Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-05-24
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As in 1848, we are still at our post
! now in 1856, upon the V of a great
political contest, %contending in our
humble sphere, a we were conscien-
tiouslv contending then, for PRINCE
PIES, the supremacy of which we be-
lieye will lead to the social and polit~
ical happiness and greatness Of the
American People. Eight years have
greatly changed the face of IL poll
teal afairs-new and important issues
have arisen, and of such magnitude
as to create a great, national and en-
thnsiastic party, separate and distinct
from all other parties or political CONS
binations, and which has nearly de-
stroyed both the Wing and Demo-
cratic parties, the great giants that
were battling for power in l648.-
The former party has but a few noble
followers left, who, like the clan of
Roderiek Dhue, still cling to their
Aieftain's cause while hope itself has
persisted: a love for the memory Of
the great CLAY is all that keeps toge-
Their the present scattered remnants of
the old Wing party. And where is
the man, boasting of intelligence and
truth, who will lay his hand upon his
heart, and say that the Democratic
party of to-day is anything else but in
"name," the Democratic party of l848?
Like the serpent, it is secret, wiley
and wiry, and if not as venomous, it
pursues its prey with greater rapacity,
and would often inflct death if it had
the power; 1t changes its skin, too, about
as often as the serpent, but differing in
this respect from the devils represen-
tative on earth-the new skin which
succeeds the old is of a different color
and texture. Thus the Democratic
party has been gradually losing the
color Of its skin for the last eight years,
until now, it is 50 "foreign" in its ap-
pearance, that none of its "natiVe" or
original colors can be recognised, save
that of the BLACK, which has Won
derfullY increased since Mr.. President
Pierce honored men of ''black' procli-
vities with high offices under Govern
ment. Such then is the character of
the Anti,American party, (but still
retaining its popular synonym, ODE
mocratic, " which, assisted by that go
reign influence, :" against the insidious
wiles" Of which our beloved WASH
1NGToN SC urgently warned his fell
low countrymen-an imported ally,
strong, boastfui, determined and uni
ted-iS waging a war of bitter inyec-
tive, calumny and persecution against
those Of the American party, which
has no precedent heretofore in the
history of political crusades! We are
upon the wrong side for this "latitude,"
but we are proud to say that WE ARE
ON THE SIDE OF OUR Country II
and if health lasts, we expect to do
our duty faithfully and untiringly in
a cause which, more than any other
great political cause that has origina-
ted since the foundation Of the Gov
eminent, comes nearer home to the
hearts and sympathies Of the Ameri-
can people.
"American," then, to the backbone.
may be fairly judged, is the political
complexion OF our paper. We must
beg to say here, however, that we are
the Steadfast friend of the immigrant
who seeks an asylum on our shores,
not to NEEDLE with our political insti-
t%utions, but to find a happy and pros
porous home for himself and family.
We trust there are many such who are
now enjoying the blessings of these
institutions within their proud and
contented homes and while gazing
upon the loved features Of their Ame-
can sons, will declare, upon the holy
altar of their affections, they are still
content, as when they first set foot
upon American soil, that "Americans
shall rule America
Politics, as heretofore, will only
constitute a portion of our journals
attention. A faithful compendium Of
foreign and domestic news will be
as usual, together with an ap-
propriate space allotted for che arts,
sciences, agricultural matters, and the
most choice literary reading. The
wants and interests of our town and
parish will ever receive our first at
t%ention, irrespective of party consider
atIons-a course which we have here.
tofore pursued. In all respects, it is
our aim to make the SENTINEL a
welcome visitor to eVry family, by our
undated efforts TO make its columns
source of pleasure and profit, intel
lecfraIlv tn all classes IF roadorc