The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-10-06
"a coon DENOcR t,rn

| ~ nun u DtIIlO
Graf" --a subscriber, of course, us we hav,
the names of agood many "good democrats
on our books-asking information us to the
designs and objects of the organization
known MS the "Know Nothings," and whc.
Their this paper is to DO converted into IN nd.
vocatc OF that organization ana its doctrines
$50 far as it has any" has been received, at
tcntivey read, and the questions and state.
mcnts duly pondercd. We cannot publish it
for reasons which will readily occur to "a
Good Democrat upon reflection. In regard
to the objects and designs of the Know
Nott;Ags, we have had no better opportpni.
ties of !indif<>out and penetrating them than
our interrogation >,Ne have no reliable infor-
nation about their origin, c. the causes, real
or imaginary, which called the order into cx,
istcncc. And we know as little of their OBJ
jects, aims and ends. Il is fact, long noto-
rious, that the foreigners, men alien to tho
soil, and, in sorc instances, to the institu-
tons Of the country, had obtained IN assem-
dcncy nnd Influence in the larger cities Of the
Union, not only considered undue and III.
wholesome, but to such an extent that what.
ever aspirant for municipal Office failed to
trucklc and pandcr to this foreign, un-Amcri-
can influence became at once Il prescribed
and marked man. TO be an American and
to refuse to bow and cringc to the foreign
vote and supplicate for the foreign voices
was certain to bring defeat; the contrary
course on the part Of candidate for mum.
cipal favors almost invariably secured sue.
cess. On election days foreign DULLES sur
rounded the balIot-box and Americans were
frequently prevented from exercising tho
right of suffrage. These things became ia.
tolcrablc; and we had supposed that the
Know Nothing movement WAS put on foot to
countcract end break them down, to scatter
the clans and horics, TO rescue the city ~ov-
crnmcnts from their hands, and to bring the
foreign population back to u proper sense Of
the privileges rendered thcmup landing on
our shores, and to lead them 10 higher est.
mate Of the blessings they might enjoy as
soon as they learned how to appreciate them,
This work accomplisled--and who that has
given the subject proper consideration will
say it is not good onc.-wc had supposed
the mission of the Know Nothin.s would be
ended. Lattcriy, however, the movement
seems to be extending outside the larger
cities, and spreading in every dircction-stll,
silently, but surel y-and towns, villages and
places most remote from the scenes of It's
earliest operations, arc being brought within
the range and circle Of lha mysterious innu-
cncc. And no one can tell where it will end.
II may swallow up both the Old political par
ties, or it may speedily run its career and
pass away, and be remembered only rs one
of the ccccntricili,s Of the aGc-somrthing
that sprang from nothing and ended with
out accomplishing any thing. Parties Use,
flourish AM dccay--principlcs founded in
truth and justice endure forever. If Know
nottingham had It's origin in adequate causes
If its mission is one That appeals to pat-
rio,sm and just.cc-an American movement |
or pure love Of Amcrica--it will not stop,
Tor perish, nor decay until its work is acroa.
'Iishcd, for there is a feeling in the Urea,
american Ucat which need, only to be
cached and moved, and all other considers.
ions sink into insigniicancc before it-a
ceiling which when aroused disrceards party
les, breaks down party barriers and brings
II good citizens together upon the common
latiorm Of patriotism and high and holy
I'VE Of country and Il jealous regard of its
lsiitutions. 1t may be that it is this spirit
'lich is now abroad in the land and moving
pom the waters; and if so, will not ~ Good
democrat" join us in saying, God speed it
n its mission!
TO the interrogatory, whether this paper
about TO become an advocate of TIE Know
othing movement, about which We think
A Good Democrat" evinccs little nnnc-
'ssary anxiety, we can say that We never
IMP oil without first examining and be.
g pretty sure of the ground upon which
c are to light-that we always have advo-
stcd such measures, doctrines, and princi-
les rs we deemed calculated TO promote and
'curc the best interests of the people, and
g are not likely now to abandon the faith
our fathers and run off after strange gods
thout knowing whittier they would lead
:. AS yet we have not seen any thing in
lie Know Nothing movement to merit the
ensures of either the whig or democratic
apers, although the latter have been quite
wish in that way, but something TO chal.
,ngc appreciation. In some places they
ave wrought acceptable works, and by these
crhaps they ought to be judged. Names
re nothing, principles are everything. If the
Know Notl'ngs are engaged, as some alcgc
n crusade against the Catholic Rcljgioa
rc wouldn't touch them I'M der any consider.
ton, though the record against that Church
;crc ten times backcr than il is-if they are
My seeking, which is more probable, 10 re-
eve the country from the influence which
nc Roman Church is exercising in lis po-
teal affairs, striving to brcal: down lis grasp
lg spirit after temporal power-a power that
istory teaches us only conqucrs TO cnsavc-
\ Good Democrat" and all good democrats,
nd good wings, too, ought to strike hands
it'll them and cheer them on in their labor.
ibcrty never ilourishcd where Romanism