Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-27
"The Causes of Defeats,

ssThe Causes of Defeat.',
Know Nothing papers arc generally very ridicu-
lous things, but never were they SO ridiculous as in
accounting for the recent defeat of their party in
this State Before the election they boosted that
they had about two presses to our one; that their
numerous orators were everywhere explaining and
enforcing their "great American principles" and
that Democracy destined to be routed and over
thrown. NoW they creep back into their dark cul-
verts turn the sanctmonious whites of their eyes,
and with hypocritical winnings swear, "Our prin-
cip'es were not understood !" Then one of three
things must be true: The K. N orators and editors
were such set of fools they could not explain their
principles: the people such fools they could
Lot understand the explanations or the causes now
assigned are utterly false.
The first proposition we shall not discuss; the
second is not correct; and the third is true.
Before the principles and objects of Know Moth
ingism, with their accompanying mysteries and
mumerles, were known, their comparative success
paid but poor compliment to the intelligence and
discretion of the people but when these things
came to be understood the people redeemed them
selves by general uprising against such IMPOSE
tons. The masses are honest, and their very hon.
they are unsuspectng; but when they See that
they have been deceived, they rise with indignation
and sternly rebuke those who have mised them
This has been their towards Know Nothing
ism. As long as that party covered in darkness
and wrapped the black mantle of secresy around it.
it appeared to prosper; but Democracy
dragged it into the light stripped Of its dark COW
ering and exposed it's hideous deform.y, the people
turned from it, not merely with loathng, but with
indignation. They against it as injured nno-
cencc against its betrayer.
"Our prnciples!" forsooth. Really such an ex-
preston from X. N. lips would be amusing were it
not perfectly ridiculous. What are those princi.
pies? Are they those embraced in the platform of
June, 1866, those different ones in the platform
of February, 1856? Or they those enunciatcd
by the famous twenty-five Know Nothngs that
nominated Stockton and Rayner? Are they the
original simon pure X. n doctrines that now find
their embodiment in Fremont, and which made
Banks Speaker? Are they the principles promul-
gated on paper those portrayed in action, such
the Hiss committees doiugs in Massachusetts,, the
practical enforcement of "Americanism " amid fire
and blood in Louisville, and the ruffanly mobs of
New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington, and other
cities? Are they those set forth by Mr. Fillmore's
Eric Letter, and its worthy companion, the attec
tonate episte of Kenneth Rayner? Let US know
what you now consider your "principles not
that the present gives any indications of the future,
for you change about as often as the moon does.
sour principles "-do you mean those you pro.
TESS, the contrary you practice? Processing
opposition to foreigners, yours is the only party
that has ever expressly invited them to shores
and whenever you have been able to find foreign
er so debased SO lost to all selfrespect as attach
himself to your cause you crow louder over him
than a dozen natives You pretend to be OPP
posed to Catholics, yet you receive them into your
conventions and elevate them to office. There is
now in the House of Representatives, from LOU
siana, whom Mr. Reade, of this State, will be apt to
remember for long time. You profess to be ex.
clussely American" yet you scarcely have pro-
mnent man among you that has not, in every diff
! Guilty between his own and foreign country, taken
sides against his own. Witness John A. Gilmers
course in the Legislature of North Carolina during
the Mexican war; when he refused to vote supplies
20 brave volunteers unless coupled with reso-
luton in effect declaring the United States wrong
and Mexico right. Witness N. j. Boydcn's vote in
| Congress to disgrace his own country by dishon-
| orabe peace with Mexico. Witness Tom Corwin s
speech, land Tom Corwin is endorsed by the Signal
advising the Mexcans to welcome SO diers with
bloody hands TO hospitable graves" And in the re-
cent difficulties between government and that of
| Great Britain, Know Nothngs have generally sided
| with the British government. In fact one of their
platforms expresses "oppostion to the reckless and
unwse policy" Of their own government. They
denounced the President for not Diminishing the Brit.
ish minister and after his dismissal, they denounced
him for doing it, and declared that he about to
plunge the country into war by his rashness.
sour principles not understood" They are un-
derstood, and that has secured their defeat. Your
principles every thing and nothing everything
get into Office and nothing to benefit the country
everything for spois, nothing for patriotism. Big
oted and ntolerant, your principles are calculated
to restore the age of religious persecution to destroy
the freedom of man, and not only to stop the Of
human progress, but to roll it back in darkness and
| in blood.
ELECTION RETURNS.
Currituck County.
For the Senate, Col. j. B. jones' DEM, 315; j.
B. Etheridge K. n, g.. Commons, S. 3. Jarvis