The Placer herald., 1856-10-11
For the Placer Herald
The Triangular Fight.

Editor Herald:-The time is fast approacb;n,,
when the American people will again have an on'
portunity of exercising the great prerogative Of
freemen-the elective franchise-and thrM,oh thot
medium of choosing their rulers. The Presiden'
tial contest seems to be surrounded with moro in
terest in a national point of view, than has char.
acterized any eleCton since 1S48 The great d.
mocratic party of the Union is now battling viii
two belligerent opponents whose policy is entirely
different from any with which it has had to con.
tend heretofore.
On the one hand we have the Know-Nothino or
so called American party-which has in consc
quence of its mysterious and secret workings at
tracted within its meshes many unwary voters
and attained foothold throughout the nation that
success has frequently crowned its efforts beyond
the expectations of many. Bat the great yefsrms
and retrenchments which this party promised The
people have proven mere abortion-clap-trap set
in bait to catch voters. Its original policy wac
more applicable to different localities, if applica
bic at all-than to the founding Of national
party--and hence the divisions which have arisen
when it has come together to act as such. Wihs
patched-up platform, agreed upon by part Of
the so called National Convention, they nominated
a man. upon such political buffoonery- hut who
as a reward for engulphing Know -Nothingism. was
promised the Presidential nomination | have
never yet seen it denied that Millard Fillmore
was made a KnowNothng in his parlor at his
hotel by committee--having refused even to
enter one of their midnight cabals or dens. Lat
terly, having an eye perhaps to the future they
have repudiated their ''old style" of Know-Nc-
things, and are now sailing under whatever style
suits the locality. For instance. in some places
they call themselves "Fiilmore Whigsn Fillmore
Americans" Silver Gray Whgs,' X. n. Ameri-
cans" &c, &c. But with all their different names
and styles. | think they are the same cid ones
yet, foreshadowed by the dark lantern-and like
Billy Kookoos old horse who had but one hair
and that grew under his tail.
The Democracy need apprehend but little dan
ger from the know-Nothings- of electoral votes
they will hardly take enough to be considered in
their way. Their day is up-and the wild hunt
after Office which certainly is the principal char
acteristic of their leaders will have TO take turn
after some better game than the fosting upon the
American people so pusillanimous a bastard as
Known Nothingsm. That ''Americans should rule
America" perfectly agree None have ever ru-
ed us at the ballat-box but Americans, according
to the sheet-anchor Of America-the Constitution
and none ever will. The palladium Of our liber
ties wisely does not discriminate between the na-
tive born and adopted citizen. Royalty may alone
endorse royalty, but this is not royal govern
ment--not yet having got along that far The
carcass of KnowNothingism has Just been gal
vanized enough to give its last kick" on the
4th OF November neXt-when il will return ito
that bourne from whence 10 traveller returns
fifty miles bey yOnd the head Of Salt River.
The Republicans are part of this triangular
fgbt-and who are they?
STONE FENCE.