New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-06-29
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The Know-Nothi,.r,

the organization of powerful interest known
by the significant appellation which heads this
article They have come upon the politicians
as some Of those signal scourges with which
Heaven has chosen to afict the wickedness Of
man; have come upon the earth, moving in its
inscrutable and irresistible and inexora bic pow
er, and leaving no other record of its nature
than the devastations of its path. The politi-
clans stand aghast. They have been struck
dumb IN the councils They have been carried
fainting from the feasts. Their pride is hum.
bled, Like the storm Of hail and birthstone
which swept over the doomed cities--like the
pestllence which spared not the Eunuch at the
foot-stool of the Monarch on the throne, the
t Know Nothipgs'' seem moving over the land
on a mission of political punishment and pros.
tratlon. As these severe marks of divine in
dignation were generally followed by prayer.
repentance and reformation, we may hope that
few more salutary admonitions may have the
effect of restoring the purity of official appoint
ment and party action throughout the United
States.
We are in total ignorance of the principles or
purposes Of the s' Know Nothings,'' except so
far as they may be inferred from results II
seems volunteer police in aid OF public moral.
ity. 1t recognizes no Federal division-con.
tends for no political system. Itseems actuated
alone by determination to maintain the insti-
tutions Of the country, and to commit its Offices
to none but citizens of unimpeachable integrity
We can well see how such an organization
may have become necessary. Party contests
have oblterated the lines of principle which
once divided men
The lust of conquest has extinguished politi-
cal honesty, and made any professions of patri-
otism subject of Jest or suspicion The plat
form creed of parties has been suspended By
local dispensations, Unscrupulous politicians
have secured nominations by intrigue. and party
fealty has compelled support to the nominee
which could not have been accorded to the man
Officers in high stations have permitted them
selves to be implicated in speculations upon the
Government, and permitted the political mis-.
representations of their acts to settle in re-
proach upon the party to which they belong.
Statesmen regard public offices as private pro-
perty and the family tree of some might be
shown, which, taking root in the Federal Trea-
sury, bears upon its spreading branches, the
fruit OF preterment to the most remote degree
of collateral consanguinity. Subordinate Off
GERS are chosen for no knowledge of figures,
save capacity to increase those upon the poll
book, and with no capacity to write save for
the newspapers.
The two political parties have become two
great armies, and the spols of office follow the
piratical rules which govern the spoils of war
The Executive Department is the marquee of a
victorious general. The offices and revenues OF
the country are his magazines. There his elated
followers meet to congratulate each other upon q
triumph over their countrymen; to part among
themselves the mantles and the jewels, and the
daily bread of those whom they have overthrown,
and to unsettle the Executive brain with the
insidious fumes of tiattery. From this victorious
camp the defeated are driven in herds to politi.
cal execution, whilst weeping trains of the limo.
cent and helpless perish--the hapless victims OF
the ruthless massacre. The Government, sus-
tained by the arms AMI tribute of all, is given
in monopoly to those whose sole merit consists in
successful deception or numerical strength To
secure participation in this great spoil, legis
lation has put on the livery Of party. Measures
are tested not by their necessity or usefulness,
but by their party effect, Their success depends
not upon the merit of their principle, but upon
the men who are their advocates Congress is
a stagnant pond in which the interests of the
country lie rottipg, whilst nothing moves upon
its surface unless impelled by the winds of inter-
est. Parties have so far departed from their
original theories, that every separate organiza-
tion Of opinion, of section, or Of nationality, is
appealed to- The party flag unfurled, every
interest which presents an associated identity,
can contribute its recruits, and partake of the
bounty. To secure the support of these special
interests the politicians have resorted to the
most ingenious devices. Manufacturers have
derived hope from the delusive assurances of
ambiguous epistes. Cities have expected far
deeper harbors and relief from snags, under
administrations pledged elsewhere against buth
Polyglot letters have given the public lands to
the landless, or bestowed them for works of local
improvement, whilst others have denied an equal
participation in the public domain to those who
had fought and paid for it. But two, sided let
ters garbled votes, duplicate biographies, and
falsified history, have had their day, and politi
clans would have not, perhaps, been called to
account, but that they have, in their ardor for
spolls, begun to speculate upon the known differ
ences of religious opinion and nationality.
First it was charged that the Abolitionists
were called into n coalition under which they
were to receive a distinct share Of the spoils
Then the Empire Club q band of stipendaries
offered their slung shot and illegal votes as a
prize to those who bid best. Then it was said
that the great church, whose head is domcied
in Europe, whilst its organization extends over
every land, has been approached by politicians
willing to have bartered a participation in the
administration of our Government for that sup
port which unity and obedience always renders
SO valuable. 1t has been also said that similar
appeals have been made to those foreigners who
keep up their identity of national language and
manners, These charges have been made not
against one party, but against both. We have
neither the purpose nor can we command the
facts to charge that either of the two last inter
ests have acceded to any such propositions But
we have to say that men may be found base
enough to make such overtures, and volunteer
organizations may arise to punish and prevent
their schemes. In this, however, we only state
a matter Of common belief to explain particu-
lar theory.
But coincident with the degradation of parties
this new party has sprung up. 1t has discarded
the machinery of conventions-it makes no noisy