The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-17


Late American Party the Balance OF Power.
The rise and fall of the American or Know
Nothing organization form one Of the most
curious and interesting episodes in the history of
political parties. In the Presidential election
of 1852 the proud old wing party went down, to
rise no more. So overwhelming was the majority
for the democratic ticket that it was supposed
this party had secured new and certain lease Of
the government for twenty years to come. But,
alas! within single year, all this formidable
array ofdemocratic strength and solidity vanished
into thin air A paltry Custom House appoint
ment, and the party squabbles and divisions
which il produced, proved that the democratic
union of so was from the cohesive power Of the
public plumber" and that the demand for the
spoils exceeded the supply. Next, that hazard
Gus Southern experiment of Douglas and Pierce
for the Presidential succession-that disastrous
Kansas-Nebraska bill-precipitated an opposition
majority into the House Of Representatives, and
in the State elections of 1854 revealed an oppo-
sition majority throughout the Union of upwards
of three hundred thousand on the popular vote.
But in this general majority, omnipotent
if united, there was neither coherency,
consistency nor discipline. 1t was COM
posed of the loose materials of sudden
revolution and Of all sorts of political
elements. Two new parties had risen from the
ruins Of the old wing party and the disntegra-
tons of the democracy, to wit the republican
and the Know Nothing parties. But while the
former was loosely organized upon Northern
anti-slavery reaction against the repeal of the
Missouri compromise, the latter assumed the ter
rible shape of an extensive secret political con-
spiracy against aliens. Roman Catholics. the
Catholic Church, and the Pope of Rome. In
1853 we had the first disclosures in this city of
the existence Of this Order, in Fourth of July
collision between an omnibus and an Irish pro-
cession. The omnibus driver was pretty roughly
treated for his manifest contempt for the parade,
when presto like the followers of Rhoderic
Dhu at the sound of his whistle, the natives of
the neighborhood swarmed to the rescue and
speedily put our patriotic Celtic fellow-citizcns
to flight. This rescue betrayed degree of
efficiency and discipline which astonished all
parties, until it was disclosed that the pledges,
signs and signals Of a secret anti -Catholc anti
Irish fraternity had done the business.
The first revelation was speedily followed in
this and in other States by political action in our
State and local elections Thus operating, under
secret system of discipline, remarkable for its
unity, force and harmony. this Know Nothing
order, before the expiration of the year 1854,
had received such powerful reinforcements in
every quarter that men of all parties and Sec
tions believed 1t would stoutly contest, and pro-
badly carry, the Presidential election of 1856.
Accordingly, the ranks Of this powerful and
mysterious organization were sweled on every
side 10y worn out leaders or inpatient aspirants
Of the older political parties, North and South
And thus, in 1855, they boldly and confidently
undertook the task of capturing the stronghold
Of the democracy-the Old Dominion. But the
Virginia democracy, led by an old line whig,
Henry A. Wise, in this decisive battle proved
too much for their new enemy and his rout was
as complete and disastrous as that Of Napoleon
at Waterloo
From that day the prestige Of this American
movement, and the mysterious power which had
been associated with its mysterious organization,
rapidly declined: and thus this ephemeral party
entered into the campaign Of 1856 confessedly in
the reduced proportions of political balance of
power between the republicans and the demo
cracy. Mutiny had crept into the camp tho
charm Of the secret rites and ritual, and the
light Of the dark lantern, had lost their
force; and so, to keep their wavering ranks
in order, the American Presidential Convention
was held in February. There the contest be-
tween George Law and Willard Fillmore resulted
in split, which carried over a considerable de-
taehment Of the North Americans" TO the re-
publican forces The Fillmore wing Of the party
however. nominated their man. and fought him
through the campaign on conservative native
issues. North and South. They carried only the
electoral vote Of Maryland: but the popular vote
of the Union for Fillmore reached the respectable
figure Of eight hundred thousand and caused a
popular diversion Of the opposition balance Of
power In the North. which unquestionably
achieved the election of Mr.. Buchanan.
Exhausted by this extraordinary victory Of
American" principles the party has since been
rapidly dying out II scarcely maintains a show
Of opposition in any Southern State below Mary
land; and in the North excepting the State OF
New York, there is hardly TO be found the rem
nant Of o separate Know Nothing State organi-
cation. And yet we have no doubt that in the
materials which composed the Fillmore vote Of
1856, and 10 the dormant old wing materials In
the South which Fillmore was too weak TO call
out, there exist at this day, and will exist
In 1sG0, the elements Of conservative balance
ofpower which will prevent the nomination Of
Seward, and the adoption Of his Rochester anti
slavery platform by the republicans or which
will inevitably crush him and his party as be-
tween the upper and the neither milestone.
The popular vote Of this State Of 1856, 1857
and Of 1858 foots up respectively az follows
Dcan