Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-30
.co1rlruH1cAr1oHs.
For th. Standard.
Editors N. G. Standard:

GENTLExEN: nave heretofore Ocen wing, ahu
in days past advocated the principles Of that party
very zealously and think there has been time
when an honest man could do this not only without
feeling Inundated, but even with that pride anu
pleasure which may arise from sense of duty. But
there has been great change Of places in the year
just closed, and now the space between my ola
friends and myself very wide that there IS not
even remote probability that We will ever again
pull together in political harmony; great guilt Is
fixed" between US, and we indeed are very lar from
making any, the feeb'est, attempt to cross over
to their miry, Doggy, foggy country, where men,
like owls sleep in the day and labor for themselves,
and their country especially, at ng ht. prefer 10
initiate tho eagle that scars abroad in open day. ana
makes no attacks on his enemies when nghts saoe
curtains drawn around Them
The old Wing party is broken up-the great oody
of it having gone over to, and mounted upon, 'a'
celebrated hobby.horsc that travels only IN the
night: and his riders called Know Nothlngs, be-
cause they are not allowed to mount him till they
suffer their eyes to be blindfoded Your readers
are all familiar with the adventures OF that valorous
knight, Don Quixote dc Ia Mancha, and his trusty
SQUIRE Sancho Panza, and will remember well the
character of the horse they rode when they went to
the relief of the afflicted duennas of Candaya Ills
name was Claveno; and being made OF wood, he
neither needed drink, food, repose nor shoes; yet
was his feetness such as would surpass the fastest
railway locomotive, for his riders could dine to-day
in Spain and tomorrow on the Hmalaya Mountains,
if occasion required. His bride was q wooden pin
loosely adjusted in the middle of his forehead, and
the foremost rider could govern his course at will
simply by turning this pin. Yet none could rifle
this horse without suffering themselves first to be
closely blindfoded and thus did the credulous Don
and his squire take their renowned trip The fore
most rider alone was allowed saddle. the rest OF
the poor devils being compelled 70 go barcbacked;
and poor Sancho was even hurried oil without lib
erty even to say his prayers! Dons expedition on
this horse was to fight and kill giant enchanter,
hoUpI f0 on he
faces of the Candayen duennas. All will perceive
without com lent how praise worthy was the object
Of this huge adventure
Now let us examine the character of the horse
that carried off many of our old Wing associates
and see how he compares with Clavileno. The great
evils that suddenly come upon the country awhile
before the last years elections, were that the Cath
olics and foreigners were upon us like the Phiiis-
tines upon Samson shorn Of his locks; and that the
old parties, Wing and Democratic, had become so
thoroughly corrupt" that without timely arrest,
they would ruin the country. Under this grave
nouncement men looked around anxiously and in
auiringly, and the timid grew pale; for all remem-
bered how Samson's eyes were put out, and OH re-
Election very many very wisely concluded that they
could see little enough with their eyes whole, and
that it would be sad without any-they did not yet
know any thing of the hobby horse and how they
vould have 10 be bndfolded-and so they resolved
to help remove these mighty evils. And hereupon
the wire-workers in this humbuggng design, OBJ
serving that the signs of the times favorable,
trotted out their hobby horse, a cursed hybrid Of
fanaticism and demagoguisn', and assigned to him
As many virtues as the most profusc novelist has
ever claimed for his favorte characters They said
he could only travel of nights because he had enc.
mics that were watching for him in the day. and
were mean enough to shoot him for his shabby,
mongrel appearance; but added, by way of induce
ment, that he was very powerful animal, and fully
able to carry all Wings that were either discour-
Oh Ix,, Ill
wanted Office and couldn't get it, and gave most
positive assurances that he could be seen by the
light of lanterns of dark nights, by all who would
come out to the most convenient corn cribs, car
rage shops and frecschoo houses, and even get up
on the animals back by consenting to ride without
saddle or blanket and blindfoIded. Some of the
tender city gentry, having msgvings to this mode
of travel suggested that their dear buttocks might be
smartly abraided by the sharpness of the animals
back but they were Quoted by assurances that he
ambled along so smoothly that his pace wouldn't
even make quicksilver culver; curiosity outweigh.
ed their suspicious and they resolved to see the
horse and ride him at the risk of life
The shrewd fellows among the leaders caused it to
be whispered among the boys and those who stood
with mouths agape at whatever was told them, that
this great horse had eyes about his tail and back as
we'll as in his head and few extra feet, &c., SO
all these fell into the ride with such zeal that the
devil himself coulo not have kept them out OF it. if
he had been minded; but far from il, his chief
delight consisting in creating family jars and sowing
dscord among friends the arch old chap told them
he himself had made the horse, and that not a hair
Of their heads should be harmed, if they would on
ly make the venture. These alluring descriptions
Of this wonderful horse were spread throughout the
country, and reached even the remotest cabins.
where newspaper would be looked at with amaze.
ment. Some of the wiser sort would sometimes
cautiously venture to inquire for particuiars-whv
it was necessary to meet of nights, ride without
saddles, and Observation-Disclosures they were going,
and what was to be done-but they were given to
understand that faith was necessary for salvation
and that revelations must olLoo faith not faith rev.
elations If any still wavered few strange things
were softly whispered to them about Catholics, for.
egners, corruptions of old parties, and the necess
ty Of new one, concluded with a knowing look or
nod-as much as to say "still water runs deem "
you know, and "walls may have ears" or even the
air. By way of driving the nail to the head, was
asked the question-"are you an American ?"-
which, of course, was answered acknowledgement
then came. that's all We require"
The older sort rested their chins on their breasts
and sighed heavily upon these strange things but
hnaiy concluded they must go for country in their
hour OF trial the younger sort, however, made a
Jolltcaton adventure of it. and fell in like water
through hoodgate-rough and tumble. Thus
started they all out to mount this Cavileno of the
nineteenth century, each winding his way dubious
y, as If lost in the countless mazes of an Egyptian
labyrinth. Now, all the uninitiated as they neared
tho crib, kitchen, or whatever might be the na.
ture Of the structure stepped high and softly and
kept an eye now this way and nov that in order to
keep out Of sight Of the Catholics; and all things
being favorable, they were challenged by the senti-
mel who WI required of them sign of faithfulness
ana the examination being closed each one entered
by door that opened just enough to not scrane
on his coat buttons, when 10 there stood the ami
NAL Then they were told his real name was "Sam.n
ana that ne would recognize all as worthy who cali
ed him by that name. big fat man, called the
flesloent then arose with great gravity, and well