New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-25
THE "KNOR-NOTHINGS."

of the rev secret society which appears 70 have orig
mated in this City, and 70 have first sh'wn rs teeth at
our last State election. but which has since extended
itself through most of the cities and some of the princ
pal villages Of the Union The Dela says its alherents
in II at city are varousy estimated at 'e hundred to
five thousand but are probably not far fro hun
bred 1t proceeds
The objects Of the . Know Nothngs," twofIli-
mart religious part political and the ends aimed at the
dsfranchissmen OF adopted czsn-, and their exclusion
from Office and perpetual upon the Catholic religion
With these cardinal principles, the qualifications for
berhip and brotherhood are easily determined
let The applicant for admission to g wgwam must
be a nnye born citizen Of native born parent and no. 81
the Caihol,c religion.
I'd To renounee al previously entertained political
leannes and cooperate exclusively with the new order
Cd. To hold neither political, civil. nor religions Inter
course with any person who is Catholic but on the
contrary to all available to abolish the political
end religious privileges be may Of present enjoy.
4th That he will vote for any for Office who il
not q native citizen of the United States, who may be
disposed If elected to place any foreigner or Catholic in
any flee Of emclumen trus-the latter not being in
the opinion of Know NOihngs, credible witness ia
any case gave where the oath IL administered by his
Tie pass words and "sgns" for admission into the
"wigntn" OF the Know N0;hings are as follows The
applicant rsps the outer door indefinite number OF
tines asking at the oose in low, whispering voice
be- The Intercepted Immediately replies, Il DO Mt
know" To which the applicant for admission responds
at which lie gives four distinct rap when the door being
orened he whispers to his attendant Thirteen aai then
advances into tie body of the lodge
II disposed to leave before the adjournment Of the lodge
the member leaving salues the President then the Vice
President by first acinc his right hand biz heart then
letting fa h. side whispering to the Guardian he
reiirts " thirteen
II member requres tie assistance of brother when
mix ~ pronscuou,ly with tie public he places the right
hing looking cecy at the person whose attention
he desires attract when If the person be a member he
il bound to respond Immediately by similar sign Ii il
be desired 90 know of stranger whether he s OF the mi
tated. shaking hands with him the middle finger is
placed upon the Lowest join. Of his finger next the wrist
with gentle pressure; when ii he be member he Will
ask, here did You get that to which he viii rejon.
Il don't know; and the qEcst will end by replying,
a doltkLow either.
Nothing concerning the association is to be committed
to writing published and the most profound silence and
secrecy are TO be observed by every Know Nothing
outside but everything inside the Wiggam impaired
Unfortunately TO members.
Every member on admission swcars by holding up his
right hand and pledges himself 10 do al in his power -
put down foreign influence. and particularly the Catholic
rel eon end in case to vote Tor any person for any
Office who is not native Amer. an citizen and no
oIe with exceptions, il eli gibe TO membership,
less he and both his parents are native born.
There several Lodges, or Wigwams, ri this time
open-one presided over by Mr. H-ty, assemblies in a
room in the Mechanics Institute and another holds its
meetings No 9, New Basin There three degrees
TO he taken by members between each intervals of three
The New York Missionary who came here to organize
the Know othings lie styled Judge Advocate. aud
lie is charged with Ike duties in every other city IN this
As no records are kept or publications made by the
Association, the plan of notifying members OF any emery
small square pieces OF willie paper over inc oahiuees
and public horougbiares, and by mailing them to posts
doors, or other places accessible TO the public
Tie Register (Philadtlpha) descants on the same
general subject follows:
There are certain persons who go about town whisper
ing strange thDgs They surprise everybody by anuoun
cling the surprise party IL to elect the cy officials m
June. This will be effected, say they without noise OF
urereration Our uniipai fabric is to 90 up like the
temple of Solomon upon which heard neither ham
mer nor OK any tool OF iron while it was building
These mysterious gentlemen, who spreading panic
fear among tie young and tmd constitute the occult po
lco.religious sect OF tie Know Nothings IT, gentle
reader you would find who they are AM what they
are driving at, put you in the way: When an
acquaintance scratches his left eyebrow with his right fore
finger and looks straight into your eyes you may De sure
he has not known enough to keep out OF bad company
Or It. when lie shakes hands with you he presses with his
middle finger the lowest joint of your little finger he s GER
tsirly an gnoramus after the fashion In the latter
case say Where did you get that lie VIII answer ',s
YOU must tell the fb by replying, don't know
:eher After these prelimnaries enter into converse
ton with him. and you will find that he really knows very
and little suspects that he is under the orders Of that noto
rious scope grace, Ned Buntlne Commander in Chief at
/ New. York Headquarters. ~
II tbe members of ile new order do not know what it IT,
other reope are more fortunate II IL only the meal with
which the starved cid cat Of Native Americsnism has
covered itself for the better enrappng of young and IN
susrece rats The Natives content themselves
with their American Order" but must come down
uncn the community in this new form, making society
quake with their oracuar gyings out and omnous shay
ngs Of the head. The only historical parallels OF the
pr sent penic be found IN the terofs OF ne ceh
Romans when poltroon sons OF noble sres weni n3esh
the forum telling with white ps that the G9ts or van
da. were advancing through the fertile heds OF Erura
tow ard the gates Of the Eternal Clty'
There serious cause of alarm, mower, me ne"
order has established several "wgwams IN ms cry,
without enlstng more than one IN zen Oh tne ''e
Americans themselves If the iun OF og ahans iSP!s
the members for the expense they certainly can 60 on M
IIifum But really the game is not worth the eandle.
The Know Noihngs are the only order tnat asks an
aupcapt for admission who bis grandfather was OF Is
cannot show that his gran1a,ner Nas oVn =, ot
country he can't in Out West where nan y no.
supposed by these anil wisacIes 10 have ~
know much about him. the perent- mus DC oi
birth At any rate the applicant must be sucn Jealous
Anti Catholic and Native TO be willing TO swear an &C
tive and constant social political religious and eiy hos
tly 10 ell Catholics and foreigners lie must bind nm
self by sort of Hannibal oath do his utmost to exclude
the prescribed classes from all political privileges anu
Office. -. .
/ Tie signs and passwords" for admission into
lodge ere simple enough We will give them for the pen
eft of members having short memories hap a. me outer
door several times in quick succession As the DOOR Keeper
peeps through tue wicket ask him What meet. hrs 10
| nigiti" He will answer" don't kaor' Reply an
one" and he will open the door Rep four times slowly
and distinctly at the second door On rs pens 'P7nea
Ii you wish TO retire before the adjournment salute me
President who sits end of the room and me wee
President who sits the other oy placing !oui nu. ~
door keeper the word Thirteen supposed 70 na'e rel
erence 10 the old Thirteen States ,
Tie Know Nothngs have great faith in the mysteT'
virtue of TIE number three They have three
and after taking one three weeks must elapse before
another can be taken. Three times three MAKING nine
number whose magical power is acknowledged by al pro