The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-27
Attack upon the Know Nothings,

The Democrat OF this week contains
long and bitter attack upon the Know
Nothings," probably called out in conse.
quencc OF the defeats which the administra-
tion party have sustained in the recent fall
elections. We have neither time to prepare,
or space for any extended comment upon
the Democrats article. i. however occurs
to us, that not very valuable article on The
subjec, could be written, by even the most
able writer, without more knowledge than
one out Of the order is presumed to possess.
II is very easy to assume shat the creed Of
the Know Nothings is very bad against
the uniform practice Of our government,
from the Declaration OF Independence to the
present time" but if the writer has no bet.
tor authority for the statement than his own
assumption, or the hearsay Of others, it will
hardly pay to follow an argument based
upon so slender foundation. There is,
however, one matter referred to by the
Democrat which is deserving Of brief atten.
ton. The Democrat attributes the disor.
derby proceedings which have occurred some
times on election days, and at other times,
to the " Know Nothinss." Here, too, the
Democrat has no warrant for such accusa'
tons on the contrary, if The results OF
their action are taken, the Know Nothings
have no sympathy with lawlessness, or its
manifestations. We can judge them only
by their action - and thus far we have not
seen their influence, or their votes, given to
men who have any sympathy with rowdy-
ism, or who would countenance riotous con-
duct. The Democrat has no authority for
making them responsible for the I" Ellsworth
outrage" or for any improper proceedings
which may have occurred in the town "ad
Joining " the one in which the Democrat is
published. It's apparent to our mind, that
these proceedings which the Democrat very
properly condemns, would be as heartily
discountenanced by the Know Nothings, as
by the editor Of the Democrat himself. So
far as we are able to judge, the principles
Of the order relate to the correction of GER
tain abuses which exist in the country, -
evils which they think strike at the founda.
ton pillars upon which are based our civil
and religious liberties; and VIC do not un.
derstand that they aim to attain their OBJ
jects by any course Of action inconsistent
with either the letter or spirit Of our Con
stitu.iou. We are under no obligations to
defend the order; we know nothing Of its
creed, officially, but we are satisfied from its
manifestations that the members of the or.
der shout no more be held responsible for any
" disgraceinl proceedings" than the men,
bers Of the Pierce party themselves. In
decd, il would not be difficult to show that
the old Democratic party itself, by its dis.
gushing appeals to foreigners for party pur-
poses, more than any thing else had coptri-
butcd to the rise and support of prejudicas
and feelings, in The minds Of both foreigners
and natives, which are to be deplored.
But this subject is most difficult one to
write upon. The secresy which surrounds
the creed Of the Know Nothings, and their
conduct, is such rs to take from On outsider
the ability to write very understandinsly,
and We leave the matter. We are content
with their action as yet, and shall be so long
as tits given in the direction OF good NOR
ais, temperance, and sound political princi-
pies. When i, goes in contrary dircctlcn'
it viii be time to complain; but when it
does nothing worse than to break up and
destroy party which has been, and is, lep-
rous and loathsome with corruption, and
ialse and cowardly to the great principles of
republican liberty, honest men, instead Of
finding fault will rejoice. %,