Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-05-24
The Defeat of fSeward--Triuinp nm pin
of the Dark Lantern Order.

He who dreamed that the subtle and Sc
cret order of the Know Nothings was
dead, was mistaken. We "scotched the
snake, not killed it," 1t still iives-is
still powerful--is still organized, and is
still able to rule the councils of .he Abo-
litiun party.
Mr.. Seward stood, almost alone of his
party, its enemy--the open, the undis-
guised foe of the proscriptive order Of the
dark lantern, in whose midnight councils
men were made to kneel and swear etern-
al opposition to Catholicism and to For
eigners. He had dared to brave its wrath
he was elected over its candidate to the
United States Senate, and the order but
bided its time to strike the blow which
would end his political ASPIRATIONS
Weeks ago we predicted his defeat, and
on this very question, and when defeated,
we promised to reproduce its article when
the Convention was over. 1t is true, we
afterwards changed our mind. The meet
ing from all parts of the United States of
the Germans in Chicago, who felt that
their champion was to be slaughtered un-
less they came to the rescue, we thought
would produce its effect, and that they
might scarce the opposition into nomina-
ting their man, but the Know Nothing
element was too strong. The party whose
sworn subjects prevailed every part Of the
Union-whose terrible oaths are matters
of record in the archives of that secret ca
bal, were too we'll organized, too bitter,
too unrelenting in their hate and in their
passion of revenge, to allow an open op-
poser of their principles to become the
head of their party, and hence Mr.. Seward
realized, when too late, that in the cir
repressible conflict" he was to be made a
"dead cock in the pit
In speaking of the availability of Mr..
Seward, provided he was the candidate,
the editor of the Columbus Gazette, who
was Secretary of the Shanghai Lodge Of
Know Nothings in that city, and lead
ing member of the Order, after averring
that Seward could not carry either Pen
nsylvania or New York, adds:
"In Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey
the prospect is more gloomy. He could
not get the Fillmore vote in these States
on account of his life going opposition to
the naturalization laws. One quotation
from his record on this subject will sui
| flee.
"'Works of w. II. Seward" Special
Message, vol. III, page 4O3.
"'To guard againat misconstruction,
it is proper to say that am not to be an
derstood as maintaining tie wisdom or er-
pediency ofHe pro0ision repairing a dec
laration by foreigners of their intention tc
become citizens, to be motie t,oo gears before
applying for admission. In conformity
with principles heretofore often publish.
ed l AM OF OPINION THAT IT
WOULD BE WELL TO REMOVE
THIS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONS
TO NATURALIZATION, AND IT
WOLD BE BETTER FOR THE PER
MANENT INTERESTS OF THE
COUNTRY TO OCONFERTHE L RIGHT
OF SUFFRAGE UPON ALL WHO
ASK IT, AND WHO HAVE NOT
RENDERED THEMSELVE ES UN-
WORTHY OFlTBY CRIME, ,AFFER R
A PERIOD OF RESIDENCE, LESS
THAN THAT PRESCRIBED BLYTHE
NATURALlZATlON LAWS"
"How a candidate, in favor Of remov
ing the obstruction requiring two years
residence, would suit those who think
five too short, is left for politicians to
determ ine."
This extract, secretly and effectively
used, in connection with his speeches il
Congress against the Know Nothings
did the deed, and William Ii. Seward oil
the third ballot at Chicago found thu
Know Nothing element of his party al
rayed in almost solid column against him
and he is defeated candidate for tn
empty honor Of a sectional nomination
for the Presidency, while the Dark Ian
tern party are jubilant over his downfall
National Democrat.