The Nevada Democrat., 1856-09-24
Old Line wings VS.. Know Noth,ngism.

Old Line wings VS. know NOthlngism'
1t is amusing to behold the squirming and
*riggling of our K. N. friends in the present
depressed condition of their fortunes.
A year ago. the order in the hey-dey of its
glory, scorned to know the poor old whig party
There were none so poor to do it reverence
With afew honorable exceptions, the whole
swarm of Whggery gathered into the hives OF
Knownothingism, and battening upon the sweets
of office, congratulated themselves that they
had better thing than the barren heath over
which they had been led by the old kng-bees OF
the North and of the South. But those old gen.
erous leaders had not looked alone to their own
store. They took their flight above all selfish
aims, and by the authority of superior genius,
they compelled their followers to keep above
the impure vapors of bigotry, and sectonalism.
To drop metaphor, we look back in vain for
any mention of the ''old line wings" during the
elections of last year and the year before. 1t
would not have been profitable to have set up
that idol. The Democrats would have been un-
deceived who were tempted to enter their coun-
ellis, by that word, and at that name. In cold
blood, and with premCditation, the great mass
of the Whig party, arose from the sepulchers oi
Clay and Webster and swore with uplfted
hands to observe ritual no line of which is in
unison with the teachings of those great and
wise patriots So long as the delusion lasted
and enough heads could be counted around the
council fires to give assurance of success, there
was not whisper of whiggery except to name
ii with the things that were. But last year we
heard Gov Foote proclaim in the streets of Ne
vada, that there was no whig party, and that
the Democratic party was a faction
A faction, why Because, said Gov. Foote,
the old issues between those two parties have
given way to new issues 1t was our duty, and
we answered, that because the besiegng army
had made a feint OF withdrawing their forces,
was it for us to desert the citadel OF democracy.
That democracy had thrown up mighty breast
works to protect the constitution from assault,
and bastions to protect the ministers of govern
rnent from corruption. That these should be
preseryed in all their strength, and the sentinel
should remain OF his post, and the engineers and
artj6cers on duty, to repair every breach made
by the elements or by the enemy.
A year has shown that we were right. or what
means this raliying cry of "up Wings, and at
them"-"old line Whigs," will you join those
who deserted you, and the principles which you
have faithfully cherished. What sympathy can
you have with the false friends, who come to
you, only in the day of their distress.
And who does this appeal to the Wings to raj
" for Fillmore, come from. Who are the pious,
devoted lovers of the Wing party now Who
is the keenest to scent treachery in all who dare
TO speak for Buchanan? Renegades from the
Whig ranks to Knownothingism, have returned
TO teach Straightforward and faithful men, their
duty. We appeal from such Wings, to the no
bier spirits, and loftier minds, the purer patriot
ism, of Choate, of Mass, the friend and associate
of Webster, to Evans, of Maine; to Vinton and
Ewing Of Ohio; to Barnard, of New York; to
Pearce, Pratt and Beverly johnson, of Mary
land; to Dixon and Preston, of Kentucky; to
Clayton, of Delaware; and to host of old line