Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1855-12-08
The Great Contest Of 1855

Irlt
that since the Fall elections in the southern
States, the southern know-nothiug panty would
have listened to the dictates of prudence aud
sound policy, and have reHr,d from a field in
which they have met with no,hns-but defeat
and disgrace, and have abandoned principles
that have only received the scorn and indigna.
tion Of the people. But, With n Quixotic valor
little creditable 10 their discretion, they have
determined to have another tilt, and are mlak-
ing extensive prepa rctions for the great tour
nameut of 1856. Whether they viii enter the
lists when TIE day of trial comes Iemains vet
TO he seen. 1t is useless to argue the folly
and impotency Of Il southern know-nothing
party since the overwhelming reMdiation of
Its principles oy the southern people. Its lead
ers and ruling spirits are not just now in a
condition 10 listen TO the voice Of reason.-
Having embarked in "the wild hunt alter
Office" in their greedy pursuit of the spoils,
they have placed a gulf between themselves
and tie old parties, upon whose ruins they
Songht to rise and whose confidence they have
forever lost. 1t is now n desperate game with
item. There IS everything to inpel them for
'Sard and nothing to prompt them to "a step
backward" Stung vita bitter disappointment
at the result of the late elections, their thirst
for office has given place to the sveeter thirst
for revenge, and "rule or ruin" is now their
motto. With no remote possibility of earrying
the Presidential election, they keep up their
organization, and thus play into hands of
that coalition Of lsms that has been formed in
the north to carry the election on n sectional
and slavery issue, by dividing the south and
causing her TO present a divided and broken
front in the coming contest. If hey can carry
a small minority in the southern States the
mischief will have been acconplished--the
election will be thrown into the House of Rep,
resentatives, where they will had the balance
OF power and may strike for sucl bargains as
may suit them,
The time is too far of to speculate definitely
on the result, but we are firm in the belize
that tho democracy will achieved signal vic
tory over its combined euemie; north and
) south. We may hereafter give the figures or
which We base this belief. It sufficient now
to say that the great and absorbing issue in
the next Presidential canvass must &c section
aiism and nationulism. The contest Is to be
; between the friends of the constitution the ma.
tional party which abides by its guarantees
andlthe fanatics and coalitions that seek 10 sup
plant it with a 'higher law )" between the
friends Of slavery aud those who would destroy
southern institutions and degrade the southern
people-hetween the national, ~consiiu ton.
abiding, States rights democracy and he free
soil, abolition, fusion republicans, who wish tc
revolutionize the government, destroy the con
s%tltution, and as a natural consequence, dis
solve the Union. These are the great tissues
on which the people will be called to ally ii
the contest that is approaching a contest in
which know.nothingism is destined to cut nc
figure. As Tor the result we have no cars
5 We believe that all efforts to divide thesouth'
l cru people in the coming contest will prove
vain and futile. We believe that the soithcu
/, people will stand united in solid phalabx in
: defence Of the constitution, and that livery
southern electoral vote will BE- given d the
candidates Of the democratic party. 4. com.
mon danger has aroused them to united and
harmonious action, They have loo mani vital
interests at stake in the controversy now lhrusI
upon them by the north to he led astral by
the syron song cf 'Amcyicans Euling lmirica,'
aud suck siuiT.