The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-12
JUMPING TO A CoNCLUsI0N-THE TRUE
COURSE

oppose the new organization; and because we
would not give up our own convictions, and fol-
low theirs, they in some instances withdrew
their support from the paper. They must
now see that our course was the wise one.
Had we initiated the folly of some other Jour-
mails, we would have had on hands host OF
enemies to be reconciled; and our influence,
whatever it was, would have been crippled.
Now, we find the current running in the very
channel we wished it to take, and never before,
in the history of the mighty struggle we have
been engaged in, were the prospects brighter.
The victory is ours, procided we have the wis
dom and the energy to secure it. The Know
Nothing organization, after beginning at Maine,
and tramphng into the dust all the Administra-
ton forces down to Virginia, splits upon the
same rock on which its illustrious predecessors,
the Wing aud Democratic parties, met their
fate. 1t is also dead, as party; and, as we
predicted many months ago would be the case,
fit did not adopt the true American principle on
the subject of human rights, lies in the same
grave with the old organizations which it killed.
And that grave knows no resurrection. Parties
never reform, as such. They undergo the pro-
cess of disintegration, and new creation. The
elements which compose them assimilate, like
with like, and new forms of influence arise.
The Know Nothings, hacing accomplished their
mission, can neUer rally dgdin.'-Anaerican
(Id.) Freeman.
"What fears we may possibly have entertained
in this matter have been dissipated by the result
of this Know Nothing Convention. The way
is clear-the Instructions are removed. Let
the friends of Freedom press forward unfinch-
ingly to the work, and all will surely be
well."-Kenosha Wis., Tribune.
Tba oo,J,,,+-x, &c lotb tbaso ,oox,ora n 49, 49,
sensible men, and have had much experience
in politics, but the moment they heard of the
action of the Philadelphia Convention, they
jumped to the conclusion that Know Nothing
ism had accomplished its mission, and there
fore the way was cleared for the organization
of Party of Freedom. We make no com.
ment upon the selfcomplacency of the Free
man, except this-that its editor will have
many opportunities to regret that he ever gave
countenance to Party which attempted to
thrust aside the Question of Human Rights to
make room for the Cause of Political and Re-
ligious Bigotry.
How could our friends suppose that so pow
erful an Organization would give up the ghost
without struggle? Did they imagine that it
was composed alone of Free-Soilers? Did
they not know that only portion of the one
hundred and fifty thousand Independent Dem.
ocratic voters had gone into it, while the body
of its forces was composed of Wings and Dem.
ocrats who had never been willing to meet the
Slavery issue, face to face? Did they not
know that the mean, misunderstanding elements
of religious hate, and national prejudice, and
natiyistc jealousy of laborers from abroad,
constituted the vitality of the Order? Did
they not know that thousands upon thou
sands of greedy office-seekers, glad of any
chance to repair broken fortunes, or make new
Ones had identified their ALL worthless as that
was, with the success of the new Party?
How then could they jump so rashly to the
conclusion, that because the Convention at
Philadelphia adopted Pro-Slavery platform,
and portion of Northern members withdrew,
bigots in religion, haters of foreign
ers, cormorants of Office, Hunkers, Nationals,
Quietists, all that large class of PERSONS blind
to the real importance of the Slavery Question,
or dreading to confront it, would part with their
only hope, sunder their connection with the
only Party whose policy suited their tastes and
pull down the asylum in which
they had found refuge? 1t would have been
better to wait, in fear, yet in hope. SO impor-
tant is the position of the Press, that it should
beware how it leads the People into error, or
permits them to be deceived.
This hour Freedom has Just as much to fear
from Know Nothingism as it had before the
Philadelphia Convention-aye, more-for the
Northern Councils, perpetuating their distinct
will 60 just far enough on the
Slavery Question to retain the masses of their
while they will continue to make it
to their peculiar and odious issues.
Henceforth, they will be, what they have been.
sources of dissension and division at the North.
to any effective union of the mass.
es of the Northern People against Slavery. -
Look at Massachusetts, from whose action
some of the friends of Freedom had hoped all
things. Every liberal journal in that State is
and indignant. The real Anti-Slavery
portion of the Order is silenced, and no alterna.
i've Is lSlJ DuU SuDHllSSlOn OF secession. The
Rhode Island Council has sustained the action of
its delegates, but made no movement towards An
honest union of the People. The Connecticut
State Council, while sustaining the action of
their constituents, does not disavow its connec
ton with the National Order, does not intimate
any desire for union of the People of the free
States, does not appear even to have harbored
the idea of disbanding; avows itself in favor of
Protection to American industry and genius
against foreign industry and genius, and as
sumes "the maintenance of the Union of these
United States as the paramount political
good mot liberty and union, but "the
Union," no matter to what base purposes it
is comprehended in pledge to
do all it can, to restore the Missouri Compro-
mise! In Pennsylvania, there is a division
part under the lead of Ex-Governor Johnston.
protesting against the 18th section of the Plat
form, the rest acquiescing in it. In Ohio and
Indiana, we have yet to see indications of
purpose on the part of the State Councils to
give up their organization. From Indiana we
learn that they are pertinaciously bent on
it. And yet, we are to believe
that Know Nothingism is dead-no longer
stands in our way-the skies are bright-all
that we have to do, is to raise the banner of
Freedom, and all the world will rally under its
broad folds!
Friends-there is work to be done before the
coming of that millennium. When We see this
new Party, through its leading men, its au-
thorized organs, the presses under its influence,