The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-06-14
THE HEROIsM OF KNOW-NOTHINGIsM.


There is feature in the warfare uureentngy
waged by the know-nothings upon foreigners and Catho
lies which has excited special surprise there is
characteristic of the American people which universal
that il may almost be said be instructive it the
prompness and earnestness with which they sympathze
with the weak when sought to be oppressed by the strong
and the enthusiastic admiration which they indulge for
deeds Of chvalry and lofty courage. When Russia
enccd her warfare upon Turkey the American heart
promptly and warmly enlisted the side Of the weak and
oppressed Turk changed suddenly and earnestly
when France and England gave the contest different
aspect by alliance Of three great against
Know-nohingsm is destined to fall before this noble
trait in the American character 1t may ride triumph
anty for short time the of popular
excitement produced by adrot appliances upon the pre-
vang pudices against foreigners and Catholics These
preudices however will be swept away before the
powerful sentiments which enlist the American sympahies
whenever of oppression of the weak by the strong
made apparent Intriguing and disappointed politicians
may misdrect the popular feeling temporarily by secret
CARNATIONS and by nammatoy appeals to prevailing pop
ular prejudices but the reaction is as fate
To illustrate these remarks have but to take the facts
in regard to any of the southern States In North
Carolina for example, most furious onslaught is made
foreigners and Catholics Perhaps there State in the
Union where the Pore Of Rome is odious and none
where the antpahy to Roman Catholics is
and universal Closely allied with Catholics in their
minds foreigners in general, and hence the anti
foreign sentiment prevails in that State strongly
In any other But whilst the people Of North Carolina
thus zealously attached Professionalism and
promisingy averse to Catholicism, and predisposed to
think badly Of foreign immigration, they in no dam
ger of being led by these feelings into crusade
of intolerance and prescription against Catholics and for
egncs There other sentiments which prevail amongst
North Carolinans that exert permanent and controlling
influence upon their judgments and their actions. They
not only brave themselves but they admire bravery in
Others; they hospabe themselves and know how to
appreciate the holy virtue Of hospitality Aa all brave
do, they, too, sympathize with the weak and
with indignation against the strong oppressor North
Carolina Professionals much Influenced by their
aversion to Catholics become bgots and ntolerans
They Proestants upon conviction well as education
and their ministers aid from the State enable
them to combat successfully the tenets OF Catholicism
They have full confidence in their own capacity to meet
and overthrow Romansm in the legitimate field Of argu-
ment and The only weapon they require is their
Bible For secret midnight oathbound associations they
have in the maintenance of their religious opinions
They feel that it would be cowardly in them to seek the
in maintaining their positions against the Catholics of
their State When know-nohings denounce foreigners
and Catholics and appeal to the people of North Carolina
to rally TO their standard enable them to avert the
dangers threatened by foreign immigration and Catholi-
csm, the denuncaons may find degree Of response
in the prevailing feelings Of the people but when they
to examine the real character Of the danger they
dscoverthc hypocrisy of the appeal range themselves
under the banner of federation and hospitality Who are
they that most noisy in denouncng Catholics and for
egnerhe most camorous in seeking alarm the fears
oProtesanb and native citizens Are they the men who
have been distinguished for their liberay and zeal ad
yancing the cause Of religion Have they heretofore
taken the lead in their contributions the support of
Protestant churches Let truly religious Procstants look
to these things and they will at discover that this
newborn zeal Of the knownothng champions in the
of Christianity cloak for the attainment of polit-
ical ends They the political ntriguers and adj
venurers who have been conspicuous in every scramble
for Office They are unfit associates for whose profess
sion enloins upon them not to be "unequaly yoked to-
gether with unbelievers for what fellowship hath rghte
business with unrgheousness aud what communion hath
light with darkness %
But without dwelling longer the character Of the
knownohing champions furnishing evidence of the in
sincerity of their alarm the growth of the influence
OF foreigners and OF Romansm the people OF North Caro-
lima have but the relative numerical strength of
native citizens and Foreigners of Protesans and Catho
lies in their State to be fully satisfied the. all this
know-nothing real hidden political design In
North Carolina there $4,000 native born citizens 1880
foreigners and l,4oo Roman Catholics. Docs any sane
man believe know-nothng when he Processes to be
alarmed lest these $500 foreigners and 4oo Catholics win
destroy the liberties of the half million Of nAtive-born
Proestants2 What chivalry there the effort array
half million OF men against two thousand Ave hundred
How brave must these knownohing leaders be IL they
really so much frightened by the presence in their State
Of this small band of foreigners who have sought the
ptay OF North Carolina and until have found 1, ~
to preach crusade enlist force Of half million to
prescribe and persecste twenty-five hundred strangers
This not the kind Of herosm that enliss the sym
pahies Of the generous and courageous Of North Car
olna But what must the half million Of Protestant in