Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-08-11


Union you may. whether from the
busy empDriums Of commerce. the
seats Of legislation. or the little villages
embosomed deep in the woods. we are
sure to see staring US in the face. the
strange and ludicrous collocation Of
words-The Know Nothingsl Who
are the Know Nothings? where do
they meet? how do thy exert their
power? and how must man proceed
10 gain admittance TO their ranks? are
questions asked by every body. and
everybody replies: Ask mr nothing on
that subject. for about it know moth
ingl Some are even so incredulous
as to ask whether such body Of peo-
pie RS the Know Nothings really exists
at ALL They imagine that as witch
craft existed in Salem, without any
actual witches. so Know Nothingism
may now exist from one end OF the
United States to the other. without
the actual bein. of a single Know
Nolhingl This reminds Us OF a Sub
born Englishman we were once ac-
quainted with. who was extremity fond
OF talking about the British Constitu-
ton. We used to deny the existence
of such an instrument. and ask the
gentleman to cite some of its provis-
ions. stating the sections in which thew
could be found. This. OF course, could
not be done, but the difficulty by no
means embarrassed our acquaintance.
"Does not the Queen talk about it in
her speech? he would ask" do you
not read Of it in books. and hear it
spoken Of in conversation? Ii It can
be spoken about. written about, and
convereed about, il must exist" On
the logic of our friend. we feel conf
dent that the Know Nothings exist,
for they are the subjects OF an unut-
terable amount of speechifying, writing
and conversation.
Buff they exist. who are they, and
where are they? These questions il
is impossible TO answer Ii we point
TO clever confecticner, popular
dealer in china. or high spirited
batter. and ask in succession-Is he
Know Nothing? the answer Is, "Ev-l
erybody says so, but for my part,
know nothing about it," II we ask
where do the Know Nolhings meet?
we are told: "rhe newspapers have
mentioned this, that and the other
place. but know nothing Of be truth
OF their statements" Should we in
quire-did the Know Nulhings carry
such and such an election? we are
answered: There is no doubt they did.
but we can only guess. We know nolh.
ing" From this. II appears that the
name of this formidable organization
does not indicate that the bearers Of
the title know nothing. but that they
are people OF whom The world with
out, knows nothing. The title implies
ignorance, but the ignorance ! - xteru-
al. not within the society. The mem
bers of the society bear the name Of
Know Nothings. and the "rest OF man
kind" possess the quality which the
name indicates.
Physical philosophers speak of inn
ponderabe substances: a similar sub
stance is now an active. subtle, but
impalpable, agent inthe political arena.
Like the electric fluid. intangible and
invisible. It demonstrates its power.
and leaves lis being to be discovered
by inference. Like grsvitation it sup
ports. like heat II permeaies, and like
lightning il destroys. Such is Know
No.hingism, that il has made The place
hunter lremble. the trading politician
rage, and has even compelled the most
GINNING Jesuit in the country to show
his hand, and proclaim his hollow
policy.
Great exigencies, create great meu
to meet them. and pnblic vices create
public scourges to punish them. The
Know Nothings have not been called
into existence by the will OF any mar,
or clique: bat by the force OF circum.
stances, involving real, or fancied inju.
ny.
What hearing this action will have
upon the future Of this great country
Is one OF the mysteries yet lying un-
revealed in the bosom Of Time. Know
No,h.ngism may sink to oblivion as
suddenly as Il has risen to notoriety,
or u MAJ make a mark on the page ol
history rs indelIible as the footsteps ol
dme.--Css. Duly Cojxm6san.