Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-13


the "fruit" If the fruit is good, the tree is to
be pronounced good--alttoagh zee may not Be able
70 penetrate the bark, and pry into the secret re-
cesses Of is groeth.
Secrecy Of means, therefore, let II be repeated,
Is not even decidedly presnmptive evidence oil evii
intent or design on the contrary, u may DC, and
often L. resorted TO as a matter of wise but harm
less policy expediency, to effect the very best
Of ends.
Tho Saviour. Jesus Christ himself, when he sent
forth his Apostles to preach the Gospel, command
ed them 10 be as wise as serpents, but as harm
less as doves"
AWAY, then, with all the idle clamor about, and
pictured horror of the secrecy feature attached TO
The Know Nothing organization. The organization
is perfectly willing 10 abide the standard laid down
in Holy Writ, of Judging the tree by its fruit and
by that rule to be condemned or acquitted, and that
Is unqnestionably as much as ought or can in rea-
son be asked Of It,
If the writer may be allowed 10 indulge farther
in conjecture as to the motive for adopting tho
secrecy feature attached to the Know-Nothing or
ganization he might perhaps suppose II was In part
TO prevent Its members from being barassed by
useless contention and wranging in the streets and
elsewhere with opponents and partsans Of heated
inaginatons or that il was intended In part also to
defeat efforts that were anticipated from such OPP
ponents and partisans to stide crush the organi
zation in its incpent state, or before 1t had had
time to acquire sufficient strength TO become COM
paratively independent.
Be this, however as il may it seems that 1t chose
to adopt the preferable silent course, rather than
noisy contentious, wrangling one, to be an acting
rather than mere street-talkiag party.
The name assumed by the organization, or party,
or which has been applied to 1t, is also very much
caviled at. The name It ia true is unique. II may
have been accidental or there may be something
significant in it. The great apostle Paul, on one
OCCASION virtually assumed that appellation In
writing to the Corinthians, who perhaps were some
what contentious people, he said to them that he
was determined not to know anything among
them save Jesus Christ and him cruci6ed, and
perhaps il may be that the Known othings of the
present day may have determined to act upon
similar princple--to know nothing Of the party
distinctions, discussions, excitement and strife,
which, of late have abounded 30 extensively
among us resulting wholly and solely in evil rather
than good, but irrespective Of and in defiance
thereof periodically and ,cisely to look solely to
the true interests and good Of the country
In any event the writer undertakes to say, that
so far as he can understand or has been able to
discover, the motives and principles by which the
Known othing organization proposes TO be govern
cd, he is much inclined to believe that it has made
movement in the right direction, and in that
view, and hoping that it may continue in that d.
rection, he, for one, bids it God speed.
He trusts that IL may continue to advance and
grow and be able to succeed In its mission for
good as ere long to have 1t in his power to place,
and that it may place in offices and stations OF pub
lie trust, to a much greater extent than has here
tofore been done, men of stability and known in
tegrity of character Of the most approved COM
potency to discharge the official duties which
may be assigned them; and who may be relied
upon to discharge the same with fidelity and
propriety; that the result, moreover, to good
extent, may be to still the tongues Of mere
brawling partisans dsappoint the views Of seekers
or bidders for office or station who are generally
the least to be relied upon to discharge official
duties with propriety and fidelity to check and
defeat also the aspirations, acts, and machina-
tons Of mere trading politicians and mischicvous
demagogues with which it is believed the country
has now, and has had for long time past, more
than snfeit-"A class who have ever been
averse to all good governments; who, without any
Just pretensions to become the depostaries OF pub
lie trust and confidence are ever seeking artfnlly
to nsinuate themselves into our State and Federal
councils and when having done so, shamefully
abuse the confidence reposed In them by their con-
stituents, to answer their own selfish end mere
political vampires, who, though sectional in their
views, are not so In their existence-being found
everywhere"
If the Know-Nothing organization shall, as 1t is
hoped it may, in defiance of all opposition, succeed
to the extent ofreform indicated, or supposed, as
aforesaid, TO be embraced in its mission, or even
advance towards such contamination to any nat
ural and important extent, it will have achieved
glorious result and such ought TO fill the breast
Of every true patriot with joy.
CIScIsNATus.