Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-11-10
sKnoW Nothings."

We have once or twice adverted to the
new political organization known as the
"Know Nothings," whose leading object
is understood to be the prescription Of
foreigners, and especially of Irish Catho-
lies, from all Offices Of political trust or
emolument in this land Of their adoption.
CThe I~s1epexdcnt first alludes to their
local questions, and shows that the success
of Ullman L Go. in New York State this
gear, would be triumph Of the Rum and
Slavery interests, and then adds j
But there arc other bearings Of this
movement, of more serious and perma-
nent character. In order to defeat the
supposed Vaccinations of Romanism, the
"Know Nothiugs" initiate the worst fea-
ture of the Romish system. They arc
virtually an order of Protestant Jesuits-
spies upon every mans thoughts and words;
stabbing in secret the hopes and reputa-
ious Of individuals, and the policy of Free
dom and Humanity /; ordering in secret
cabal the affairs of state; and visiting with
. remorseless prescription the opinions Of
men whose rights are as sacred as their
own. We do not charge upon the order,
as whole, Jesuitical intention but
headlong zeal has made them Jesuits In
policy.
In Austria, secret political combinations
may be commendable but in this country
they are both dastardly and dangerous.
We want no Jesuits, Protestant or Paral,
Truth and Freeaom derive no aid from
such champions.
Moreover, such combination is sure to
defeat its own end. The moment it be-
comes powerful, it becomes the prize ct
the strong and crafty, and is perverted to
base selfish or party objects. The passion
that aroused it, will in time distract its in
ferior councils. The enthusiasm With
which it was greeted, will .ubside before
the sober second thought Of the people.
1t can never become popular movement
1t can not be permanent element in our
politics 1t is contrary to the spirit of
che American people, and to the genius Of
American institutions. Its only effect will
be to compress more compactly together
the disintegrated foreign population, and
to array them permanently in political
union for their own defence, Heretofore,
nationality has been stronger bond of
union among our adopted citizens, than
their religious faith. Germans have ssso-
cisted as Germans, irrespective Of reiigi-
Gus differences, more freely than German
and Irish Catholics have associated upon
religious basis. But the effect of the
"Know Nothing" demonstration
aimed specifically against the Irish Catho-
lics-is to drive the entire foreign popu-
laton into one political organization for
mutual protection. And when the fury of
Anericanism shall have spent itself, that
organization will remain-no longer dis.
integrated macs, separated by nationality
and religion-but compact whole, ami
mated by one spirit, formidable in num-
bers, holding the balance Of power, ruling
the elections, and debating to the govern
ment Of the United States its foreign
policy.
But the saddest aspect Of the movement
~ that, BY keeping alive prejudice, and
passion, and engendering political strifes
upon religious grounds, it thrusts the Ro-
man Catholic population beyond the reach
OF evangelical influences, and drives them
moro closely into the embrace Of their
priests. 1t makes enemies of our dcpen-
dents, upon whom We in turn are depen,