davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

first to kick the Lecompton Constitution out of
Congress, we believe the Democratic party
would have carried at least half of the Northern
States; for it would then have given the high
est possible exempli6cation of devotion to con-
stitutional principles, by adhering to them even
when the expediency of the moment may have
dictated otherwise. The individual who is hon.
est only when it is his interest to be so, deserves
no credit. 1t is he only who follows honesty as
governing principle, who will adhere to
it when it leads him into antagonism with his
own interest, that will win the confidence and
respect of his fellow men. So with nations-so
with parties Their influence will live only
while they adhere to their principles.
"While we blame Northern men, many of
them with great business, for their desertion, let
us not forget that we ourselves are not blame
less. If the South remain united and true to
her principles, she will always triumph; if she
desert her principles, even though united, she
should expect defeat and retribution. The
North followed expediency in opposing the an
nexation of Texas, because it sanctioned Sla-
very, and was consequently defeated. The South
followed expediency in urging the admission of
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, and
was also defeated. And we firmly believe that,
if bona tide slave State were to apply for ad-
mission, and the Republicans, adhering to ex-
pediency, opposed her admission, they would
have the same retribution measured to them
which has been measured to u.s."
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
A POOR EXCUSE.
A contemporary says

A contemporary says:
"While we should hail with gladness any re-
liable assurance that there would never be an
other prize fight in America, we shall neverthe-
less, in case there shall hereafter be one be
pretty sure TO give some account OF 1t. 1t we
do not, the omission will be due, not to the fact
that we detest prize-fghtng, but that we deem
the parties so obscure, and the whole affair so
contemplate, that we may iustifably let it sink
at once into oblivion. In the other case, we
may condemn and reprehend the fight in our
editorial columns, but We shall not undertake
to suppress the material facts
prize fight in every case is " a contempt
ible affair" and the actors in it would be OBJ
scure," bit for the Press. 1t is the newspaper
alone that makes heroes of them. The mate.
rial facts" of the late prize fight were-that
Morrissey and Heenan, couple of DULLES,
fought several rounds, beat each other so badly
that at last they could scarcely do any more
damage, and Heenan, unable " to come to the
scratch" was declared vanquished. Had the
New York papers confined themselves to these
material facts, the bullies would have remained
obscure, and their fight "a contemplate affair"
But they must have their reporters for the oc-
casion. The nativities, ages, dimensions, train
ing, past performances, of the distinguished
gentlemen Of the ring, were duly noted Next
the field of battle was mapped off the appear
ance, clothing, and bearing of the heroes, were
particularly described. Even the little difficult
ties that beset the prelimnaries were not over
looked; and all these having been arranged,
how the reader was electrified with the Mitonic
exhibition of the fight itself-it was as if the
fallen angels were fighting their battles over
again
Are these material facts? For heavens
sake, let us not try to deceive ourselves and
the public. The People, we think, require ex-
element and so we give them sensation news.
New York city abounds with readers who dote
upon the details of murder and hanging, who
crowd to witness Bill Poole professions, who
dwell with more profound pleasure in high
lywrought pictures Of prize fights than even
tales of Sepoy massacres-and the newspapers
become their purveyors. 1t is a business trans
action-that is ALL. They publish sensation
pages for money, just as the keeper of the cof-
feehouse sells his slings and mint juleps How
powerfully edifying would be discourse on
temperance from the dram-seller, surrounded
by his many-colored decanters, dealing out ex-
quisite poisons at the rate of shilling glass
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

Lord of Hosts, to give pebbles the force of
darts and spears. Others appear to have really
wanted the perception of any great difference in
point of excellence between the meaner and
the superior modes of writing"
Again
Scripture phrases, then, can no longer
make solemn impression, when modified and
vulgarized into the texture of language
which, taken altogether, is the reverse of every
thing that can either attract or command.
Such idioms may indeed remind me of proph-
cts and apostles, but it is a recollection which
prompts to say, who are these men, that instead
of respectfully introducing at intervals the d.
rect words of those revered dictators of truth,
seem to be undermining the sacred language
by barbarous initiative dictiOn Of their own
They may affect the form of a Divine solem-
nity but there is no fire from heaven They
may show something like a burning bush, but
it is without an angel"
Again:
Let the Oracles of inspiration be cited con-
tinually, both as authority and illustration, in
a manner that shall make the mind instantly
refer each expression that is introduced to the
venerable book whence it is taken but let our
part of religious language be simply ours, and
let those oraces retain their characteristic force
of expression, unimitated, unparodied, to the
end OF time"
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
THE NICARAGUAN EMIGRATION
SCHEME EXPLODED.

The Secretary of the Treasury has authorized
the Collector Of Mobile TO refuse clearance to
Walkers vessel, the Alice Painter. bound for
Greytowni Walker cheated the Administra-
ton last year by false representations and
forged papers, and now he experiences the
force Of the maxim, that falsifer -" is not to be
believed even when he speaks the truth" lie
is condemned on suspicion, and his schemes
frustrated
We confess our surprise, and we doubt not
that the Southern fre-eaters will share with us
In it, that the author of the 0stend Manifesto
should display such zeal in the suppression of
flibustering schemes for the extension of Sla-
very. In all sincerity, we think the President
deserves the praise of good citizens for this act
OF has administration, but we apprehend that,
taken ia connection with the arrest of Walker
last November, it is destined to bring down
upon his devoted head storm of Southern in
dignaton. He is as unfortunate in his honest
efforts to protect Nicaragua as he was in his
criminal attempts TO subjugate Kansas.
The truth is, that the predominant class in
the South is growing wisely conservative or
rather timid. and it is the aim Of Mr. Buchanan
TO consult the preponderant majority, rather
than the handful of impracticable ultraists, who
in fheir headstrong fury would precipitate the
country into serious difficulties with England
and France for doubtful acquisition. Kansas
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
THE HUMAN-FLESH PARTY.

John Mitchell, the Irish refugee, out-herods
Herod in his advocacy of Slavery. The sober
minded friends of the peculiar institution .
cannot fail to feel disgust, upon reading the
following from Mitchers Southern Citizen Of
the DIST utimo: r.
John j. McRae has not only been elected
as a member of Congress from Mississippi. to
take the place of General Quitman, but has
beeIt elected triumphantly, has even to a won
derful extent harmOnized parties and all by
his plain, straightforward advocacy of the slave
trade with Africa. In one county, where the
people are almost all Know Nothings, McRae, "A
strong Democrat had almost every vote Know
Nothingsm, they think, is good, but negroes at
800 are better.
g Is not this a matter for Southern politicians
to reflect upon? Might not some of them i'm
prove their position before the people, by say
ing at once, they are for the people buying their
hands in the cheapest market?
In South Carolina as our Charleston cor
respondent informs u.s. Mr. Spratt has been
elected to the State Legislature by a very large
majority and Mr.. Pettigrew has failed of his
election. Well, who is Mr. Spratt? and who
is Mr.. Pettigrew? Why, the first is a man who
desires to give industrious farmers chance to
buy cheap negroes; and the second is the very
author of certain Minority Report laid be-
fore the last Legislature, which opposed the
importation of cheap negroes. 1t is true this
issue was not expressly made in the South
Carolina elections they are very prudent peo
pie in that State; and have notions of policy
which we do not pretend to understand. In
fact, one of our Charleston correspondents was
sharply rebuked by another, for saying the re-
vival of the slave trade would be made an issue
in those elections. Well, then, perhaps nobody
was thinking about the King Of Ashantee and
his fine cheap fellows all the while-but by
some accident gentleman has been sent to
the Legislature who is known to be going there
for one sole purpOse-to patronize the King of
Ashantee.
For our part, we should prefer that he had
been elected dro,cedly for that purpose, like Mr.
McRae in Mississippi. Still, one way or the
other, this cause of the traffic of human flesh
advances and will advance.
What Southern statesman. will next have
the pluck to plant himself on the honest human-
flesh platform? 1t is the true Democracy, for
it will abolish monopoly; it is the best Know
Nothingism, for it will enable Americans to
rule America, (which the English and French
do at presently and, more than all, it is the tru-
est humanity and justice toward both whites
and blacks"
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
THE FUSION CONFUSION POLICY.

The Nev York Express, since the election
to Congress of Luther Garter, the candidate
of coalition of Republicans and Know Moth
ings denies that he is a Republican, or has any
sympathy with them. We suppose the same
may be said of the other four or five Fusion
memberselect from that State. We shall see
in the next Congress what good has come from
the short-sighted coalition policy so earnestly
recommended by the Ne,o York Tribune. The
same policy embraced the indiscriminate sup
port by Republicans of those Democrats for re-
election who had graciously condescended to
vote against the abominable Lecompton Fraud;
hence the reelection of the Illinois delegation.
And yet, with the exception of Col Harris,
more determined enemies to the Republicans
cannot be found than the Anti-LecOmpton
Democratic members from Illinois. Fusion "
simply works confusion among Republicans.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. G. NOVEMBER 25, 1858

and the negro to hideous equality, and thus, de-
facing what God has created, endeavor to form
a set of beings according to his own mind
This is the impiety of Abolitonism. Its COM
mencement is Infdelity. Its end, Atheism"
The modesty of the Day Book forbade his
stating the converse of the proposition, that
mans piety is to be measured by his devotion
to Slavery. The first sigh of the penitent is for
an Alabama plantation stocked with fat ne
groes the poor seeker for the truth makes pill
grimage to the slave pens of Richmond or
New Orleans, while the chivalrous disciples of
the new Gospel engage in crusade of negro
trading, preaching, or editing.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

has been rescued from the very jaws of Slavery,
by Freedomloving people, the SHAREHOLDERS
have lost confidence in their ability to extend
their favorite institution, even with the aid Of
the Federal Government and without it they
are aware that Slavery can never GO an inch
beyond its present limits. These considerations
have much to do with the honest and praise
worthy efforts of the Administration for the
suppression of flibustering. If there were no
hon in the path, the conscience Of the Admin
istration We fear, would not be moved by sense
ofinternational obligations to intercept Walker
in his piratical forays.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
IT DEPENDS ON CIRCUMSTANCES.
One Of our Republican exchanges saws

One Of our Republican exchanges says:
"The Republicans of Illinois fought their
late battle under serious disadvantages. la the
first place, they knew, and the whole State
knew, that a majority of the Republicans of
other States believed it would have been wiser
not to contest the return of those members Of
Congress who had from first to last opposed the
LecomptOn mposture, as every Democrat from
Illinois did. Though the knowledge ofthis fact
did not shake their purpose, it could not fail to
relax in some degree their energies. They must
have felt the want of hearty and perfect sym
pathy on the part Of their brethren outside Of
their borders. The floating vote that is, the
vote of that considerable number who have no
decided, no settled convictions with respect to
the great questions of the day-would naturally
go against them. To have polled so large a
vote, and secured such majority under the
circumstances, are achievements of which the
Republicans Of Illinois may well be proud
We dissent from this statement of the views
of " the Republicans of other States" We do
not believe that majority of them thought that
Z" it would have been wiser not to contest the
return of those members of Congress who had
from first to last opposed the Lecompton i'm
posture" That, certainly, was not our view. 1t
was obviously expedent to take other consider
ations into the account For example an Anti
Lecompton Democrat might have made it clear
" evident that, in all other respects, he would
steadlastly oppose the Republicans. Would it
have been wise for them to vote for his re-elec-
ton :? He may have taken care to accept the
denomination from a regular Democratic Con-
vention, pledged to uphold the Administration,
or to proclaim his devotion to the Democratic
organization, and to the Cincinnati platform
Would it have been wise for Republicans to
support the reelection of such men2 Yes, if
men can stultify themselves without folly
Where an AntiLecompton Democrat had
steadiastly gone through the battle against the
Administration, without turning to the right
hand or the left, and, in coming before the Peo-
pie, stood up as an independent representative,
without profession Of faith in the Cincinnati
| platform, disclaiming allegiance to any Party,
and plainly avowing hostility to the extension
of Slavery, and his determination to persist in
the course he had been pursuing, We admit that
there it might have been wise for Republicans
to vote for his reelection. The opposite policy
was simply to take a leap in the dark.
Does anybody dream that the Douglas Dem
ocrats returned from Illinois will act with the
Republicans in the next Congress, or fail to
give their votes for Democratic organization
of the House? Republicans should recognise
independence, and stand prepared to reward it,
never, however, in such a way as to strength
en- the very Party they are seeking to over
| threw.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
WASHINGTON, D. C.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1858.
A S E R
Inducement to New Subscribers.

Owing to the unusual interest manifested
by our readers in the story now in course OF
publication in the Era, entitled JASPER" we
have concluded, in order that all nelO subscri-
bers may have the benefit of the story, to issue
an Extra on the lst of December, contain
Ing all the chapters published up to that time.
This Extra will be sent free to all near sub
gcribprs
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
PROGRESS IN RUSSIA.

The progress of the present Car seems to be
far more enlightened and liberal than that of
his ilustrious predecessor and father. Nicho-
las was friendly to emancipation; but, coura-
geous as he was in war, he never ventured to
carry out the policy which he approved. His
far less pretentious son, with true heroisIn,
braves the fierce anger of his slaveholding no
bility, in order to elevate the poor down-trod-
den serls.
But another evidence of wise lberality is
furnished in the fact that greater latitude is
given to the press. AS a case in point we
may mention that pamphlet has lately APP
peared, upon the industrial and social cond-
ton Of Russia, as compared with other nations
of Europe. The writer has not spared the ma
tional vanity of his countrymen, or soothed it
with fiatterng falsehoods He has given a
caustic exposure of the poverty and barbarism
of the people, and shown their infeliority to
other nations. The. writer, and the Govern
ment which toerates his freedom, are aware that
the only way to bring about reforms is to show
their necessity When will the South learn
this lesson, and become equally tolerant of
truth
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

The following gentlemen accredited agents for the
Era: g w Liehi Boston, Mass J. A Innis, Salem,
Mass homas Wheeler, Cincinnati, Ohio; l.. T. Park:
Noun Union, Ohio.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

COUNTIES REDEEMED-NoNE LosT-At the
late election the Republicans retained every
county that went for Fremont or Bissell in 1856
They lost not one which they carried at the
Presidential election. And they have redeem
ed from the Democracy seven counties which
went for Buchanan two years ago, viz: De Witt,
Logan, Coles, Edgar, Piatt Edwards, and
Bond-all of which went against Gov Bissell,
except Edwards. Peoria can almost be added
to the column of the redeemed counties Is
there any cause for encouragement or despond-
ency in these facts p Chicago Press and Ili6.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

" KDEAPPING IN KANsAs.-Wiihin the last
seven days, two fiendish attempts have been
made to kidnap free colored men residing at
Lawrence. In the first case, the victim was
caught at nightfall by three unredeemod scoun-
drels, who put him in buggy, and drove to
Franklin. He was here confined for two days,
but fortunately made his escape, though at the
risk of his life. The second attempt was made
on the person of Charles Fisher, colored
barber. He was on his way home, when a
wagon containing three or four men passed by
one of the inmates got out, and, drawing pis-
tol on Fisher, said, Stop, d--n you, or III kill
you. Fisher fled, was holly pursued and shot
at, but finally succeeded in making good his
escape.
The design of these kidnappers was to catch
the negroes, run them into Missouri, and there
sell them as slaves. Some parties have been
arrested on suspicion of being engaged in the
outrages, and are now being tried. Much eX-
element prevails in Lawrence in regard TO the
matter and we trust the villains will be discov-
cred, and punished to the full extent OF the
law. y LedUen0OIth Times.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

ANOTHER SPEECH FROM Mr.. DoUGLAs.-The
political friends of Mr.. Douglas gave him a
brilliant reception at Chicago, on the 18th inst
His speech on the OCCASION though jubiant in
the extreme, is tempered with commiseration
for the fallen foe. This is proper enough, con
sidering that the abolition faction" over
which he has gained so glorious a triumph,
polled four or five thousand votes more than
its conquerOrs.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

"NIGGER- DRIVING - PIETY.-The New York
Day Book has leading editorial upon the
" Impiety of Abolitionism.7 The piety of the
editor gushes forth in the following eloquent
strains
/" 1t is, however, remarkable fact that near
ly all the full-grown Aboitionists are Infdels if
not Atheists, and it may be set down as an in
variable rule, that the nearer man becomes an
AbolitiOnist, the closer he approximates to an
Infdel. This proposition does not admit of a
single doubt, as can be readily illustrated. The
Christian, who looks devoutly to Gods words
and works, to His will as revealed in the Scrip
lures and in Nature, takes things reverently as
he finds them. He would not mar creature
of his Makers creation, or force out of its APP
propriate sphere single being He has formed.
The Abolitionlst, however, would overthrow
Gods works-he wonld force the white man
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

GREAT REPUBLICAN INCREAsE-At the last
Presidential election, the Republicans cast:
For Fremont 96,l99 votes
At the late election for Miller l25,826
Republican increase in two years 29,637
fad the day been fair, the Republican vote
would have been at least ten thousand larger
Chfca0O Press and Tribune.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

DOUGLAS REPUDIATED.-The Montgomery
.AdratiSer, the central organ of the Alabama
p Democracy shrewdly remarks that " the in
evitable consequence of the triumph of Mr..
Douglas will be, either that the political character
of the Democratic party, as the great conserva
tor of the constitutional rights of the South, will
be essentially demoralized, or that the party will
be completely broken up and denationalized."
The editor seems not to relish these alternatives,
and concludes an able and temperate article as
follows:
Such being the present condition and pros
poets Of the Democratic party, as indicated by
the results of the recent elections, and as con
nected with the fortunes of Mr.. Douglas, is there
any reason for Southern Democrats to be graft
fled at the issue of the contest in Illinois As
one, we would prefer that the Democratic party
should be defeated in the next Presidential cleo
ton, rather than it should win success by the
smallest possible further concession to the Anti
Slavery sentiment Of the North. We therefore
prefer defeat to the adoption of Mr.. Douglas as
the Democratic candidate for the Presidency,
because that involves concession. Rather than
this, are sag, let the Democratic party become IN
ats organization, as nor IS IN its essential COM
position, a Southern ScctioRdl party, and let MS
stand on our own constitutional rights, and rely
on own moral and material resources for the
protection of those rights, in the Union, if we
can-out Of it, if we must
The candid admission that the Democracy -
is " a Southern sectional party" is worthy of
all praise
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25

MINNESOTA DEMoCRACY.-The have a very
rare sort Of Democracy in Minnesota, of which
Mrs Swisshelm is the organ. In her paper the
St. Cloud Democrat, of November IL, she in
forms the Republicans that they are entirely
too fast in claiming the members elect from
Stearns county. She insists that they are Dem
ocrats, i'm good standing that one of them was
the Receiver of the Land Office under General
Pierce, and still adheres to the Democratic
party. She grows indignant at the suggestion
that these gentlemen stand on the Republican
platform, and insists that their standard of
Human Freedom is much higher. She SAYS:
They are Just what the Pioneer and Mime
sotidR calls them, Independent Democrats and,
if, by any act in Legislature, they aid the OPP
pressor, and take sides against the oppressed,
they had better never attempt to face their con
Stituents.
The great majority of the Germans in this
district are intensely opposed to Slavery. They
are all Democrats, and claim to be represented
in their own way and in their own proper char
acter They have elected Messrs Wood and
Mcclure as Anti-Slavery Democrats, and, with
a magnanimity which has been fully reciprocal
ted by the Republicans here, have also elected
Mr.. Whitney as Republican, forgetting their
intense hatred Of the name in their love of Lib
crty, and determination to rebuke the clique of
Shareholders who have so msled and misrepre-
scented them
To claim the election as a Republican vic
tory is a libel on the candidates, and an insult
to their constituents; that's all
VIII the Douglastes or the Administration
claim this Democratic victory?