Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-09-07
The First Fruit of Know Mothingsim

Under this head. The Citizen, published b,
John Mitchell, thus portrays the career, anc
r predicts the fate of the Know-Nothings as
political organization. He characlerizes it il
foreibIc and truthful language
The FIRST FRUITS OF KNuw-NoTHIYG1sM-
in this weeks paper, as well as in previous mum
bers, We have recorded the doings, hopps, anG
prospects Of secret political society. appropr
aIely called Know-Nnlings. They are repre-.
scented by their peculiar organs, and by some
shallow daily journals in this city, whose wont
il is to spread their sails to catch every wind OF
d"cIrlne, as having swept everything before
them al various elections, and us likely to carry
every future contest whe"e they are organized.
We do not, by any means, wish to depreciale
the power or Importance Of the order Of Know
Nolhimgs. Like every ghost and goblin, it is
formidable in the dark to the sIpcrstiiious, and
no doubt il has scared, and will conliue 10 scare
many out Of their senses. But, just let us see
what it i,-whenre it has sprung-and what it
has done
The principles Of the Know-Nothings are
identical with The old exploded alien laws, and
the mere d"gmas Of naliveism, which some ten
Years ago died Il natural death, but is now gall
vanlzcd ino convuISive action resembling life,
aud dereiving the simple 1t is. therefore, moth
! ing new. ii is but The order of United Ameri-
cans IN the most contemplate FORM That was
! brave and bold, aud the remnant of it now does
moi fear the sun. This is cowardly and clandes.
tine, skulking in holes and corners like an assas-
sin. In Boslon, Philadelphia, and New York,
the NatlveSAmerican faction burned churches
and con>cn $, and set on foot serious riots.
Then, as now, The bigotry and despotism of
Catholic ercIcsastics and their organs were
made excuses for prescription of 4 creed and in
justice to whole race. Here and else where,
they carried elections by throwing their weight
into the scale balanced between two other par
Ties of whose leaders the people were wearied-
They Made large promises, but they TUNED out
To be tile wors! performers that appeared on the
political Stage, and they sank back into disgrace
and oblivion.
In 1871, in New York city, Mayor Harper
WAS not elected two months till Il disappointed
public WIS rou>rd to Indignation and 50 it was
cvcrywherc-lhe worst aud most incapable men
were elected to office under the nalivist excite
ment. Deep disgust was the consequence. In
This State an cfcclual lesson Was taught The
ilIustr"uS and chivaIrous Henry Clay was de-
fracd in presidential election because of The
previous alliance of the wings, who nominated
him, with The Native American party The taint
WIS fatal. lie would have been elected but for
the State Of New York, and the foreigners"
hid ample revenge. In The late presidential
election, General Scott was overwhelmed with
that same Naive American party, as appeared
from his re-pubIi>Ired letters, and all his barney
OF the " rich Irish brogue' could not charm away
the effect.
:. Mna, do We seq now? Already in New Or,
I..;,.d S;3sl M IN eG eGna naamI n
lnc Know-NothingS. Will the people of New
York permit the same farce that was performed
in 1914 To be played over again in 1854. by still
more dc>p;,.ib!c aclorS-mcn who are ASHAMED
to ho!l, mp their heads before high heaven?
Ii is to be hoped that the fatal riots al 81
Louis will teach Il Sautary lesson before it is
100 late. these are the legitimate fruits Of
Known hirnism and, like Oangcsm, It's kiH-
drcd association in Ireland it is destined. before
its brief candle is ont TO win bloody distinction
i'm otner nIerncclne icuds oi the same character
unless its s:eahy progress is arrested by the
4nopc.
For The same reason that the Know-Nothings
arc iOa certain extent victorious IN the gloom
of ninht. tbey never can become successful rs 4
party in the iight of day Their principles and
their practices are unconstitutional, un-Amcrl-
can. un Republican, and they dare not set up
their platform. and 20 openly TO the polls giving
Il reason for the faith that is in them. What
lave they accomplished They have elected no
ticket of their own They have only helped to
elect the tickets of their allies, the Wings, who
will reap terrible reiriJuiion for the acceptance
of their aid. The Know-Nothings are bound
together by two principlc<.-Iatred of everything
irish and German, and The cohesive power OF
the ,po Is. When the plumber is divided, they
will fall in pieces like Il rope of sand.