Denizen of the Frog Pond, 1859

Auburn NY Daily American Thursday Evening, May 24, 1859.

WHIMS OF THE OPPOSITION

   After a lull of two or three weeks, during which our contemporary of the [Auburn Daily] Advertiser has enjoyed the benefits of the Metropolitan atmosphere, he renews his opposition to any union of Americans and Republicans [anti-slavery political parties], for the purpose of electing an Opposition President in 1860. His labors in that direction, of yesterday, consisted in publishing an article from the Syracuse Journal, accompanied with the comment that "the position assumed by the Journal is the only one that can be consistently occupied by Republican papers.
   When the denizen of the frog pond undertook to swell himself to the capacity of an ox, he burst his boiler. When either the Syracuse Journal or the Auburn Journal undertake to declare that the New York Tribune, New York Post, New York Times, and the Albany Evening Journal  are not consistent Republican papers, and are not orthodox in policy as well as in measures, it seems to us very much like pupils in a district school usurping the function of their teachers and setting themselves up as teachers of their masters.
   It has not been left to either of these editors to say what is or what is not consistent in this matter, any more than it has been left to us. There has been a power above either of us, as both our contemporaries ought to know, and over which neither of us have had any control, which ordained an union in this State of the opponents of Buchanan's administration. And we all knew how much an union came to be ordained. It was because it had been effected in the States east and west of us, and in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, thereby creating a necessity in New York for following that example which it was almost impossible to resist.
   It was ordained, therefore, not as an original measure of expediency, but as a political necessity that had arisen from the actions of men of other States around us. We know that this was the view taken of the matter by the Governor, and by Mr. Weed and the two Central Committees in Albany. It is, we submit, the only sensible view to be taken of it, under the circumstances.
   The Journal says: "We are sick of hearing about Union, Fusion, and the like." We advise the editor to endeavor to cure himself of this sickness, for we are entirely certain that he is to hear, if he lives, a great deal more on the same subjects. The union of all anti-slavery Americans and Republicans, in this State, was determined by an unrepealable decree, made five months ago, and it has become an actual fact in history. It exists in substance and effect, all over the body of this State. It exists in some degree in New York city and Buffalo. Whether it be rightful or wrongful in itself, is not now open for discussion. It is enough for us to know that it exists, and that with its existence has come the duty of supporting it as the best thing we can do under the circumstances.
   The Journal says the leaders in the American organization [William Moses, editor of the Daily American and others] "would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven." This is a flourish which demonstrates nothing except that the editor has read Milton very carelessly. The Journal does not really believe that, even of Brooks, Ullman and Perrin.
   It is undoubtedly true that their atmospheric surrounding disinclines them to submit the Presidential question to a Convention in which they shall have no voice. It is also time, we think, that they take a course that is likely to prevent them from having a voice in that Convention--that they are committing a mistake. If they would only come freely into the union, and do "works sweet for union," they might all be delegates to that Convention, and enjoy the privileges they desire.
   But if they do not see this to be their line of policy and duty, it is not worthwhile, we think, to denounce them harshly and with epithets. Milder treatment will be far more efficacious in curing the error under which they appear to labor.
   That even though these men are adjudged to be wrong headed in this matter, it is not just to charge the body of Americans in this State with their delinquencies, any more than it is to charge Republicans in Cayuga County with the delinquencies of their brethren in the cotton cities of the State or Union.
   There is a difference between the politicians in New York city and the country[upstate], in all parties which has to be tolerated. The Americans are not exempt from the general misfortune in that particular. That influence is limited, however, and is gradually lessening under the benignant influence of the friends of the union in the body of the State.
   We hope the Advertiser will not pursue this subject further, as it can do no possible good to the Republican cause in this county to keep up a quarrel with the American and its friends.

Editor's note: The Daily American was published by William Moses. The Daily Advertiser was published by Knapp and Peck.
Under the editorial, in the same column, was a separate news item on a murder-suicide.

   Michael Kennedy, of Granby, Oswego County,  who tried to commit suicide, and afterwards killed his wife, has since drowned himself.