The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-06

without principle; that of Pennsylvania
politicians, watchful, cowardly, narrow.
minded selfshness.
Like New York, Pennsylvania has never
produced great statesman of enduring re-
putation. Her pretended statesmen have
all been mere politicians. Benjamin Frank
lin was a Massachusetts man. In the char
acter OF James Buchanan, we find all the
qualities of the representative Pennsylva-
MIA politicians.
The political action of New York was
more generally influenced by conflicts of
State geographical sections. 1t was abli-
ty in the handling of these geographical
sections, that won political reputation and
secured individual success The distribu-
ton of its heterogeneous population, Dutch,
English Scotch, and New England, respec-
lively, conceded to great extent with the
several geographical interests.
Ambitious men, therefore, relied more
upon the cupidity than the prejudices of
the sections. They projected great and
valuable internal improvements. Thus was
support purchased, the sections marshaled
and regulations won. The whole political
system, in and out of the Legislature, be-
came traffic of bargain and sale.
The influences which controlled the polit-
ical action of Pennsylvania, imparting to
the public men of that State their peculiar
negative character, compound of time.
serving, nOn-committal, doubledealing and
vacilIation-by some mistaken for conserv-
atism-were of different kind.
The German peasantry there settled in
large numbers, preserving the language and
unenterprising habits of the Fatherland ;
the numerous Quakerr, with their singular
customs and unyielding principles: the
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians with their stern
bigotry; the Churchmen, with their high
toned notions of personal and religious dig
nifty with the new European emigrations,
educated in the theories of the French rev.
olution-many of them refugees from pun
ishment for political offences-made up a
confusion OF antagonisms, to 60 through the
like of which, safely and successfully, is only
possible to an experienced Pennsylvania
politician. 1t was only by adrotly balanc-
ing these various antagonisms, and turning
the scale by means of some trick, by bribe.
ry, or extraneous influence, that success in
attaining nigh rank, has been at all possible
in Pennsylvania politics.
The American revolution melted the
French revolution. The latter event slim.
ulated ipsubordination n England rebellion
in ireland, and threatened general revolu-
tion in that kingdom.
Great Britain, therefore, undertook to
put down the revolutionary party in France,
and the American people took sides in the
quarrel. The Republicans, or Democrats,
sympathized with the French, the Federal-
lists with the English. This fact exerted a
very important influence upon the measures
and fortunes of the two parties.
For many years after the breaking up of
the French revolution in 1889, large por-
ton of our European immigration, consisted
of democratic revolutionists, political ex>
lies and refugees. Large numbers of them,
soon after their arrival in this country, be-
came prominent in politics. Like many of
our German immigrants of 1848, they had
large proportion of able men, who had
been popular leaders at home Active,
restless spirits, their greatest delight was
hostility to oppression or injustice, real or
imaginary.
They joined the Democratic party against
the Federalists, towards whom they in.
dulged, without restraint, the fierce anmos-
tiles they had so long nourished against
their rulers and oppressors in the old world.
Even Washington, who was altogether su.
perior to partisan influence, was not exempt
from their assaults.
This foreign element introduced into
American politics degree of bitterness and
acrimony, previously unknown. The Fed
eralists, who had just acquired power, ma.
turally desired to retain it. They held that
every measure and proceeding calculated to
weaken confidence 10 the constituted au-
thorities and chosen representatives of the
people, were hostile to rational liberty and
the principles of good republican govern,
ment."
They had possession Of the General Gov
eminent John Adams was President)-