Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-14
Speoulations on Know-Nothingism.

SpeCuIat1OnB Oh huO"
We have recently thrown out the idea, that the
true explanation of the origin and triumph of the
American party is to be found in the attachment
of the people to the franchise of self gorern
rnent and that the direction which it has taken
in its opposition TO the foreign vote, &c. is only
the temporary phase Of the movement in its an
tagonism to the abuses most glaring and most
accessible to the hand of reform. We hazard
the following additional speculations upon this
subject
The great and sudden success OF this new
party, launching itself upon issues unknown TO
the former strfps. and, though of great moment,
apparently inadequate TO produce so prompt and
so wide. spread a movement, would seem 10 indi
cate a tendency, rpeness, in the public mind
which had an existence before X found this mode
of expression. We think thisis The Amcr.
can party is an essay TO obviate an imporfcetion
which lies among the very roots OF all popular
systems Of government. The more perfect the
political liberty of people, the greater is the
danger of their becoming the tools and slaves of
party tyranny. The Gloon is the natural enemy
of popular in st1utions--the parasite which saps
the juices Of free society, on whatever soil it
grows. Democracy, 1--WE use the word in its
strict sense,) tine primitive conception of
self government, and has ever been tho prey Of
the genus demagogue Just in the degree
that any system of government. in the attempt
to escape from other evils approaches 10 pure
democracy, docs it become liable 10 the rayagcs
of that oanker worm.
Perfect politieal freedom, always giving rise TO
partg spirit, hes uniformly throughout led TO II
loss Of more or less of individual freedom of
opinion. This is SO in the nature of things. No
party cap subsist which permits its members to
ac. they please Ia free governments parties
are inevitable. In parties. discipline is n
sty. Absolute spontaneity of popular sentiment
in party action IS, therefore, palpabe impossi-
bility \ short argument with nnerrinE Ger
tainty, ends in the conclusion, that, however free
individual opinion may be, in politics. individual
action never can be more than approximately
so. History shows that ihesc principles have
always been practically recognized in popular
governments. and hence political conduct has
been ever more less under the dictaton of
party leaders. The degree of their ascendnncy
is precisely the degree to VII ch personal indie.
pendenec of political thought and action is con
trolled, The idea Ok SELF government, which the
popular mind is necessarily seeking to embody in
institutions being incapable of entire achieve
ment, the highest degree Of approximation, is the
problem after whose solution we are instinctvcly
reaching. The people feel that the experiment,
which has ended in tho caucus system " a
wretched failure. Platforms hatched up in secret
cabnls of self constituted party Nestors-candi-
datos for office, whose nomination is u thing ar
ranged in private before the people nre allowed
TO have Nn opinion. much less to speak it-both
OF these put down the throat of the people by
press sold 10 the purposes of the initiated few
these are bitter mockeries of the yearnng of the
great popular heart after SELF government,
Thus have the people reasoned. Parties are in
evitable- so is party discipline sacrifice of
individual opinion mast be madc--but shlll it b.
sacrificed wholly We the people nre become
the mere registrar al the DEGREES of our leaders.
The few direct thc mary the pyraml stands
on its apex. WHY shall sc not adopt en organi.
cation which ~luli break thi, lhing up aud be
representative in its character, not dictaioriai
Local matters can be managed by local assem-
bages Of The people. Let them have all the stn-
bility which can 81 gieon to tham--and he held
at stated timr. 10 prevent the fraud of packed
meetings. Let general party politics he managed
by representatives of the local meetings If we
are to have party leaders, let them be of our
own choosing upon fair vote. II platforms are
essential. lot them be constructed by men who, in
the work of their construction. snail have n con.
sttuency-anl be responsible for What they do
Such. to an outside observer, appears the party
organization of the Know Nothngs. and the
causes which, as fly spontaneous development,
have produced it.
Its mission is obyious--to destroy the old
system of party tactics, the evils of which have
become too numerous to be endured, and to a
ehieye at the same time such incidental reforms
as press strongest for public attention As the
matter in hand is that to which every man who is
earnest about his work addresses himself. these
incidental reformshave acquired from the pre-
sent contest prominence which has Temporal.
rily kept out of view, to extent, the real
character of the movement out of which they
spring.
The form of the organization was the conse.
quence of the circumstances under which il
arose. There was one great dominant party in
power. whose leaders were in a position TO use
most effectively all the machinery by which they
had been elevated, to crush out a movement ia
tai TO their prospects. Hence its secrecy-an'
to ensure this. as well 20 enhance its stability
the oaths were adopted. Secrecy indispen
sable to beginning. The question was, eihe
no attempt at reform. or secret one. 1t In
fulfilled its purpose, s.d is gradually bein
thrown Off
In our visw. whether 1t is right wrong,
take an extra judicial oath. depends on the oat