The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-09-13
The Know NolIlsMSs,

10 another column VIII De tound Iettei
from our correspondent, upon the subject oi
know. .nothingism." 1t is candid and i'm.
partial exposition of the subject, and pre-.
sents powerful argument against the creed
of this secret party. The recent occWren.
ces at philadelphia, st. Lcuis a'd Other
places, must lead every good citizen to re.
gret that such an order as the Know Moth.
ings ever had an origin. One Of the hest
features Of our political system, 10 the right
Of religious freedom which it gives to our cit.
liens. ANY party formed for the psrpose o.
prescribing men on account Of religious
opinions, is dangerous to liberty and danger.
GUS to all the interests of free people. ,.s ..,
No doubt many of those who join this or.
der are governed by pure motives. There
are persons of our acquaintance supposed to
belosg to this secret party. in whose intcg-
riry we have full confidence. Some OF
them are our personal friends. To such we
would ask Is the course pursued by the
Know-Nothings calculated to remedy the
evil Of which they complaisl f.,.,s, .- q,
We have been accustomed TO regard our
country as an asylum for the oppressed Of all
nations. Wc hope it may ever continue to
be such. Let the subjects of oppression in
the old wortd, come and enjoy with US, the
blessings of our free and noble institutions.
Our country is broad and fertile. We have
room "enough and TO spare" Thousands
from the different States of Europe, are
aocking TO our shores for shelter and a
home. Let Us give them a generous vel
come. II We treat them kindly, and place
them on ar equality with ourselves in point
Of civil and religious privileges as we ought,
they will be our friends we may rely upon
their services in war, and their industry in
peace their labor will add to the wealth of
the country. But if We treat them as slaves
and inferiors-refuse them the advantages
enjoyed by native born citizens, we may ex-
pcct their enmiiy and opposition to the gov
ernmeut. This is human. nature the world
over. The people Of this country have been
wont to listen to the words of WASHINGTON
as to the counsels Of father. We take the
following extracts from his writings. After
tho close Of the revolution WAsHISarox
said:
"The Irish volunteers merit the warm.
est thanks of America for their pa
triotism; and hope that their country !
men who have ioog struggled for liberty |
will be Hospitality and cordially received /
here" r0.... .....5.. .,,...-, .
Again on another occasion he used the
following patriotic language :g ar..-. |
"The bosom of America is opeA to re.
ceiye not only the opulent and respectable |
stranger, but the oppressed and prosecuted ,
,f all nations and Of oil religions, whom we
shall welcome TO participation In all our
tights and privileges" rl . ar &,H- ~
DIR. FRANKLIN also spoke in reference to
his subject as follows aa .3 ga
"The people in Europe are friendly to this
country. When foreigners, after looking
about for some other country in which they
,an obtain more happiness give prefer
Pnce to ours, ii IS a proof 'of attachment
chfch ought to ercite Our confidence and aGee-
!ion." .f -.us....t r.s. -r..t ..v5t'.l -. t5...i
The above extracts require no comment.
They come down to us as counsels from the |
graves Of those whom we all yencrate, and
the memory of whose noble deeds, we sa-
credly cherish fer za.r } cGta Ersv' i
We do not agree with our correspondent,
when he intimates that ihs Know Nothing /
excitement will be lasting. In our opinion
t. will soon be over. Those who joined il
or selfish and dishonorableJ purposes will
Iig their own graves; while those who are
incere, and honest (and they are many of
hese,) will see their error and retface their
teps. A few more riots like that in St.
Louisa few more cases of prescription on
account Of religious Opinions--the burning
Of few more churches and homes, like that
10 Philadelphia, will complete the ework of
this secret organization. in O short time, it
viii be numbered among the wild absurd.
ties, which mark and mar our political and
social history. vru gast ;.ya ia,,5,aI