New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-08
KNOWNOTHINGISM AT FLASHING TON

Coue,pouaenoe of The N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1854.
The resolution of Mr. Sellers in the House of
Representatives, in reference to the diplom ,tic
conference at Ostend, WILL at any rate, develop
the Know. Nothing procliyities of certain mem
bers if it does nothing more. At the last session
of Congress the new secret order was spoken OF
with the greatest contempt, and its friends, if 1t
then had any, were not willing to incur the odium
of making more than an apology for 1t. But recent
events have worked marvellous change IN the
tone Of its friends and enemies. The former now
boldly proclaim their principles, while the latter
have found it necessary to substitute reason Tor
denuncation.
The new movement finds wonderful favor in the
South where there are neither foreigners nor
Catholics 10 be put down. Ii is godsend TO
broken.de Whiggery which has never been
southern enough 10 please the South, and has
rarely been able 10 stand its hand with the Sham
Democracy where the interests of Slavery have
been involved. .
Kuow-Nothingism in the South is miserable
sham. which will be made use of BY br0ken-down
politicians to recruit their fallen fortunes In the
free States, the presence of large foreign popu'
laton, which has frequently if not generally been
actuated by clannsh feelings, has naturally pro-
duced irritation and prejudice among native-born
Americans: and these feelings OF distrust and dis
like have been aggravated by LOco-FOco dema-
eopism, which has not scrupled to appeal to for
eieners, as SUCH for support. But IN the slave
holding States, with the exception OF few local.
ties there are not foreigners enough to awaken
prejudice There has been no competition in the
South between native and foreign aborers-no
powerful combinations of Irish 70 browbe Amer
leans at the polls andno angry dspqtation between
Catholics and PTotestants. There Is therefore no
legitimate food for nottingham TO feed on.
The whole thing, so far as the South Is con-
cerned. is a miserable humbug. without reason
or excuse But there is something very caPtiyat-
ing in the idea of joining secret political club
which holds the destnies of the State 10 its hands,
which oyerturns parties and dynasties as If BY
magic. Every individual member datters himself
that he has had princ pal share in the wonderful
achievement and pities the ignorance or " green
mesa Of outsiders. Ii is evident that THIS motive
of euriositv or vanity cannot last long; or If IL
should last that rival societies will be formed Win
a view to counterfeit the prevalent folly.
must say that think something should be
dome 70 secure uniform and rigid enforcement to
the Naturalization laws which have been Shame
fully eyaded: and | incline TO the belief that an
extension of the term 10 seven years would De
both polite and proper. Such policy would 90
far TO remove the existing preJudice, no. Alto
cetLer i'll founded against fOreigners and II can
not be denied that longer term OF hAluran.auon
would better qualify them for the duties OF Amer
lean citizens.
There will be a hard fight for the House PRINT
inc wear hence. understand that The dmeT-
ran Organ is in the field thus early, with high
hopes. But il is ultra Pro-slayery, and can
come IT, The Uaion and Star are out oil the cues
tiop. The Inteiigencr would stand . oetser
chance but one Of its editors IL. unlueklly ior-
eirner doub. If the Free-Soil spirit will De high
enough to give the printing to The Era. But let
the morrow provide for the things Of the morrow,
FilTbusterism, Pro4Slsveyism, and Cuba, seem
TO be below par, judging from the to.e Of me Mes
SAGE. Those chilling brsezes from free Nor'a ~
October and November have evidently been ie''
vithin the walls Of the White House:
Oue esod result Of Knew. NetAmgsm |" Sno