The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-08
The RuIs Of Rowdyism.


which parties are moved and States gov
erned. Once rowdyism could only rule |
wards in cities, and now and then sent
up, Is its representative to the Legisla-
ture, such man as Mike Walsh. Soon II
took possession of the primary meetings
and cauCuses, and thus brought nominees
for the Offices of such cities as New York,
to its feet. It controlled the appoint
ments for the police force, the election o.
police judges, etc., till law and order be-
came by-word. In the face of the mu-
nicipal government of that city, Capt.
Rynders. at the head of his select ruffians.
could dictate what assemblages should be
tolerated and what not. Clergymen, who
maintained discreet silence on slavery,
could meet on Anniversary day. while the
bold, open advocates Of anti.slavery prin-
ciples could be unceremoniously knocked
of from the platform and the meeting ad-
journed at the beck of Rynden.
In due time, rowdyism received its re-
ward. It had performed eminent services
for the party, it had assisted largely in
"union-saving" just after the passage of
the Fugitive Slave law, so it was awarded
its share of the spoils. The national ex-
ecutive recognized its claims, and Isaiah
Rynders rose 10 the dignity of United
States Marshal-as man the nation de-
lighted to honor. Bill Poole, who was
killed by Lewis Baker, was an active
wire-worker for party. He and Baker
were the centers Of opposite squads of po-
itical retainers, and his death resulted
from political differences.
The recent Democratic State Conver
tion saw new phase of rowdyism. The
fighting men Of New York attended thai
Convention as active participants, even
controlling the organization of that body.
Mr.. John Stryker, psIsisting in putting
motions as chairman, was knocked of
from the platform. Fernando Wood was
threatened with pummeling if he did
not call OF his bullies, and he actually
pulled some Of them back. The msjosity
Of the delegates elect retired, unable to
contend with prize-fghting politicians
Nominating conventions are fast falling
under the control of such rowdies.-
Drunken Congressmen, who were too
drunk to vote intelligently on the English
bill, were re-nominsted last year by the
aid of hired rowdies who controlled the
convention, and party drill only served
to re-elect them. Once nominated, and
Republicans hardly dared to withhold
their votes from such nominee, lest his
defeat should give the State, which he
then disgraced, to the Democracy in case
the Presidential election went to the
House.
Kansas is fast verging on to the same
dangerous point. A candidate for dele
gate to Congress is put in nomination il
spite of the efforts of those who labored
to secure his defeat, on the plea that hc
was notoriously drunken, dissolute, and
unfit for the post Yet men, who claim
to be friends of temperance and good
morals, undertake championship for him
as man whom Kansas freemen delight
to honor. When such men are the re.
cipients of the highest political honor,
the people can bestow, it betokens low
estimate of all that is true and noble il
man. When men, who claim to be par.
excellence friends of temperance, become
apologists for such man, and shield
themselves by the low and false plea thai
Mr.. Parrotts opponent can drink hin
drunk forty times before he will feel the
influence of liquor, it is asserting that Mr.
Parrott is the least of two evils-the best
choice left of the two. The plea fails
however, from the fact that Parrost was
put in nomination before it was known
who the Democratic nominee would
be. The Republican party put in nomi-
nation Mr.. Parrott, knowing his proclivi-
ties to intemperance. They sinned with
their eyes open. They paid premium
to this facils ability of Mr.. Parrots,s to lei
in devil which steals his brains away.
The premium which New York politi-
clans pay to rowdyism, is here bestowed
on intemperancc and the most abhorrcpi
feature of all, is that the very men who
opposed the "nomination as neither fit
nor proper to be made" are his most un-
scrupulous partisans and apologists. Had
they been honest in their opposition, they
would have stood firm to their position
that no man who is unable to govern his
own appetites is ct to be law-maker.-
They would have spurned the party-drill
which attempted to force an unwilling
support of party nominee.
What is the result Intemperancs is
fashionable. If Mr.. Panott can get drunS
and find plenty Of apOlogists among tenn
persnce orators-if Mr.. Parrott's friends
can get gloriously drunk in commemora-
ton Of bis success in the nominating con-
vention, and discreet silence be pre-
served about their drunken orgies-why
may not men. in the humber walks Of
life, Hindulge7" They have; and yonng
men are fast fitting themselves to fill a
fslon's cell or drunksrd's grave. Men
who, under the most solemn circumstan-
css, pledged themselves to dash away the
accused cup forever, have fallen under