Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-06-21
The ..Ixnovr-Nothings."

- The ssFSnow-Notlings."
The recent municipal elections in Philadelphia
and Washington have rather startled the country
IN both cities, the new party called "know- Moth
mrs. have proved triumphant, electjng their can
didates by majoritios which show them to be q
mos, formidable organization. So sudden has been
ihe rise of this party, 50 rapid its increase aud so
ynysterious and signal its success, that politicians
stand aohast aud wonder whereunto the matter
will yrow I'm some cases The first iutlmatlon that
tho public have had Of the existence OF the SocI-
CIV in a particular community, has been the I'M
eypoeted result of an election where the Society
Was formed, where it meets, how the members
communicate with each other, and, in States
where voting is done by ballot, who the members
arc even. are profound secrets. In The meantime
the party is spreading over the country Com
uenciug in New York less than year ago it is
now found in every part OF the Union, swaymg
elections and going forth conquering and to con-
qucr.
In remarks heretofore made upon this subject,
We expressed our dislike Of secret political organ
iza,ions The main feature in the creed of the
PARTY, 50 far as asceraned, is, the election OF ma
live born citizens only TO office. Judge Conrad'
the new Mayor OF Philadelphia, stated in his IN
aucura address that the police force OF that city
must be constituted of men known as born IN the
country.p If this rude is to be applied IN filling
all offices, with the lights at present before u.s. we
cannot lend our support to the party advOcatlng It,
From the establishment of the Republic, many
important posts have been held by adopted citi-
zens, in manner highly creditable to themselves
and beneficial to the country, Who, for instance,
was Albert Gallatin? native of Switzerland,
now revered as one ofour wiseSt and best men,
And in this community. from time immemorIal,
the office of Justice of the Peace has been filled
hy persons not bornon the soil, and most judlclous-
Is and usefully administered. Does any one de-
sire TO Danish these respectable and patriotic ci'i-
zeps from the public service? 1t would be worse
than folly to do SO.
We do not deny, however, that the disposition
manifested Of late years by politicians to court
the favor of naturalized foreigners, is very censu'
rabls. The demagogue appeals which are con-
,inually made to Irishmen, Germans and others
as such. are not only calculated to excite the re-
sentiment Of native Americans, but also the DIS
qust of all intelligent individuals to whom they
are addressed When we find the President
the United States, moreover, passing by the stale
reliable men of his party to appoint mischlevou'
Red Republican refugee, Minister to Spain, an!
an agent OF the ROthchilds, who has little eIs'
besides his money to recommend him, Charge t.
the Haure. it is not surprising that American
feelino should be manifested in some way.
the "Know Nothings" succeed in stopping tn
mouths of demagogues, they will have accom-
plished some good
The Democratic papers, which are AWAY
Boosting of their superior regard for adopted cltl
1vus, ulc ulaAiug great tue aud-cry that tn
"Know Nothings" are merely the old Wing par
tv uuder an assumed name. This is in accord
ance with the usual tactics Of that party; bu
they do not explain how the Wings, whom the,
have represented as being in hopeless mInorlt.
everywhere, can carry popular elections so trlum
phantly. Besides, the facts are against them
In Cambridge, Massachusetts,, at the recent mu
uicipsl election, the regular Wing ticket wa
"knocked into a whole Continental army otcock
cd hats as the telegraph man expressed 1t ant
in Salem. where the oldest iuhabtant could no
remember defeat Of the Wings before, the part.
was lamentably overthrOwn, and the "hnoV
Nothing" candidates elected by large maJorltieS
In Annapolis, Maryland, where the "AaoV
No,hingsn triumphed, the election resulted in TIN
choice of majority of Democrats; in Westmln
s,er, the Mayor and majority Of the Council ar
Democrats and in Washington City, sixteen on
OF the thirty members of the Council belong to tn