Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1855-05-09
THOUGHTS ron THE TINES
The Policy Of Know-nothingism.

f V6VU0AI0 EU6 IAE 11A6o
The Policy Of Know-nothinsism.
Know-nething,sm has existed in the Wing
ranks for years it is no new thing under the
sun, although it studiously avoids the light o.
that luminary. aud operates ia the dark.
It's principle is the same that ii alwsys was
40 secure the spoils Of Office BY every posi-
~ instrumeLtalitv, fair Or foul under 4hs
- - hrpseritiesl Ams,icanisn and the
ssly 6islisefion between the Know noshingisn
OF ~ esussnt. and the Motive. ism Of an earlier
day, consists in the greater numerical strength
q its sdheren.s. the tremendous accumulation
d disappointed ofFice.bunters and political
vagabonds and the continued and signal sue
cess Of its deadiiest foe-a purs Democratic
patriotism.
Originating in what has ever pr owed to our
antagonists !; an exceedingly discouraging fact;
that the principles Of our party ~ = general
thing. are readily adoptsd BY our foreign cit:-
Gems, who necessarily perceive vivid contrast
between the liberties Of their Father land. cir.
cumscribed and down trodden by despotic
government. and the glorious rights that Amer
can Democracy has achieved and ever main
talns this war Of questionable policies aud
measures O: proven inadequacy to the prosper
ity Of free people, against the political sys
TEN that has been gradually framed together
and eemented by the principles Of our party,
has grown fercer and deadlier, until the storm
Of cumulative passion has temporarily over.
topped the firm structure, on which the safety
OF our nation depends.
But what is this transient triumph Of pro.
scriptive Organization 10 be styledf Does any
man in his senses honestly declare Il to be the
success Of an essential religious principle over
the dangers Of papal aggression7 Will IT'S
most Jealous leaders, candidiy assert th at their
enginery Of reform is directed solely aud pure
~ to a purgation of our body polite, from the
corruptions Of foreign influence?
There are few ingenious minds that are not
cranped and contracted by this na,rowess pos
sible policy-religious prescription who will
not look upon this great revulsion as the result
Of ambitious schemers, aiming at high place
and lucrative station, reckless of the public
welfare and ready at moment's warning OF
it's necessity to invite the very men whom they
denounce. to assist in their mercenary asriia.
tions.
Men may talk Of papal aggression men may
harp upon the various titles Of the pope aud
the perls of European influence; but their
talk and their harping would soon d . away
and be heard no more, was !here no prospect
of personal aggrandisementl view was there
no money to be made out of,he operation was
there no harvest of honors to be reaped /; was
it merely pure and disinterested conflict Of
alleged pernicious influences with the spirit Of
American Republicanism.
Dangers Of Foreign Influence.
A great Geal is said now a-days about the
dangerous influence welded by our foreign cit
izens, Roman Catholic and Protests ant, alike
In fact, so much is said. that total stranger
TO our institutions and magnificent success ms
. nation, would infer that the United States
were swayed by the secret agency Of banded
Jesuits and German clubs.
Fellow Democrats there is q Aecret power
at work. worse than that OF banded Jes
uitism whiles the latter,so far a. it exists apart
from the pages Of fiction, lisa contemplate
and wre'ched weakling There is power
more detrimental to our public interests than
the National clans Of Europe. tanning the flame
Of noble love Of their native country, into
pure devotion to the welfare of their adopted
home. It is this that we have to meet it is
the prOscriptive policy of our combined antag.
onisls, riding the most feasible hobby their
wisdom has been able to suggest |
But let Us look one moment at alleged for
eign influence.
1t is idle to evince pretended fear Of Cath
olieism. No right minded man will stand in
covardly apprehension Of this or any other no
igiors ssganisation, Whatever errors i: or the
,thsf may involve ; and mono il unexception.
IDLY purs; fef he very clauses Of our Consti.
ution that proclaim the freedom to worship
3od. involve the ESSENTIAL elements OF protec.
ion against the liesntiousness Of = corrupted,
r,est headx t. xnes- aaaasasf as.~ s.sss.-tt'
nen: u impregnGhle = the corruptioas Of 70.
igion; the assanlts 81 in6delity; and We hon.
stly hope. aesInss The most fearful foe Of any
he .'Aasl- slatsfy God and Bible" Of the nor.
bern abolitioa fanatic,
no f9A0e4uS system - perfectly pure. Er.
srs viii sessp into Protestantism - well -
)aAhoiclsm. Protestant human nature is the
anne - Catholic human nature corrupt the
primer and it can WELD mere noxious inAu-
nee than the corrupted latter. But poison
oth-our country yet 10 safe. There is enough
virtue ;enough Of pure and unadultsrated I
ar Of God ; enough Of honesty enough Of I
a'riotism enough to have brought US to the (
'!sndid rank We now occupy..in the scale i
nations; and the ratio Of increase 10 still in q
vor Of right over wrong. (
That human nature is the same everywhere.
10 Know nothing knows. He knows some 4
ing Al any rate ;and it is from the light oil s
s knowledge, that he views the political
,wer Of the Meth odist Church, ana would :
rest it's influence from the ballot box. Where 3
the prescription to end. if not 10 direct
tagonism Of Christian sects to the vazaboni
d outcast of earth? Will good men cling 10
order that levelsi it's assaults already against o.
} own peculiar tenets Of religion, or mena u
. them, at best
Herein. 10 one Of the rotten places 10 the e
snuark VI Know. nothingism that is emphat. d.