The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-09-01
KNOW NOTHINGISM.

hNOW NIL I1lINOiOh.
We like good thing-no matter where it
comes from or what subject it treats Of
whether for or against us-and in this spirit
we copy the following article in relation to
Know Nothingism, remarking that it is one
of the best 'fancy sketches" we have met
with for long time. We find it in the
"Smasher," little paper published way down
in Georgia, purporting to come from an
esteemed correspondent of that racy sheet:
Elder Senior Helper Dusenbury the Knotc-
Nothing.
Comes Greeting:
Frens-l have Just returned from the
Lodge, where had the good fortune to wit
ness the initiation of Senator Clayton of
Delaware, into our venerable brotherhood.
After arranging the Senator's toilet, which
was Of necessity reduced to very few arti.
cles Of dress, (say the dress of a Geo, gia Ma
JorD the weather being very warn and the
ceremony tedious-the distinguished appi.
cant was ushered into the reception room, on
his all-fours, and after repeated circles around
the room he was led up to stand, where
sat little man swift wide-awake" hat on.
Over his head was the American Eagle, and
on each side TIE star-spangled banner hung
quietly. III his right hand he held n wooden
eross-containing the initials X. N. In his
leit lie held the Pope's toe, by the nail. The
following scene was enacted:
President of the X. N'S-Jack Clayton,you
stand before me in the humble position of a
Jack ASS, an animal known to this Order as
Tho hi 80 Nntk.nns The
simple costume in which you are habited is
illustrative of the simple manners and Gus
toms of the men of '76, and expressive Of the
freedom and utter want of concealment Pc
culiar to the Know-NOthings. You can now
retire if you wish and not compromise the
interests of this order. Is it your desire to
60 on?
Jack Clayton-It is-ifI am not already
an Ass, !. Knoo- Nothing that can give me a
stronger claim to the title-so boil on most
magnificent of Assnines!
President of X. N's.-You consent ter
rible thunder and lightning, pending which
an impenetrable darkness obscures every
thing, and for brief season nobody Knows
Nothing.l Order is again restored and the
President continues: This darkness is to
represent the political complexion of your
coat However expert you may have been
heretofore, in turning and changing your po-
litical jacket, you are poweress to divest your
self of the principles now inscribed upon your
hide.
Music by the Lodge-to the words
Not sigh was heard, nor a sewardite's groan,
As its corpse to Nebraska we hurried
Not Know Nothing knows, or ever has known,
The spot where the Wing Partys buried.
Knock at the door,
Several volces-Who's there?
Answer-A spirit!
What do you want!
am in search of John Tyler the man who
didn't Know-Nothing of the Wing party. !
am the evil spirit of the Wing party, and /
am come to torment its foul murderers. Is
John NJ. Clayton within!
President-(Greatly excited) Come in and
see for yourself.
Esprit enters-lOoks closely at every in
divdual; finally comes to Clayton-looks at
one side then at the other, then at his face,
then at his feet, but seems to Know-Nothing
of the individual under nspection-spiri.
throws up his hands NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. his
eyes-opens his mouth with terrible Phew!
breaks out-"It's We my boy-the devil bit
could tell the likes of we, by the cut of yer
coat-but sure an it's yerself Johnny I'm
spanking to, and does yer honor Know Moth
ing of the Wing party!]
As if lifted by whirlwind, the distinguish.
ed candidate Of of the Know Nothings for the
Presidency, took fight through the foggy at
mosphere of political abstraction, and the
last seen of him he was still flying pressed
closely by the Ghost of murdered party.
The meeting, after coming to order, sang
Yankee Doodle, Hail Columbia and the Star
Spangled Banner, and switched Off to Sper-
tits roost where brisk fire was kept up with
the cobblers which lasted some time. Anvil
punched, and went off to soak for the
night.