The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-11
THE SYRACUSE COALITION.

Last spring great flood came rushing down from
tho mountains Of the Interior the heavens opened
upon us in copious and long continued showers,
until all the plains and valleys Of the West were
either inundated or 30 saturated as to close nearly
every avenue of trade and intercourse There were
hose--and they were many--who feared that a radi-
cal change in the order and operations of nature had
been inaugurated and that the equilibrium between
'the waters and the dry land" was about to suffer
permanent arrangement. AS the season advanced
the foods were succeeded by excessive heat, rapid
evaporation, and an annoying absence of rains So
it was few years ago--the public mind of the coun-
try was startled by the sudden uprising and almost
overwhelming know-nothing native-American
party. There was no spot all this continent that
did not feel the weight and force of this new po-
litica apparition sprang into the full vigor and
force Of manhood in the twinkng ofan eye Its move
ments shrouded in profound mystery, its councils
held at midnight, and its DEGREES known only to a
few initiated prophets and seers the unity of its
disciples perfect, and its effects upon the coun
try almost overwhelming. 1t was the food OF an
early summer which threatened the complete subju-
cation Of every opposing interest, and the prostitu
ton Of the American mind to the meanest illibe-
salty and prescription which has degraded a
civilized people. For the first time in the history of
our politics it sought to the religious prejudices
Of the community means Of political advance
msnt There those who feared that tho tide Of
fanatioism which it set in motion would soon
whelm the country and reduce all it's political pow
er to tho midnight decision and judgment of odious
secret league. We were not, however, of the num-
Der who thus estimated the ultimate destiny Of
know-nothingism. We thought it ftfu vcissitude
of politics--one OF those eruptions that appear
the body of the State, resulting from temporary
arrangement Of the systematic fever Of an hour
which would pass away and be succeeded by
heasthfal circulation of the blood and the return
to thS. normal condition of mind for which our peo
pie distinguished above any other on the globe.
At length we have the formal capitulaton of
know-nothingism in the State of New York to the
black-republicans at Syracuse. The lattcr party,
after having nominated their candidates for gov
ernor and lieutenant governor, politely submitted
their decision to the know-nothng convention, and
requested that they would be pleased to fill up the
balance of the ticket The abotionists, having thus
constructed church and ordained their bishops
party the privilege of naming some of the minor
officers of the hierarchy, and promising all the lay
followers the benefits and saving ordinances of the
new dispensation Know-nothngism, fallen too low
to be heard as distinct organization, gladly avas
itself of the occasion to capitulate to the abolition
lists, the latter haring previously arranged that
the ticket to be filled out By the immaculate State
council shall include only he names Of those per-
sons syho haze heretofore secretly acted wM repub-
lcans. This is the end of the conferences between
Mr. Greeley, Mr. Headlcy and Mr.. Westbrook it is,
the end of the Dark Lantern movement in the State
Of New York it is the end, we trust, of all conf
dcnce in the integrity of the most unprncipled po
itcal managers on all Sides who have ever traded
on the peace and security of the Union. Know
nottingham which two or three years ago held up its
head in all the majesty and pride of power--that
pointed to Crittenden, Marshall Kennedy Fillmore,
Bell, and others as its apostles and patriots that
quickly overwhelmed Massachusetts, New York,
Maryland, and Tennessee, now comes in to futter
at the tail Of abolition kite constructed by Horace
Greeley and Thurlow Weed. How are the mighty
fallenl Was thore no other way of escape Are
the rank and file certain that they have not been led
on as Arnold would have led his command Was
their life 80 utterly unpromisng, their death so
sure, their disgrace certain, that they~must ac-
cept the degrading terms submitted to them of
recruiting only for the republican army Could
they not at least have surrendered without be-
ing compelled to enlist with their late enemy
The telegraph tells us that their resolutions
submitted to the republican convention were
ceived with great applause. 1t was doubtless de-
rsion and contempt The republicans never enter
tanned the least respect for the know-nothngs.
They have always treated them as the Hessians of
American politics, and looked with interest upon
their movements precisely as the hunter looks after
HIS game. They knew they were to be bought,
bribed. trapped, circumstances should require;
to be bought with money, bribed with Offices, and
trapped with aattery. They have now got the lead
ers in their power, and trust they will be able to
keep them. We beg to remind them that this is the
year 1858, and that, if they think to retain party
which they have paid for, they must lock all the
doors of the cage and surround it with their most
vigilant scntnels.
We congratulate the democracy of the Union on
the contamination of the coalition in New York.
We call upon the people Of the South and West,
where know-nothingsm has claimed to be strictly
nat onal In character to witness its merger with