CHAPTER VII

THE   STATE   CAMPAIGN   OF 1855

The break-down of the old Whig and Democratic Parties
in New York state which began In 1854 was continued through
the state campaign of 1855. Before the aggressive action of
new issues embodied in specially organized movements the
old partisan fabrics exhibited such disruption and weakness as
seemed to foretell their utter extinction. The Know-Nothing
organization stood out above all forces in the early months of
1855 as a force destructive of old methods In politics. Its
vitality was astounding. It had at Its service an enthusiasm
such as few political parties could hope to meet in their own.
It was sleepless, ubiquitous, cunning and aggressive. In the
fall elections of 1854 It rivaled the older parties In Its strength.
In the local spring elections of 1855 it overtopped them all
and forced its opponents to unite in sheer self-defense, regard¬
less of party names. It stood, in the spring of 1855, easily the
most powerful single political body in the state. Next to it In
strength .stood the Democratic Party. The dual organizations
of the Soft-Shells or administration men and the Hard-Shells
or anti-administration men still faced each other In the spring
of 1855 with unaltered stubbornness, each claiming to be the
true representative of the old party. The dismembered party
was losing voters to the organized movements continually, but
yet it had a vitality and hopefulness that made it a strong
factor in state politics. There was just a possibility of a
re-union of the factions for campaign work, and in such event
the Democracy, despite Its losses, might be stronger than
organized nativism.

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