Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-09-28
4Notttrul.
Principles OF Rnow-NotI,ingiss.,.
a GLANCE BEHIND THE cURTAINl


The following expose Of the principles Of
the Know-Nothings will be read with inte-
rest The pass words, signs, DC, are of nc
special moment They may be changed any
day, and are changed. A new pass word was
given out but a few days since. Thatawl1icll
4 the public are most interested in. viii be found
below s
d5s'rastof lk o7Hs and 3,a,cillses Of tic orele,
aszss--57 -t7S9ss gy5iE5'lJS
The candidate is first proposed by a mem
ber of the order to the council, without his
! knowledge. Three negative votes 0ach-baIIs
him If elected, he is secretly requested to
present himself in the ante-room of the coun-
Gil, when an officer appears from within, and
administers to him the following oath:
II, --, do solemnly swear upon
this sacred volume Cor cross) before Almighty
God and these witnesses that I ,yjH not d.
UUlge o3y question proposed to nc here, ae7teth-
er I become a member OF this order OF not
and that eriU nere,' u,o5ey dny circumstances
,choterer mention the name Of aay perSon, I
may see Pyese Mt d1,ing any Of the meetings,
or that I hao,c Of ony such order being IN,
existence, and that | viii true answer make
to any questions asked Of me, 50 help me
| God -
! Which being seriously taken by the candi-
|
lowing interrogations, before reporting to the
council his fitness for initiation
l. What is your name? 2 What is your
/ age? 3. Where is your residence? 4. In
your religious belief are You Roman Catho-
lie? s.. Where were you born? 6. Where
were your pareats born? I. Did either of
your ancestors take part in the American re-
volution? 8 Are you willing to use all the
influence you possess in favor Of native-born
American citizens for all Offices of honor,
trust, or profit in the gift OF the people; and
do you promise to vote for them to the ex-
cusion of all aliens and foreigners, and Ro-
man Catholics in particular, for all local,
State, or governments offices? 8. Who in
vited you TO be present on this occasion
If the candidates answers are satisfactory
to these questions, he is taken into the coun-
eli by two officers, led up TO the President of
the council, who administers the following
oath in the Ji,'st degree:
II, --, Voluntarily and freely do
solen:nly promise and swear, before Almighty
God and these Witnesses around me assem-
bled that I vii not. under any circumstances
whatever, diYulge or make known to any
person or persons. either directly or Indirect
y or to any human beng other than those
shall know TO be good and true members of
tNlT tTAtE- JiC iisiiit5 SeCitt@5 FStCiltSs Oi
objects Of the same; or cause or allow the
same to be done by others if within nay power
to prevent the same: binding myself under
no less penalty than that of being exec Inu-
uieated from the order, and having my name
posted and circulated throughout the different
councils Of the orCer traitor and perjUrer
to both nay God and country, and being un-
worthy TO be employed, intrusted, counte-
nanced, or supported in any business transac-
tons whatever, and as person totally un-
worthy Of the confidence of all good men,
and one at whom the finger OF scorn shall
ever be pointed. | further more promise
that, If / should hereafter be expelled from or
voluntarily leave this order, / viii consider
this obligation as binding out Of If as in it.
Al of which foregoing | voluntarily and free
ly subscribe to, so help me God"
The candidate is then led to al officer cal
led the Judge advocate, who harangues him
after this manner (There are generally half
a dozen OF more initiated together.)
.sAIy Brother The order which has now
received You as a member may with all pro
prietv be considered secret organization. 1t
is so secret in fact, that if you were placed
before legal tribunal, and there sworn to
tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, you could not for your life re-
veal the name Of that band of brothers among
whom vour nanc now stands enroHed; and
further than this, when you retire from this
meeting, you viii return 70 your families and
friends as ignorant as when you came, as far
as the name of this order is concerned
I'm common with ourselves, you shno'o-
saothiRg,' and let it be your stern resolve
through life to know nothing that will at all
conflict with the high and exalted duties you
owe to your God, your country, and your
selves. so far as regards the preservation OF
American liberty, which can alone be secured
to ourselves and our children by the entire
and absolute exclusion of all foreign influence
in those matters which appertain to our gov
ernment policy
After the delivery of this patriotic address,
the candidates is referred to the instructor,
who teaches him the signs, and grips, and IN
what manner TO obtain entrance into the coun-
ell. He is then master of the first degree
and signs his name to the register. Ii ne
behaves well two weeks, and 1T IS coneeded
that he will do to become full-blooded know
nothing from all blab outside the
eouncil-his friends propose hIn Tor the
second degree. After election to that degree,
he and others are brought in, and take the
following oath
I, --, do solemnly promise and
swear before Almighty God and these witness
sess, that 1 will not, under any circumstan-
ces, divulge or make known the nome of this
order, or its objects, to any person or persons
in the world, unless to those whom may