Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-30
KNOW. .NOTHINGlSM IN CONGRESS-.

KNOW. N0TlIlNGlSM In CONGRESS-.
Mr.. Banks, one of the two members in
the present Congress from Massachusetts
who was reelected TO q seat in the next,
one day last week made tie atlemPtto de-
iend the principles Of the Know Nothing
party on the floor Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives. His object, no doubt, arises
from vague impression that by thus ma
king q flourish at this early day, he may
stand chance Of being elected to the
United States Senate by the Know-Noth.
ing Legislature Of that state.
But it matters little what may
have been his motives. The Democracy
should heartily rejoice that the adherents
of this anti-American party have thus
boldly uyowed their principles, and at
tempted to sustain and justify them. They
are therefore no longer dangerous, for
error is perfectly harmless as longas truti
and sound reason have an opportunity o
expose it.
The effort Of Mr.. Banks was a conicnp-
,ible failure, although he is very ible
man. He would not discard all CatlSlicsi !
but only those who believe in the empo.
raj supremacy Of The Pope-alleghg ibat
n certain portion of Catholics ae under
such obligations 10 The See of Rme, that
he can control their temporal s well as
spiritual actions-ihat is, for EaHple, IN
case our country should 60 t9warasalnst
any of the Pope's dominionsi ither obllga-
tions as Catholics would lobid them sup.
porting this government, lfMr. b., or
any other Known Nothing CO I'd show from
the conduct of Catholics hfelolore-and
they have been well tried several occa.
sions-any reasonable gound Tor even
suspecting them Of n5elity, he would
find no difference Of Onion among any
class Of American clitns as TO how such
Catholics should betreated. But this
charge is denied byecery Catholic, and
discIaimed and disyowed in the most pos.
live terms by .e authorities Of that
church. HowevG, admitting the charge
10 be true, wherf is the necessity Of com.
batting it througl the means Of secret So
cietesl Cannd the American people be
trusted Will they not corred all such
errors, ifndyised of their existence =! Then
why resort 10 secrecy TO correct public
wrong?
Mr.. Banks labored herd TO justify secret
political societies, and as proof Of their
usefulness, instanced the secret ballot (which
we periodically deposit in the baloi.box.
Could any Thing be more fimsyl Why,
the very object--the chief aim-and the
direct tendency of the secret ballot, is 10
afford the sovereign people Of these states
an opportunity 10 guard and protect their
liberties from the Vaccinations of secret
clubs, combinations, juntas, &c. Through
the secret baHot every man can vote as his
conscience dictates. Whilst Know. Moth.
ingism would first Soear a man and then
require him TO vote according 10 the die.
iates of his fellows, whether with or with.
out the appreciation Of his conscience
Through the secret ballot, labor can pro.
tect itself, and the operatives employed bv
our large manufacturing, mining and cor.
rnration operations, possess the means of
exercIs~G the right Of suffrage in defiance
Of all diclaton'crom these combinations Of
associated. wealth. TGe ballot box is tho
means Of correcting all pubne-qnd politicol
abuses. But if it is controlled by .ecrc,
oath bound societies, farewell TO our lib.
critics.