The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-09-08
HISTORICAL PAPER
TOUCHING THE DAYS OF THE GREAT
KNOW NOTHING AGITATION.

Political Dominion In the United States
ofsam..-A. EcGresor Tells Of the Con-
fiet Between Sam and sambo in Phila-
delphia---A Prominent Cantonian was
In It.
ED, News. .DEMoCRAT:-- :--Au article sigued
void Democrat,n calls up "reminiscences
of the past OF revolutionary period-a
period in which the old Wbig party diss
solved and the Republican party organ-
lied, the Know Nothing party being the
connecting link.
A cant term for the Know NothinRs was
"Sam.n A member would ask friend
"Haye YOU seen Sam?n II the question
was put to mau not a member he would
likely inquire in wonder, "Sam who?'
And the answer might DC 'Sam hill' OF
some other "Sam.'
Ali this created much merriment and
was greatly enjoyed by the initiated. They
would ask one another, "Have you seen
Sam? ?u And then compare notes and
laugh as to how they fooled the fellows,
and got them in. 1t was hilarious time
for a while, but the collapse came; and
old Virginia, under the lead of the gallant
Henry A. Wise, candidate for Governor in
1856, was victorious ver"Sam."
The Know Nothing organic alton, how
ever, was powerful in the South as we'll
as the North. The northern members
we're strong anti.slavery; while in the
south they were pro'slavery, and in their
ltional, secre. convention in Philadel-
phia, in 1856, the two elements met in
fierce conflict rbe fight was between
sam and Sambo, aud Sambo swallowed
Sam. home made cut II the STARK
COUNTY DEMOCRAT at that time illus
tratud the operation. The late Louis
SChaefer, Esq was the artist.
A.E,.. rs... tVaD hi lNhT al A
time, aud being a sag NIGHTS, knew how
to get 10, ald ne Witnessed some of the
boistsrous scenes when discussing the
negro question. lie used to tell of a windy
Ohio man making roaring speech and
threatening tn II they would hear from
Sandy Valley If they did not look out A
southern man sitting near Schaefer, in
uuired where in thunder was Sandy Valley
and what wind bag fool was that.
la the election Of 1855 Salmon p. Chase
was elt cted Governor over William Medill.
Mr.. Medill had been elected Lieutenant
Governor on the Democratic ticket two
years before. In 1857 the Democrats
elected ma ajority of the members to the
Legislature, but lost their state ticket by
a close vote.
During all this time there was quite
new deal, and new men in many cases
came to the front much to the disappoint.
ment Of old leaders and others who
thought themselves in line. These would
say: NOW in the name OF all the Gods
at once, upon what meat doth this, our
Ceaser, feed that he has grown so RreRtN
In 1856 John &. Fremont was the first
Republican nominee for President and the
Know Nothing element, north and south,
supported him, but James Buchanan was
elected. In those days the Republican
party was not n protection affair.
rhe government too, in those Democratic
days collected all the revenue in gold
and silver, nd paid nothing else. During
the Mexican war this was the case. Hence
was no deprecated paper in those days
paid to the soldiers; and silver had not |
then been demonetzsd. But, change is |
the rule in human affairs, as well as in |
nature.
The misfortune in our political system |
is, that we vote for individuals and not for |
measures. The voting people elect
man, giving him for time, full power to
or act for them, and instead of
acting for them he too often acts for him.
,elf, and takes care of himself and friends
and so, misrepresents his cons
,tituents. We need the "Iuitiative,n and |
he Referendum" as in Switzerland.
In Great Britain the government at once
,beys the dictum of the people. In this
country II is otherwise, es we often see.
The people may change the lower house
IF Congress, as was the case two years
Igo, by large M jprity, but no change
axes place in the policy of the administra,
iun, as the President and the Senate
,lock the way. But this is our system as
It present arranged.
Could change be made by which i'm
,ortant measures of public policy would
10 submitted to direct vote of the peo-
lie, it would surely be all Improvement.
Trusting legislation TO Individuals is
iways somewhat risky, and there is much
in our bitter contests for
flee, in which expenditure OF money too
enters in, A. MCGREGoR.