Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-03-12

Three Parties In lhe Field.
Clear and apparent - the sun in it, meridian
spiendor, is the conviction, which has taken full
possession Of the public mind, that the men who
now control and administer the government, in
its executive department, and their advisers, are
| notorioasiy incompetent for their positions By
their vandai acts, IN rushiessly interfering with
| the compromises, which had been universally
acquiesced in, and had assumed in the popular
| mind, sacredness only short Of the Constitu-
ton itself, they have brought upon the country
| a storm that other hands than theirs must allay
Statesmen of more tried abilities, Of wider
range Of thought, and less selfish policy, must
be placed at the head of affairs. The experience
Of the last few years ought and doubtless will be
valuable lesson as showing the folly of eleva-
ting to high Executive station, men who have
neither ability nor integrity-who have neither
moral worth, experienced craftsmanship or in
tellectual ability. Politicians by trade-party
tricksters and wireworkers, have no thought, or
ability, or aim, beyond their own aggrandize-
ment. They are not the men for the present
crisis.
1t is well for men Of all parties to consider the
present state of political affairs and decide upon
their own line of duty in the light Of reason and
common sense. The Democratic party, under
its present leadership, proposes no remedy ade-
quate to the present emergency. Under the
yacilating and pusilla nimous administration of
Franklin Pierce, Popular Sovereignty is likely
to divide and distract the country, stir up Sec
tional strife, jealousy and hatred, and possibly
end in intestine war and disunion itself 1t has
been tried and universally condemned.
The Know Nothing party are in the field with
platform and candidate, although the one does
not stand upon the other Their platform is
or might as well be perfect blank upon the inn
portant question Of the day. They dodge the
slavery question. But it would be all the same
did they meet it in their platform, SO long as their
candidate for the Presidency does not stand up
on it.
The Republican party has just entered upon
its career. 1t proposes to meet this yexed ques-
ton and settle it for all time. 1t proposes to
settle it in favor offreedom-to settle it in ac-
cordance with the letter and spirit of our free in
stitutions. 1t proposes to interfere with no
vested rights-not to disturb slavery in single
State But to stop its further spread.
The people will probably as their true senti-
ments and feelings Of duty dictate, fall into line
and range themselves with one or the other of
these parties. The Silver Grey Wings, and Know
Nothings who hate foreigners more than Slavery,
will go for Fillmore, together with the old con-
servative Wings of the South. The collectors,
tide walters, post masters and Office holders gem
orally with the great body of Southern slave own
ers and breeders, border rufians, nulliters and
will 60 for Pierce, Douglas, or the
nominee of the Cincinnati Convention. The great
body of the people of all parties who have look
ed upon slavery as sore evil and curse, and
regarded the disgraceful efforts to Africanize
Kansas as disreputabe to us as nation, will gen.
orally vote with the Republican party. May
God speed the right, say we.