The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-04-20
ssThe know Nothincs.0 y


The New Orleans Delta gives an ac-
count of the new secret society, which
appears to have originated in New York,
but which has since extended all over the
country. The Delta says:
The object ofthe "Know Nothings" are
twofold-part religious, part POLITICAL ard
the ends aimed at, the disfranchisement of
adopted Citizens, and their exclusion from
Office, and perpetual principles, the quail
ications for membership and brotherhood.
are easily determined.
1st. The applicant for admission to a
"wigwam," must be native born citizen,
of native born parents, and not of the Cat
holic religion.
2. To renounce all previously entertain
ed political leaning, and cooperate exclu-
sively with the new order.
Sd. To hold neither political, civil, nor
religious intercourse with any person who
is a Catholic, but on the contrary, to use
all available means to abolish the political
and religious privileges he may at persent
enjoy.
4th. That he will not vote for any man
for Office who is not native citizen of the
United States, or who may be disposed, if
elected, to place any foreigner or Catholic
in any Office of emolument or trust-the
latter not being, in the opinion "Know-
Nothings," ''creditable witness" in any
case save where the oath is administered
by the priset. -, -
The passwords" and "signs" for, ad-
mission into the "wigwam" of the Know
Nothings, are as follows: The applicant
ra2s at the outer door an indefinite number
of times, asking atthe close, in allow, whis-
peringvoice, "Whatmeets here to day?"
{ or night, as the case may be.) The in
terrogated Immediately replies, Il don't
konw." To which the applicant for ad-
mission responds, 81 am one" and forth
with is admitted to second floor, at which
he gives four distinct raps, when the door
being opened, he whispers to his attendant
Thirteen and then advances into the
body of the lodge.
Ifdisposed to leave before the adjourn
ment of the lodge, the member leaving
salutes the President, then the Vice Presi-
dent, by first placing his right hand on his
heart, then letting it fall to his side, whis-
pering too the Guardian as he retires "Thir-
teen.'
If a member requies assistance Of a
brother when mixing promiscuously with
the public, he places the right forefnger
upon the left eyebrow, as if in the act of
scratching, looking directly at the person
whose attention Ire desires to attract, when,
I if the person be member, he is bound to
respond Immediately by similar sign
If it be desired to know of stranger
whether he is of the initiated, shaking
hands with him the middle finger is placed
upon the lowest joint of his finger, next
the wrist, with gentle pressure; when,
if he be member, he will ask: "Where
did you get that?" to which he will rejoin,
II don't know" and the querist will end
by replying, Il don't know either"
Nothing concerning the association is to
be committed to writing or published, and
in the most profound silence and secrecy
are to be observed by every "Know No
thing outside; but everything inside the
Wigwam is impaired indiscriminately to
members.
Every member on admission, swears bv
holding up his right hand, and pledges
himself to do all in his power to put down
foreign influence, and particularly the
Catholic religion, and in no case to vote
for any person for any office who is not a
t'native American citizen;' and on one,
with some exceptions, is eligible to mem
bership, unless he or both of his parents
are native born. @
AS no records are kept, or publications
made by the association, the plan of notify
ing members of any emergency requiring
their speedy assembling, rs by scattering
small square pieces Of white paper over the
banquetts and public thoroughfares, and
by mailing them to posts, doors, or other
places accessible to the public.
Book FoLDING.-When the sheet of
paper in which book is made is folded
in two leaves the book is called folio;
when folded into four leaves it is called
octave; when folded into twelve leaves, a
quodecimo, or 12mo; when folded into six
teen leaves, an 18mo: &c. The number
of folds in each rheet is ascertained by the
letters, or figures at the bottom of the pa
ges, there being as many leaves between
each as there are folds in the sheet-the