Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-17
Trouble Ahead for P6llock and his Know
Nothing Associate, Mayor Conrad.


should hesitate and seriously deliberate before
they assume position which in its bearings
upon society, may become untenable and bur-
densome. This has been mot strikingly ex-
empllhed IN the recent attempt of some of the
subordinate councils of the sons of the sires of
'76," usually known, as "Know-N -Nothings,"
to exclude from the rights of full citizenship
a large and respectable portion of the inhabit-
ants of Pennsylvania, who themselves or
whose fathers or grandfathers have voluntari-
ly made this the land of their abode
What would the true friends of our free
and liberal institutions think, if they were
told, that committee of those men who have
been discarded from all political power and in
huence by both of the great parties of the
State, and who to build up their broken polti-
cal fortunes have organized a secret order for
the purpose of subverting the free character
of our government, had waited on the Rev
John w. Mekaskey, late member of the
Philadelphia Bar, and now the devoted, pious
and consistent preacher of the Western Me-
thodist Episcopal Church in this city, and said
to him that not having the Know Nothing re-
quirements he is no longer considered as a fit
person to stand in the high place he does in
the church as the teacher of American youth,
and must, therefore, resign his post for some
side of the Atlantic.
However absurd such request may seem
it is not improbable that if the objects of the
Know -Knothing order are to be carried out,
something of the sort may. take place, and
that the following dialogue will transpre bet
ween the KnowNothing Committee and the
leading elder of the Western Methodist Epis-
copal Church
hIro,o Nothing Committee.
We have called to see you in relation to the
impropriety ofkeeping at the head of your
Church AMI Sunday School a man whose e
ther was not born in this country.
Leadtag Elder.
Gentlemen, you have taken me quite by !
surprise, in the abruptness with which you
have introduced the subject of enquiry |
should ike to know by what authority three |
persons like yourselves, two of whom | am
sure not long since belonged to the gang of |
lawless depredators known in this section of |
the city as Schuylkill Rangers, should under
take to control the internal affails of our |
Church or Sunday School?
Knoao Nothing Committee.
That question is easily answered Did We |
not carry at the late election the whole CITY |
of Philadelphia by the election of Bob Conrad |
for Mayor who is one of of usf and has not |
the ''Sun" said within few days, that the |
majority, when they get into power, have |
right to control everything. Now, listen to
US, until we explain our whole object and in
tention. Our order expressly undertakes to
control the institutions Of this country, and to
dictate terms to both the old great political
parties of the State. In an especial manner
have we determined to have the management
- Al. Il.
and although we are free to admit that we |
never had any education ourselves vet we are
determined to see that the present generation |
are educated according to the notions of our
secret order The very first principle of that |
order is, that no person, not born IN this coun-
try and whose father and grand father were |
not born IN this country, shall have any in
fuenee in our political or literary institutions
Your minister does not come within our re-
quirements, and whether he be a Whig or
Democrat, he must not hold his present posi-
ton.
Leading Elder.
But gentlemen, you are unreasonable Mr..
MEKAsKEY is a most devoted and exemplary
christian meek, humble and consistent fol-
lower OF the Savior of mankind; our people
love him, and are devoted to his interests, and
are satisfied that his place could not be filled
by one more acceptable to the neighborhood.
tits true, his father, ANDREW MEKAsKEY.
was not born here, but in the north of Ire
land. Nevertheless, he was an able man, a
good citizen, a devoted christian and pros
porous merchant. His uncle, too, the Rev
JoKN MEKAsKEY, now residing in Pittsburgh |
was also of foreign birth, but where is the
man who ever whispered aught against his
devotion to American institutions, and his
warm desire for the lasting prosperity of this
the land of his choice and adoption. Two bet
ter men were never born in this State, and if
one half the dissipated and abandoned crea-
lures who have become members of your Sc
cret cabal against our good citizens could
only show as fair record as our present pas
tor, his son, it would be well for the peace of
society and the prosperity of this nation Be
sides this matter is not entirely within our
contral. The conference which we conscien- I
tiously believe is the constitutional legisla-
ture of our church has appointed this good
young man as our spiritual adviser. and We
must as good christians respect our disci-
pline. II
K. " Committee
Our order is as powerful as your conference.
and if your discipline requires you to obey any
rule which would send amongst US in a Sun
day school, teacher whose grandfather was
not born in this country, we shall adopt some
means of eventually checking its evil tenden-
cies- Your itinerant system at any rate is bad
Ii sends too many of just such foreigners as
Mr.. MEKAsKEY amongst our people, and by
so doing, you are endangering the stability of
the Government and by implication setting
the mark OF appreciation upon a set of men