Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-08


Ia ,jef give an uncertain pfepat
themselves for battle; and we would have
that sound clear, ringing, and loud. The
Democracy are struggling for measures Of the
utmost consequence, closely interviewer with
the well-being of society they are watched
by jealous enemy who fights in the dark
their views are distorted, and it is sought to
brand them as the advocates of anarchy and
misrule But, democracy has its seat in the
bosom of God, and its voice is the harmony
/ of the world" 1t is the twin-sister of chris
tianity, sent from heaven for the regeneration
of man. II is the true exponent of liberal
principles, the true guardian of human pro-
gress; and in its contest with antiquated fed
eralism, however disguised it must come forth
from the strife, all radent with victory.
A few suggestions will show how anti
democratic the new organization is.
Secret societies for political purposes are
the children of despotic lands, where the
press is muzzlet, and where the expression
of opinion is made crime. An American
who resorts to secrecy, in thought or action,
dishonors the institutions of his country,
whose grand design was to secure freedom of
word and deed, by practically denying that this
object has been attained. He says in effect
must. to accomplish my purposes, resort to
other means than fair discussion. What en-
terprizes of guilt are these which require, in
republican America, to be enveloped in dark
ness? 1t is we'll for the republic that night
has not been able to shroud the nefarious as
semblage, nor the secluded council-cham-
bers, to hold the voice of conspiracy within
its walls The candidate is required, by sol
emn oatbs, to surrender his birthnght as a
freeman, to sacrifice his liberty of action, to
become blind instrument of Others. A citi-
zen should have the right of hearing every
question on which he votes debated before he
makes up his mind; and the right to change
has mind at the very last moment. This is an
inestimable privilege; but the member of this
association is, like common soldier mere
machine. He puts ticket into the ballot
box, but it is not his ticket; it is the ticket of
an order. Is an election SO made, free cleo
ton? There are laws against bribery and
undue influences at elections but will not
the remembrance of the solemn oaths he has
taken, and dread of his associates, if he proved
false, operate OH the voter more powerfully
than any pecuniary bribe could do?
This il not the first instance in history
where the principle of association, which was
intended for good, has been made the potent
instrument of evil; and where, by its means,
institutions have been thrust ON society, which
isolated individuals were afraid to resist and
freedom of thought one which all truth de-
pends, restrained and crushed.
The only real ground of objection to our
foreign population, viz: their occasionally ri
otous habits, springs from intemperance and is
confined to few large cities
This will not be remedied by reducing them
to the condition of serfs. Vicious propensi-
ties are often the effect of Inundated cons
dition and despair of improvement If you
would benefit your country and your race, in
spire the degraded with self-respect and open
up the avenues for distinction. The elective
franchise places its possessor in position of
civil equality with his neighbor; thus, his
ambition is stimulated, and he is made anx-
ious to prove himself worthy of the trust.
This is the invariable result unless the salu-
tary influence, produced by the consciousness
of possessing freeman's rights, is counter
acted by other causes. Habitual intemper-
ance must, undoubtedly, sink the character.
If the safety of the country demands that
drunkards should be excluded from voting,
the exclusion should not be confined to for
eigners; it should embrace all. Our Know
Nothing friend reads his journal and exclaims
"Ahl another murder among the Irish, par
ties drunk, +" aud he congratulates himself ON
country of the scoundrels.. Now, neither the
murders nor the drunkenness will be dimn-
ished, though they may be increased, by
taking from foreigners the elective franchise.
In wholesale abuse of the popish or infidel
miscreants, our worthy friends of the night
conclave loose sight Of the true question Tissue
The true question as, has the eiective franchise
been used to Ue detrimea Of Anaeroan instita-
tions, We say, it has not and that our conn
try has been web governed The proof ol
the pudding is in the eating. The principles
and measures of the Democratic party, are
such as promote the true welfare OF the nation
and its repeated victories are convincing de
monstrations that the elective franchise ha,
been we'll exercised, and not abused. cd
The Federalists are sore, because they have
had 50 little power and patronage, and the,
ascribe the triumph of democracy, to politica
corruption engendered by foreign votes.--
Hence, their tears. But there has been M
: political corruption the principles and meas
ures of the democracy have been sanctione,
; because they were intrinsicaily good and tn
; verdict of the American people in their fayo
{ must be reversed, before the Know Nothn
t movement can be approved by considerat
men.
I:s leaders, however, wish to avoid this pc
fitical issue and, to do 50, visit all the conse
a .quences of the original depravity of man o
T. foreigners. They can show, no doubt, tn;
, foreigners are not exempt from the sins tn;
J, flesh is heir to. But they do not choose to r.
: member that in our large cities, foreigne
: constitute, almost exclusively, the substratul
J, of our laboring population, that American
= are higherup in the scale of occupation; b.
It that Americans, in the same situation, woul
do no better; perhaps, worse. Again, all Il