Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-30
el O the Know Nsthinss.

This distinguished Irish exile has been opposing
the Know~Nothing organization, very vigorously,
for sometime past through the columns Of his pal or
The Citizen" But in his issue Of the 25th instant
he is down upon them with savage ferocity which
VIC apprehend will do the foreign population Of this
country moro harm than it will do the Know Moth
ings We fear that the talent ed editor Of "rhe Ct-
ZEN" has fred his gun in such . reckless manner as
whether,
-"ws aimed q dock or piovsr
VIII kick and knock his over"
In tue article Of the Citizen to which We REFER We
fnd the Know Nothing organization characterised in
such language as the following: "In the course of
human events and the pr ,gress of the species 1t has
cDme round that the paltriest, meanest fasest and
most ignorant (and though far from the danger
ous) form Of popular delusion which has ever troub
led nations rises to ascendency we'll nigh alb
solnte over the freest wisest, strongest and best
country upon Garth" an short the whole
system FROM head foot and from heart to utermosl
extremities is gross and vile imposture."
We confess that We at loss to know how it
is that the EDITOR Of the Citizen reconcies with each
other, tho respective portions Of the first paragraph
we quote from his article. 1t seems strange to us
that the pdltrest, meonest Jdlsest and most igno
rant Of popular deiusion chich has erer troubled
ndtions' could arise to ascendency ia any country
which the author Of that assertion at the same time
sees proper to designate "te freest eises strong
est aud best country upon edrh" The two assertions
are incompatible. The people rule in this country,
and when they give ascendeney to paltry, mean.
false and most ignorant form Of popular delusion, We
have in our opinien, no longer the freest, wisest,
strongest aud best country upon earth When il
comes to be the that We have adopted a paltrv
mean, false, &c, system Of action those who de.
nounce it as such had as we'll themselves the
trouble Of complimonting longer as a free, wise
and good people. Such blarney will not accord well
with accusations So sweeping.
We are by means to be understood as entering
upon the defence of the Know Nothing Order, but
honestly and prudenty say that when foreign>
ers who have not been OH our shores twelve months
scarcely, undertake to denounce ian order" which
they have mo longer any doubt is going to rule these
United States for certain years., as "a gross and rifle
;po'ture" they take the very last way in the world
To put that Order down, or TO a,lay the American
prejudice against foreign interference. Policy and
prudence at least, il seems to u.s. should dictate TO
those foreigners that they should bear in mind tina;
tne same Order they arc pleased to pronounce "a
gross and vile imposture"-"a pal,ry, mear false and
some OF the best, purest and mos, patriotic of our
citizens; and, according to their own account, the
controlling voice Of the American people, for saws
'rhe Citizen" There is longer any doubt that the
Order is going to rule these United States for certain
years"
Now, whether this "Order' is to rule these United
States for certain years not is perfectly evden,
TO our minds, that such Wholesale reckless denunca
ton OF it by unnaturalized and influential foreigners
amongst us, is the most efficient course they could
pursue to bring about its ascendancy, no, only for
certain years, but for very considerable length
OF time: The spirit Of the American people is lust
such, at the present day. be aroused against foreign
influence by the use Of language OF that character
towards them by the foreign population We speak
GU this subject with the best intentions for promoting
the welfare Of the foreigners who have cast their lot
among US; and of those who may hereafter seek his
land as their home; and tell Them in all sincerity
that If John Mitchell wishes to propagate Know Moth
ingism in these United States he has only to pursu.
the set forth in his article on that subiec, in
tho Citizen Of the 18th inst