The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-11-02
Spread Of Know Nothingism


The history of the country fails to fur
nish single instance, in which body of
men have organized for any purpose what
ever whose principals have spread with
such unparalleled rapidity as those of the
50 called "Know Nothings." Although
INIT a comparatively short time has elaps-
ed since they we're first heard of through
the public prints, yet, in almost every
State of the Union they already WELD
controlling influence. In Massachusetts,
thew are said to number eighty thousand
strong; body sufficiently numerous to e.
lect every officer in the State, independ-
ent of aid from either Of the old parties.
And what is true of Massachusetts, is said
to be true of the majority of the States.
How are we to account for this singular
phenomenon I
1t is, as is charged by the Cincinnati
Enquirer and kindred prints, an organi-
zation composed of broken-down politi-
clans, discarded political hacks, and dis
sapointed Office seekers generally, togeth-
er with q sprinkling of certain class,
who are said to delight in mobbing fore
irners, burning churches, &c.? Any enc,
who is not politically blind or insufera-
bly, stupid, knows that this is not the case,
and nothing but base heart and stolid
intellect could induce any one to make
charges so utterly destitute of even SEM
blance of truth. In none of the political
demonstration Of this body of men have
we seen such results, as would be likely
to flow from an organization composed of
men politically and morally corrupt
Wherever they have made their power
felt, it has only been to rebuke political
dishonesty, and to hurl from high places,
men, who by their actions had shown
themselves unworthy of the confidence of
the public If this is the only evil which
is to grow out of the Know Nothingism,
in all honesty We must say that We bid
it God speed.
The fact is corruption has crept into
every department of government, State
and National. American sentiments and
American feelings seem to have been lost
sight of. Politicians by trade, in their
race for Office and anxiety to appropriate
the spoils, have lost sight of the highest
duties of an American citizen, and have
not hesitatcd to pander to the lowest and
basest passions of certain classes of our
population, who are not supposed to be
oyerstocked with information, and who
instead fbeing acquaissed with the spir-
it and workings Of our free institutions,
are sadly in need Of instruction in roliti-
cal ethics. That this IS wrong 10 one
will deny. That it needs correcting, ev-
cry citizen, who is not a demagogue by
nature, Will freely admit
It is this state of things thatkas neces-
STATED and brought into existence tho
order Of Know Nothings. Is it to be
wondered at, that when the attempt was
made to indoctrinate the people anew
with American sentiments that the great
heart of the American people should re-
spond to it. We think not. If the cur
rent newspapers reports of the case are to
be relied upon, this new order has already
obtained lodgmcnt in nearly every city
and town in the Union, and as short a
time as it has been in existence is already
gigantic in its proportioa and haags ako
a cloud, black and treaseRiRg, over the
heads of the dishonest and corrupt poi
ticians of the day, who stand trembling
in the fear that the next bolt from this un-
seen and impalpable power will dash their
prospects to the earth and blot out the
last hope they have of political prefer
mcnt.
Under the circumstances we do not
think that it is matter of surprise that
this order spreads with such rapidity.-
On the contrary, If we are correctly infor--
ed as to its aims and objects, we should
be surprised if it did not spread and con-
tinuc to spread until it had thoroughly
purged the country from the corruptins:
influences now at work and threatening
the pcrnancncy Of those free institutions,
which were bequeathed to us by our faith
crs of the revolution as a sacred heritage.
Dayton Daily Herald.