New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE AIMS OF TIE Observation-Disclosures

IHE AIMS OF TIE hAON-NOIHlNGS.
To G.e Editor Of 7A> " J. TSibna
SIR; Your article Of July 81 relative to the Know
Nothing movement doe. not enter fully into the sub.
ject ard there to be feeling among those inter
esed that YOU eyaded discussing the most iuportant
point, the very one in fact which gives vitality to
the organization you condemn viii YOU please re-
view the Eaiter as now laid before yOul
You remark, "What are these eyilsi WHY are n,
lrish prescribed Ask any Know Nothing. and
his ready answer will be: Because they are ieno
rant bgoted, yindctive, o!snnish and presridden d"
Now Tie eGd's answer, according to the writer's ex-
peTience would be: Because no conscientious Catholic
car support he institutions Of this country any further
than the interests or policy Of his Church will per-
nit, and his Church il inmical to Republication:
consequently, II would be suicidal 70 commit TIE des
TIMES OF this Government 70 any extent whatever into
the hands Of Catholics and especially of Irish CatkO-
lies, Who, OF all the American votares OF the ROmish
Church, are the most bindy obedient to its behests.
The fact is, the so-celed Know Nothing organization
embraces men OF every range of position intelligence
and intellect Of every shade Of religious belief
Catholic excepted, Professor Brownson to the con-
trary Iotv outstanding and as some would say of no
BELIEF wbatever and, as result, individual members
10 some extent, look upon other members as "ignor-
ant, bgoted, clannsh and prestridden;" but as the
KnOwNOIhng has not formed his test on the basis of
this list of disqUalhcaODs, be is tolerant of then
but what he will moi tolerate, from to the end Of
the chapter, is the election 10 places of power and
trust OF men who are not perfectly free to carry out
their masters but stand ready to execute the will
Of a foreign power; Of men who at any moment may
set about depryirg him Of the right TO worship God in
the manner and to the extent his conscience dictates
Again you say That all citizens should be equally
and fully eligible TO al public trusts need hardly
insist on that mans religious faith or lack of
faith cannot justify his exclusion from Office is car
dinal principle Of our republican system" Agreed
hut il ID no part Of our republican system to favor
those who contemplate it's overthrow; treas0a com.
milf cd fed IN plu
from participating in the government at which it
is aimed and with none the less reason if he is only
cats-paw in the ease. Now by the very relations
which he bears to his Church, BY the unquestionng
obedience it demands of him, is each CathOs in these
United States constituted foregone traitor.
No oath Catholic takes is lasting: it is but little
better than declaration written the sand. 1t is
impossible for our Government, or any earthly Gov
eminent, to 50 frame, to word all oath, that the
Catholic will not believe his church has the right, and
the power to Immediately absolve him from it, and
there is not an intelligent paturalized Roman Catholic
citizen in the land who, when he took oath to support
our Constitution ard Government and forswOre
allegiance to every prince potenate and power what
ever, but what conscious that fiat any time there
after the Pope or the Church should absOlve him of
those Oaths and command him to assist in Overturnng
the Republic and substituting Tuscan Desposm, with
Campbell or BrOwnsOn at its head, he as good ~
Catholic would be bound to obey. Nor will Bishop
Hughes deny this assertion.
The Know NOthings as a body not opposed to
foregners-they consider them men, and as such en-
titled to the privileges of men, long they
them Ike men, that is, as individuals as freemen.
republic is government of the people, through
representatives. elected by the people, and not by
p0rations churches In DISTINGUISHING the Catholic
il the church. not the individual who is deprived OF
vote. The object of the KnowNothng Association
is 'tO prsserre the Republic" And the writer doubts
whether there is single intelligent foreigner in the
land Catholic or MOnarehist excepted) who would
not say repeal the Naturalization laws if through
:" them the Eepuble is in danger