Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-16
THE OLD LINE WINGS.

The question is not unfrequently asked us,
by our Wbig friends, whst course they are to
pursue with regard to the American move
ment. That may not be accused of dict&-
ting to them, and that they may be able 10
comprehend the position generally assumed
y the members Of our party throughout the
country, we call their attention TO the follow
ing extract from an article in the Daily Ne,rs,
Of Friday last .
That the Whig Party is disorganized, and as
a National Party has no longer existence,
i would now be useless to attempt TO deny
However unweiconie to many the declaration
may be, and however reluctant to concede tito
he the fact, canior and truth eXtort the con
fesson that il is papable political reality
Eve il our own State. there cannot now be SAID
to be any Wing organization. In this city, the
once proud and boasted Whig Gibralter, a cor
poral's guard of so-caled '.Old-liners" may
persist in nominating n so-called ''RegulaT
Whig ticket showing how many will cling to
the shadow long after the substance has passed
away; but even these, with all their devotion
to the party to which they have long been tri-
ed and faithful members, found it necessary ,at
the late Municipal clectiod, to save themselves
from utter annihiation by the Americans, to
coalesce with their ancient and nveteratc foe,
and make common cause with them against
the so-called Know Nothings. There is, there
fore. really no longer any distinctive Whig or
ganiZation in this City, contending for Wing
principles, and still warning against Loco foco
dominancy; and in the contest next fall, there
will probably be but two set of candidates in
the field, those of the Americans and those OF
their enemies SO it will, in all likelihood,
be throughout the State.
Such, then, is now the condition of political
affIrs in this city and the State. Though the
so-caled Democracy still exists in name, it is
only in name, and after next's falls electionit
is quite probable that in this State it will not
even have nominal existence, but will be full
ly merged, like the so-called Regular Wings,
into Fusion organization embracing all the
political elements at war with AmerlcanSm
Disruption of old parties is now the order OF
the day. 1t is the characteristic Of the age,
and blink at ii as will, we cannot help see
ing it. The eXigencieS of the times, the cur
rent Of popular sentiment, the wants of socie-
", and the interests Of the country, all seemto
combine in forcing new issues upon us Tor
practical solution by the people ut the ballot
box. Argue as we may, the fact stares us ev-
rywhere in the face, that the American feeiinS
has been fully aroused, and that IN the ap-
preaching Presidential contest the great issue,
which will override all others, Will be between
the discipIes of Sam and his enemies. Regar-
ding AmericaniSnf, in the main, to be identic
al with the principles we have ever professed
and maintained and which Clay and Webster,
and other exemplars of Wing principles, labor
ed a lifetime to introduce into the administra-
ton OF the Government, we can most cordially
and heartily cooperate with it in the noble ef-
fort to establish Home Policy. which may in
truth be deuominated the American System
For Wings, true TO their cherished principles,