Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-08-05
The "Know NOthings."

This rather eccentric organization continues
to monopolizc 4 large share Of the public curios.
ity and attention. Almost every paper contains
either direct or incidental alusiOn 10 it-some
opposing, others advocating its tcncts, and still
others making merry over its doings. Partzans
arc down oil it nat.iooted, in Congress and out of
Congress, and some of those who would like TO
ito Congress. have mounted tho opposition nag
and are squirting their jude iilriously toward the
capitol at Washington. Well now, what docs
all this meant What's in the wind7 What is
topny' Where arc the Know NOthings7 Who
arc they1 What do they look likc7 Who ever
saw rcul live know Nothing that is men,
Der Of that Order, for natures know nothings arc
mere plenty, and less curiosi.yl What color
are they-bluc. buff, yellow or strawberry color
Mr. Clemens seemed to know great deal about
them, but then he didn't give us any Of their
marks. lie guyo us their signs, rs he said, but
then he wouldn't insure his signs to be an iniali.
bic criterion. We'll, We "dont know" and we'll
just bidc our Time, await the current Of events,
and keep down any undue curiosity Of ours this
warm weather, until We "fnd ou,," Us We can.
Other communities than ours, however, arc in
their turn, curiously exercised. A rather omi.
nous arrival Of strangers at Fairmont last week,
brought tho inhabitants Of the Mountain City
"all up standing" Tho Virginian' was deeply
exercised, 10 ascertain "what was in the wind"
On Thursday last, when the Western train ar
rived. the editor concluded that the cholera was
depopulaling Wheeling. The Eastern train
comes numbering along, and contributes TO the
ominous gathering its numbers, he concludes the
"KnOw NO,hings were in siew,"-but looking
round and seeing some Morgantown.ians about,
then he had it, ind the Know Nothings were in
conclayc TO nominate candidate for Congress.
This conclusion, howe yer, like the other, he ADAM
dons, and breaks cut in double postscript as
follows" Delegates arc here from 'all creation
Something more than nominating candidate
for Congress is in the wind? Who can tell what 2"
There it is again-ho "don't know" and we're
no better off than we were at first. Alas! how
very provoking.
The Wayncsburg.ers, over yonder in Greene
county, according to the. eagle" have some
misgirings that the Know No,lings arc locating
lodge, or Wigwam, or whatcvcr.they. call.'em,
in their goodly town. Tho other night spies
were OF, with candle apiece and matches, reu-
Gpy to strike lightas they stood fat up against
the brick walls, whenever they should hear or
sec any person or squad that could be suspected
Of being Know Nothings. But, from the repor,
published, we rather expect they "dOn't know"
and the Know Nothings cludc our curiosity again
most vcxu,ioasly! Bothcration to 'cm.
The following paragraph is from an exchange
and may throw some light on the subject:
yhe Secret is out at last! We know all about
the 'Know.Noihings." They had their origin in
Scotland and must have imnigrated from there,
else why does Shakespeare put these words into
the mouth ofLord Rose, in his tragedy Mac
beth"
"Alas, poor country, almost afraid to know itself,
II cannot be called our mother, but our grave,
Where nothing, but who Knors Nothing, is seen
to smile"