Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-26

Forty Years Ago, the Political Situation
Was Not Unlike That OF To-Day.
PaladelpA,a Record.

Forty Years Ago. the Political situation
was Not Unlike That OF To-Day.
Philadelphia Record
History, IL has been said, is philosophy
teaching by example. The misfortune
is that the world profts so little by the
lessons OF history. Each generation,
forgetting the errors or its predecessor,
is taught only by It's own little expert
ences.
Its Just forty years ago-the term OF
a generation-when political cOndi-
tion not unlike the present 10 some im-
pOrtant respects arose In this country.
The Democratic party-thon, as now,
Go contIol Of every department Of the
governmeut-was thrown into dis
array by the kansas-Nebraska
bill, then pending and soon
TO be passed TO Congress. The
Whir party was shattered and broken,
never 10 rise again. In the spring cleo
tions OF 1854 was irst revealed the pres
ence OF new and strange element IN
politics. The Enow-NOshing party-the
prosotype Of the American Protective
Association, with the same spirit OF
bg9try, the same aims and the same
secret, oath-bOund organizatiOn-spraug
out OF the darkness 20 seize its oppor-
tunlty in the prevailing political coniu-
Sion. To Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Ohio, wherever municipal
elections were held. the Wings, with the
aid OF the know-Nothings, swept the
field. aud the overthrow OF the Demo
cratic party was eagerly predicted.
To the elections FOR Congress In the
same year the Republicans, not yet
named or organized as party, but
united in sentiment, carried the states
OF the West aud New England by over
whelming mai0rities. In Pennsylvania
and the States on the southern border
OF Mason and DiXon'S Line the Know
NOthings elected almost solid delega-
tions 70 the House OF Representatives.
The Wing leaders recovered from their
dependency, but the Wing corpse could
not be galvanized into life; and the
KnOw-NOthings throwing of their
masks and calling themselves the Amer
lean party, came 90 the front and AFRO
gantiy claimed the credit aud the re-
wards Of victory.
But the eXu.tatiOu and triumph OF
this parSy OF intolerance and prOScriD-
NNUM MEIU NANNtA AAA nAANA A-tA Cue Az
the spring OF 1895 the Democrats, with
Henry A. Wise as their candidate for
Governor, totally routed the Wing
knOW-NOthing coalition in Virginia. a
Few months afterward a like fate over
took the coalition in Tennessee, where
Andrew johnson was the Democratic
candidate for Governor. In the fall
elections the Democrats nearly every
where defeated the opposition OF Wings
and KnOw-NOthings under every alias,
combination and alliance 20 which they
hal res0rted; and Ia the strong reaction
that followed during the next year the
Democratic candidate for the PreSiden-
cy was elected. The only act OF impor-
tanee performed by the discOrdant ma
jOrIty ia the Thirty-foUrth Congress
was a further reduction OF the Demo
cratic tariff OF 1916; and the Know
Nothing party Of seCtarian intolerance,
Ogotry aud incivism speedily sank
beneath the political surface, leaving
nothing but bad memory behind.
Let US accept this omen. There Is lit
tie doubt that but for the intrusion OF
KnOw-Nothingism into the politics OF
the country the Republicans would
have elected Fremont 70 the PreSi-
deucy TO 1856. The Know-Nothings d.
vided the opposition, and a. the same
time impelled thousands Of uSturalized
aud native citizens 10 seek shelter from
intolerance and prescription In the
bosom of Democracy. Although the
alliance Of the Republican party with
the new form OF Know-NOthingism has
not yet been avowed, care has been
taken not 20 disOwn 10. Ia the
recent municipal elections In New
Jersey, Connecticut and other
States, TO which the hand OF the
members OF the American Protective
Association was so plainly visible, the
Republicans have been 10 every in
stance the benefciaries. The Demo
cratic party is honored By the hostility
OF this secret. Oath-bOund political or
ganization; and when the Republicans
accept It's favor and support they must
accept also tho Odium that attaches 20
such a connection. Parties, like indi-
viduals, are known by their associates.
The American Protective Association
instinctively seeks alliance with the
Republican party; for It's leaders know
full well that their dark lantern organ
cation and their proscrIptye aims can
receive no hospitality or c0uutenance
from the Democracy.