Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-12-27
Americanism the Great Obstacle to the
Spread Of Abolitionism.


So says the National Era, the able and in
fluential antislavery organ at Washington.
In the subioined article the journal reviews
the results of the late elections, and shows
how damaging Americanism has been to
Abolitohism In the Free States--low it
paralysed the ahti-slavery movement in In
diana and New Jer5cy--how it involved
that movement in Pennsylvania Sin inez-
plicable embarrassments, and how but for
it, "Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, New York and Massachusetts" would
have been now Republican States in fact
and in name. The Era declares it passes
its comprehension chow any real friend of
freedom could for a moment tolerate it
[ Americanism1 or hesitate 10 denounce it
as the great obstacle to an effective anti
slavery union" In the face of such denun-
Citations by such papers as the Era, and
what is more, in the face Of the facts cited
by those papers which show conclusively
how Americansm has arrested the progress
of the Republican or Freesoil party, the
Southern Democratic organs and Speakers
are still deluding their Democratic hearers
and readers by making them believe that
Amercansm is but another name for Abo-
liionism! But, to the article in the Era
Here it is
From the National Era of November 10.
THE LATE ELEcrIoNs.-The excellent
editorial in the last number Of the Era enti-
titled "The Presidency" was prepared by
friend during our tenporary absence from
the city. It's general positions are sound
and ably maintained, but its incidental as
sumptions in relation to the impotency of
Know Nothingism, are not in accordance
with the views we have constantly present
ed in the Era. Would 10 heaven that the
miserable delusion had exploded But, our
readers will recollect how continually we
have insisted that the one obstacle to an ef.
fective union Of the Free States on the slave
ny issue, was this bigoted organization
Twelve months ago we took this ground and
were made TO suffer for it. We called upon
Anti Slavery men 10 resist an Order found
ed upon principles, and pursuing an object,
directly at war with their whole scheme Of
policy; and we invoked the Anti-sayery
press to expose its true character.
For time we were left almost alone and
unsupported; and when reaction began to
take place, we were coolly told by, those
who had contributed nothing to this reaction
that we had put ourselves 10 unnecessary
trouble-had been righteous over much
that Know Nothingism was mere hum
bug, and, as they had foreseen, would cx-
plode spontaneously, &C., sc. Since then
if we might believe these wise people, the
organization has been constantly exploding
until nothing is left of it.
1t is time totell the truth, and meet its
responsibilities. When the Know Moth
ing Convention at Philadelphia divided we
did not anticipate the extinction of the Or
der in the Free States. We supposed that
in States where the Anti Slavery sentiment
was dominant, the Councils would concede
something to it for the sake Of making il
tributary TO their power, and in States where
it was not, they would remain in full asso-
citation with the national Order, so that the
result would be schism, but not extinction.
In fact, we apprehended that it would be
more difficult than ever, for Anti-Slaverv
men to deal with it. Were we right?-
What has been the history of the Order in
the Free States, from the time of the nation
al schism? 1t may all be summed up in
one sentence-unintermitting effort 10 per-
petuote itself, either by making the Anti
Slavery sentiment tributary, or by breaking
it down.
This has been its history; and in full
view Of the fact, how any real friend of
Freedom could for moment tolerate it, or
hesitate TO denounce it as the great obstacle
to an effective Slavery union, passes
our comprehension.
See how utterly it has paralzed the Anti
Nebraska movement in Indiana and New
Jersey and the almost inextricable embar-
rasments in which it has involved it in
Pennsylvania! See how uncertain it rem
ders the state Of things in Iowa! And what
a spectacle it has made of the great States
of New York and Massachusetts! Had the
Anti-Nebraska movement, in other words
the Anti-Slavery movement been let alone,
Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
New York, and Massachusetts, would have
been Republican in fact, and in name, and
there could have been no doubt as to their
position in 1856. Can any one now tell us
where they will then stand? Your Union,
! saving Know Nothinoism has oonnuored