Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-26
From the London Times Of 9Th inst.
The sknow-nothIngs" Abroad awful Ex-
coriation from the Iondon Times

coriation from the London Times.
There are not many scenes to be found in
any work of fiction more thoroughly ludcrous
than those in which Theodore Hook has intro
duced US to Jack Drag, heartily ashamed Of
the recognitions of the poor old vulgar mother
who bore him. She was not bad woman, nor
he-a bad man in his way--which was that of
tallow chandler aiming at gentility-but he
could not stomach comparisons between the
pretensions and realities of his position. 1t is
with a class of National Jack Brags that we
are concerned to-day. 1t seems that, while in
the old world we are solving problems con-
nected with the resisting powers of granite, and
cutting each Others throats according to the
most approved traditions, our cousins beyond
the Atlantic are getting up little domestic
brol on their own account, which, in the long
run, is likely to prove as troublesome to them
as the verdta qu@stio of black and white. This
time it is the quarrel of the old against the new
arrivals The native-born Americans are de-
termined 10 deal in a summary fashion with
the intruders who would thrust them from their
stools as they say, and arrogate to themselves
well-nigh exclusive possession of all public
posts Of honor and emolument throughout the
Union. They resent the intrusion as an in
justice, and, still more, as an indignity. Are
they, forsooth, to be converted into the slaves
of the German Doors and Irish tatterdemalons,
who are annually shot out upon the quays Of
New York and of the other cities on the eastern
seaboard? Are those ragged, penniless, riot
GUS companions, who should be but too thank.
full to find refuge and protection under the stars
and stripes, to give laws to the guardians and
owners Of the great asyluml Independently
of the injustice Of such proceeding, the rogues
are so poor and so out-at-elbows that it would
be scandalous if their opinions were to be re-
ceived as of the same weight with those of men
who have dollars and long-stepping mares at
command.
There is, no doubt, certain amount of Jus.
tice in the complaint Of the natiye-born Amer
leans, although their feeling has been embodied
In an extravaganza form, and has developed it.
self In an outrageous manner. We would have
them to reflect that the moment has not vet
arrived when their country can afford to do,
without this continuous importation of foreign
bone and sinew, however severe may be the
temporary drawbacks upon the operation.
There is yet no kind Of proportion between the
soil Of the North American continent and the
scanty population which it maintains When
the 100000 900 of American citizens shall be
multiplied to loo, 100000, it will be time enough
to talk about discouraging immigration either
directly or indirectly, by throwing i'm pediments
in the way of those who would clothe them.
selves with the nationality of the United States
as with a modern paletot, as a convenient
cloak, or q comfort in Storm" Nor can
we think that our transatlantic friends are in a
position to sneer at the poverty and rags of the
new arrivals. Such proceeding might not
unnaturally be looked for in old aristocratic
countries; but if there be any truth in the
principles upon which the North American
Union is founded, all men are equal-not in
the reserved and constitutional sense of the
Old World, but bona tide equals for all pur-
poses OF social intercourse. Such as that poor
Irish holman who staggers up ladder in the
Broadway is to-day, such was the richest and
most respectable citizen of New York yester-
day, or his father the day before. Did Romu.
lus ever sneer at the minions of the moon, who
in his day made the highways of Utruria un-
safe, or reject them from his city? Does the
horticulturist hold his nose when guano is
brought between the wind and his nobility?
The offscourings of Europe is the manure
which is destined to fertiize the soil of the
North American Union. Why reject the kindly
gift?
An account of the recent movement, which
has attained SO much Importance in the States
of the North American Union, will be found
in another portion of our columns this day.
1t seems that secret society has been set up,
which is described as, or which STYLES itself the
Know-nothings." The Union has long been
famous for the barbarous jargon of the desip.
nations which it has affixed to its various sec.
tons OF political parties, and this may help TO
swell the list. All the light we can throw upon
the term is derived from the information of our
correspondent, who tells us that the members
OF this society are called "Know.nothingsn
from a portion of their oath, wherein they de-
clare that they will know nothing against the
duties which they owe to their country Their
first and principal object is to aim at the re-
enactment Of the old naturalization laws. which
required residence of fourteen years as an in
separable condition of admission to citizenship.
They are said also to aim at the total abolition
of the Roman Catholic church. Their pro-
ceedings generally are marked by spirit Of
the most determined hostility to the German.
and still more especially to the Irish emmi-
grants. The organization Of the society is Sc.
cret and its directors are said to pursue their
objects with considerable skill and dexteritv
Their present aim is to get a control over the
elections, and this result they seek to attain by
throwing the full weight of their organization
into the scale Of one or other of the candidates
at an election, without setting up any candi.
date of their own. The high democratic party
IN the States relies much upon the support Of
the Immigrants who have Just obtained the
rights of citizenship, and to this party, there
fore, the Know-nothings' are strongly on
posed. They have formed a tacit convention
against them with the Wing party which, in.
deed is, by its antecedents, the proper repre.
sentative Of the doctrines which the 6Know.
nothings" appear resolved to carry out with SO
much energy.
Their strength is rapidly on the increase.
At Washington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore,
they have carried the municipal offices against
the government. At st. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, they have carried their candidate for
Congress, and ousted Benton, one Of the most
distinguished Democratic champions, notwith.
standing that the EXTREMIST exertions to secure
his election appear to have been made. Irish
"navvies" working on the railroads one hun.
dred miles off were brought up to vote for the |
Democratic candidate; but all was in vain. |
As soon as the result of the election was known |
serious riot, or series Of riots, took place IN |
the streets of st. Louis. There was beovv |