and go to work like Americans, with
q great purpose in hand, and declare it in the
light of day. Let them open their doors, aud
discuss the great issues of the crisis, not like
base conspralors in cavern, but like honest
men before the world, and make an open or
gabization for dashing forward movement in
behalf of new American party, a new dynas-
ty, and new administration, " fresh from the
people," upon the common battle cry of "re.
trenchment and REFORM" and the result must
be revolution as sweeping as that Of 1910.
The Virginia election, the Tammauy jubilee,
the extracts which we give to day from leading
Know Nothing journals, all go to show that
U
position, has yet to build up q national charac-
ter, national principles, and national purposes,
commensurate with the demands of the crisis.
We think we have pointed out the road to sue
cess. We submit the case to the Council at
Philadelphia. If they fail to meet the necessi-
ties of the time, they have only to stand aside
and let the democractic party come forward
and walk over the course.
A Few WORDS WITH Mr.. THOMAS MCELRATH.
1t is wholly impossible that people can go on
from day to day propagating infamous doc
trines, undermining religion, and stirring up
discord between the various sections of the
country, without some notice being taken of
the course they pursue. Every man of US here
has tangible apprecable interest in the con-
tinuance of good government, in the mainte-
nance Of religion, in the stability of the Union.
To attack any of these is to attack each citizen
individually; their injury is his injury; when
they are brought into contempt, he cannot be
respected; if they fall, he falls with them. Ii.
who attacks them, in fact, is nothing less than
q common enemy.
Such an enemy is Mr.. Thomas McElrath, the
only resident proprietor and publisher Of the
Tribune newspaper; likewise, President of the
Nassau Bank, and bright light Of the Methodist
Church North.
One is wholly at a loss to perceive what pur-
pose Mr.. McElrath intends to serve in direct
ing the course of the Tribune in a channel SO
plainly detrimental to the interests of the couu.
try; or how he can reconcile it to his conscience
as a Methodist, as citizen, or as banker.
The fomenting of civil discord is surely not o
doctrine Of the Methodist Church North.
The staid and respectable members of that
church are, we are convinced, as solicit
tous as the rest of US for the continued
peace and prosperity of the country. They
have read their Bible too faithfully to be un-
aware that he who endeavors to set his neigh
bors by the ears, aud light the torch of civil
war in his country is as grave an offender
against religion as against society. How can
Mr.. Thomas McElrath take his seat among
these men and join them in their common
devotions when the whole energies of the
newspaper he controls are directed to a
work which their belief stamps as sinful
How can he mix with his fellow citizens,
when all his apparent labor is devoted to the
destruction of their national peace, and the
overthrow of that association on which their
prosperity depends? Nine.tenths of the lead
ing men of New York are connected in some
way or other with the Southwest and South
Some are themselves owners Of property in
these sections of the country. Others have
friends and relatives who are Others do bust
ness with Southern men. The well being of all
depends in some measure on that of the whole
country, including the South. How can Mr.
Thomas McElrath look these men in the face,
when, if the aims of his journal were accom-
plished, or if it had sufficient influence to carry
them even partly into practical action, the
South and Southwest would be irreparably in
jured, and all connected with it would suffer
in proportion?
But if so singular course as that of the
leading proprietor Of the Tribune is singular
in citizen and Christian, it is far mose
puzzling riddle in banker OF all the inst-
tutions Of civilized society, banks are the most
sensitive to political disasters or narrow legis-
lation. If any legislative measure Injuries a
country it is the banks who feel it first For
their welfare is founded on the public credit,
confidence, and general good will among the
people. Yet here is banker, the president of
bank, who devotes the whole force of the
newspaper he owns to the enactment of law
which is calculated to ruin one of the most im.
portant branches Of trade in the State, and to
effect depreciation of from zen to fifteen per
cent on all city property. The same maa de-
votes the same power to severing the bond OF
fraternal union between the North and the
Souths to the contamination of political re-
volution which would inevitably annihilate the
trade and business of New York. Do the share
holders Of the Nassau Bank ever reflect on