New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-15
THE .KNOW.NOTHINGs.'

To Native Americanism in every form we are CON
stutionally averse deemng it at war with the funds
mental principles of our National existence. We
recognize the man who lives beside us, pays taxes
and willing to help defend the country if assailed
as our equal before the law, and fairly entitled to all
the franchises and immunities of citizenship mat
ter where he was born what may be the color of
his skin. We don't boast much of our Democracy,
seeing that those who make loudest professions in
that line have generally least principle and conssten-
cy at the base Of them; but we could not look
Fourth of July in the face if not in favor of
Equal Rights for All Men, regardless of nativity,
creed or color. And of all forms of exclusiveness
and prescription that which rallies under the ban
ner OF secret political association seems to us most
Objectionable Whether that society be called Tam
many or Know-Nothing, profess Democracy or prac-
tice Natvism, infexiby averse to it's objects
and purposes. Keep unfit men out of Office because
they are unfit and not because of the place OF their
BIRTH the nature of their Faith or the color of their
skins Such is our Americanism.
Yet we have never denied the existence fgrcat
proyOcaons to Nativism in this country and unless
these can be put aside, we expect to witness occa-
sonal outbursts of ant-Foregn excitement. Our I'm
migrant population is deplorably clannish' misguided
and prone 10 violence. We never saw party of
Amercans-bOrn approach peaceable poll with wea-
pOns in their hands; we hare Irish bands of two
or three hundred, armed with heavy clubs traversng
the streets election day and clearly provoking
fight; we have known such beat peaceful! opponent
for no faut-twenty falling upon one-untl his life
was in danger We have seen men taken to courts to
be naturalized and put through like sheepwashng,
hon. Linz hat and i'm
no condition 10 take on themselves the solemn respon-
sibties of citizenship. We have the public adj
vertsements of party Naturalization Committees
offering to grind out voters gratis in order to swell
the votes of their party; and thought Adopted
Citizens who Citizens ought to interfere with this
scandalous business. which casts reproach on their
whole body; but they said nothing, and seemed to
take il quite matter of course. Yet certainly
who desire and are fitted to become Citizens do not
need to be put through in that reckless way.
KnOw-Nothingism is an epidemic, having its causes
in past errors and vices like other epidemics and like
them will run its course and pass away. 1t is not
genial to American soil, and can only be kept alive
here by the of obvious and fragrant evils of
adverse character. Let these disappear, and they
will leave it but castle in the air.
The Cincinnati Enquirer of the 10th inst. has Il
leader on Adopted Citizens, which bears hard on the
German Immigration since le4e, whose leaders it
terms infides "crazy theorists entirely destitute
of sentiment of religion" opposed to the prima
"ry doctrines of Christianity" &c. &c. There is
certainly truth in these charges, though We appre
bend it would never have been heard from The En-
qnirer if the new mmg grants had worked kindly In
the party harness. But the German radicals aiore
said, coming freshly from their lost battlefelds in
Europe, were greatly disposed to enioy real De-
mocracy in their adopted country, and were rather
asonshed to find that the article current here under
that title was bogus, of the galyanizedwatch order,
in close alliance with Slavery and mall things affiliated
with the worst developments of inveterate Hunker
ism. Hence the revolt of SO many of them; hence,
too the philippcs of The Enquirer, which on kin
dred point more justly says
Democratic friends with whom we have ooaversed,
from other parts Of the Union particularly from the large
cities, where the of foreign citizens be found
all have the same complaints TO make OF exacting caaRh
demonas upon their par' IN political organizations. They
have told Us that the saTse division of offices pomlna
tion there here parcelsd according nationality
instead of capacity and sound Democratic attachments
had 10 be made, otherwise there always trouble and
disafeeon at the polls. We kn0r that the General Gov
erpment in the distribution Of its patronage all over the
country, in times past has felt itself obliged from the
force Of necessity TO award certain portion of il to Ger
man Irish Democrats such in order 10 prevent trou-
bic in our political organization. We knor that in the
custom ho1ses Of New-iork, Boston, and other large
cities the Collectors have been compelled, for the same
reason the appointment Of their suborduater TO pursue
a similar course. Our German and Irish Democratic
friends have seemed to be content TO urge their css
amply Democrafs, but have asked for nominations and
appointments a. Germans and IyIsh.
Nov this hss teen very wrong and ioudcious upon