Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-27
THE KNOW NOTHING QUESTION.

We clip the following we'll written commu.
nication from the Iuteitigencsr Of Thursday
last,
To THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON The an.
preaching election for Mayor of this city is in
vested with much more than ordinary interest
arising from the peculiar and astounding prin-
ciples that are now at work 10 control the cleo.
ton by novel and my steriOus agencies.
A new element. heretofore unknown to US,
Is orgsn led for the purpose Of supplanting all
the considerations and influences that have
hitherto entered into our elections, and which
have alone been considered appropriate ard
safe.
A secret society, denomiuated KNOW
AorHiSGs:" has recently sprung up in our
midst which lives and moves and has its being
beyond the ken of any eye that has not pene-
trated Its mysterious cOnclaye. This society is
organized for its own exclusive action and OBJ
Jects. 1t has it's own candidate for the Mayor
atty and boasts OF its ability to elect him
through the secret and invisible influences
that IL controls.
In Government like ours, which is In all
relations Government of the peopie, what OBJ
jeet or necessity is there for secret societies or
cCnceament of any kind, or ought there to be,
to influence any popular election? Conceal
ment, from whom and for what! Conceal
ment from the people, by the people, and
against the people, who are all In al The
idea IS an absnrdity, and is so repugnant to
the whole spirit and theory of our institutions
that it can have no pre.ext for commentator
or cOuutenance. The whole subject Of every
popular election belongs to the people from its
inception to its close; and being popular can
admit OF no secret influences or concealed mo-
tives
Every influence that cen be brought to bear
N an a hu no Ia Sbn h.,
by the people, and with the greatest possible
publicity, that all might know and act accord
lnSly; as the great end to be accomplished is
their will, for their good, through their repre-
sentatiyes.
The people have no cause ever to distrust
themselves in the open above board exercise Of
any preIOgative which contempates the add
vancement OF their interests and the pr otec-
ton OF their rights, as they must always act
under the influence Of the highest and purest
motives Their only danger is from false
security that sinks into apathy, and the hidden
schemes of corruption which have their origin
and existence in secret pOitica al societies clubs
and juntOs which are the diseased spots on the
body polite, and DO part of the healthy action
Of the people proper. Truth, and justice, and
honor never have concealmen.s. They live in
Transparency, and court light and investiga-
ton that they may gain strength, as they are
as darkness and mystery the great enemies of
moral beauty and honest purposes. No good
motive for popular rights need court the Oh
s:urity of night and the whispers Of hidden
consIave. These are the haunts and precau-
tons of guilt and crime and, wherever they
can be traced they should be marked with
warming.
HThis Know N othing" fraternity is refine
ment upon all the secret associations that have
preceded it. It's organization exists, and it is
untraceable; its identity is unseen and un-
known beyond the mystic tie that forms the
brotherhood its motives lie buried in the
same profound obscurity, with the exception Of
small leak that has revealed enough to show
It's deformity and proclaim its danger. 1t is
Ike the invisible pestilence that seeks its vic
TINS without warning and with tae silent tread
of death.
The accidental revelation of O part Of the
scneme OF this secret society that has been
brought to public notice is to ostraciss eyery
foreigner who has made our and his home and
our laws bis protection. No matter wha, his
moral worth, his intelligence, and patriotism
no matter what his dsvetions to liberty. and
his sac rifces and sufferings in its cause, his
foreign birth makes him nothing moro than a
mere exile in our land, and no probation win
admit him to the rights Of citizenship. 80 say
the Know NOthjp2s,"