The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-03

who believe that the principle of action on
which the Independent Democracy of IS4s
and 1852 stood, was sound. Let them resect
all association with heterogeneous clements.
/ Let them reorganize the Party, which although
unnecessarily small, yet by the greatness Of its
| aims, the comprehensive Truth of its PriAci.
Piles, the steadfastness of its action, and the en-
sistency of its policy, commanded the RESP set
even of its opponents, and slowly, but certai:ly,
was gaining strength with the People.
Obstacles there are-want of mutual tr+st,
confusion of counsels, division of forces ut
let us rally once more, and fling our bannes to
the breeze. 1t would be pleasant to battle in
the ranks of a large army, for the Right; Iut,
many or few, let our motto be, War for he
Right. Giddings, Chase, Durkee, and Juli.n,
in the West Adams, Allen, Palfrey, Philli ps,
Summer, Gillette, and Brainerd, in the East, IRE
neither Know Nothings nor Nationals ;sut
Independent Democrats, ready to act, just as
they have always done, since they relesp ed
| themselves from the thraldom of pro-slavery
Parties; let them once more appear in the e. DID,
| and their old associates, who have been stssa-
rated from them for time, will soon be found
shoulder to shoulder with them, in support of
the Principles and Nominations of the hide
pendent Democracy. And on the same sids we
should expect to see such men as Preston King.
Daniel Mace, and Thomas Davis, Washtarn,
| Goodrich, Upham, and Fessenden, and Such
journals as the Tribune and Pittsburgh Gazette,
leading on the honest Anti-Slavery voters, who
are not to be turned aside from their great aim,
by the miserable issues relied upon to divide the
People of the North and West.
We do not attach so much Importance as
ence for a title which allies us with the funda-
mental Principle of our Government, and of all
political progress in modern times-the prihc-
pie Of Democracy. We have right to that
name, for it truly defines our principles and
policy; while the Party that claims it, by the
habitual violation of its most sacred req ss;is-
tons, is unworthy of if. But, it is large enc ugh
to appropriate the name, so that, while seeing
to divest them of it, we are obliged to desig ate
ourselves as the Free or Independent Def ,oc
racy. The title is preferable to that of Re-
publican, an ambiguous one, often approt ria
ted in our politics by disreputable ASSOCIATE ms,
and of late become of dubious. import, on ac-
count of its connection with Know Nothing SIN.
We fear that where it now obtains, it designites
compound in which the element of Indepand-
ent Democracy is out-weighed by mixture of
Whigism and Know Nothingism.
Let us have clear name and clean Party,
whose movements and members cannot be mis-
understood.
What say our friends of the Political + nti-
Slavery Press? Shall we have Party hat
does embrace the Question of Slavery, Gree
from all heterogeneous admixture = in o.her
words, an Independent Democracy? And
shall we go to work at once, and re-organise it
for the campaign of 1856?
Those who answer in the affirmative can
proceed at once to action: those whose con-
nection with other organizations may hold
them back from an immediate decision. can
take time to consider. We will not reprGach
them; but we ought not to permit our action
to be restrained by their peculiar relations.