Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-28
Abuse of the Know No.h.nes.

ABUSE OF the 1AnOW NCshsnGSs
Accommodation and abuse could kill political
party. the Know NohiRgs would have been dead
long ago-not man of them would now survive.
The history of party strife exhibits nothing more
virulent than the hostility excited against this
new order. Yet, instead of being crushed OUT
or subdued. the party appears TO have grown fat
under the blows inflicted upon it. And all the
While, the alleged intolerance of the Know Moth
lngs is the chief cause assigned for this most in
tolerant opposition. We have heard of"fghting
the Devil with fire" and it must be upon some
such principle that the order is thus warred upon.
What there is in the principles or character Of
the new party TO justify this ferocious hostility.
we cannot ascertain. True, its members meet
in secret, and are not known to the public; but
its principles and candidates are declared to the
world and whatever may be thought of the for
mer, it will not be denied by unprejudiced judges
that the latter compare tavorably in every respec,
with those of any other party. The feature Of
secrecy, however, is with many persons the only
ground of objection; but, so far as we can learn
il relates solely TO the names of the members.
The necessity, or at least the policy, of adopt
ing at the outset the plan Of secrecy 10 the extent
mentioned, is obvious. Every one is aware Of
and has experienced, the strength Of the ties
which bind individuals to the political party with
which they have co-operated. 1t is impossible TO
transfer the allegiance or connexion from one par
iy to another, without mourning a degree of oppo
sition, and often odium, which many are unable
to encounter successfully Hence the importance
of their finding new friends and sympathisers be-
fore the separation from old associates is openly
proclaimed. 1t is well known, moreover, that
both Of the old political parties have been eager
bidders for the votes of Catholics and naturalized
citizens, and neither was willing to commit itself
to cause by which it would hereafter lose val
liable support. A public secession from both to
form new party could not easily be effected !;
and, in all probability fit had partially succeed
ed it would eventually have suffered the fate of
who partlci pated in it would have had mark
put upon him for all time to come. Until the
party, therefore, had acquired strength enough to
sustain itself before the public and protect its
members, it was desirable that they should he
shielded in some way from the hostility of embt-
tered opponents and the evils Of unprncipled
demagogues.
AS To the principles put forth by the Know
Nohings, we perceive nothing that is unpairiotic
or Inconsistent with our republican institutions
Every observer of public affairs in this country
must have seen the trucking spirit exhibited by
politicians towards citizens Of foreign birth and
the professors Of 4 particular religious creed
The day appeared not far distant when natives of
the country would occupy subordinate position,
and the government be completely in the hands
of adopted citizens" Already have we seen
foreigners banding together for the avowed pur-
pose of reyoluonizing our institutions, and intro
ducing the widest and most destructive schemes
we have seen John Mitchell set out upon his
career by announcing his intention to drag this
country into the arena of European politics and
contention; we have seen a Monsieur Soule APP
pointed Minister to Spain, and Congress pass
law authorizing unnauralized foreigners, ignoran,
Of our laws and language, 10 vote in, and conrCl
the deStnes Ct, territories of the United States.
II these things do not call for reform we are at a
less to know what will. The Know Nothings
are actuated by no hostility towards the natives
of other lands who have sought an asylum in this
free country. many Of whom they recognise as
worthy and respectable men but they claim that
those who were born and reared upon the soil
shall govern the Gountry-noihing more, nothing
less.
But the Know Nothings prescribe Catholics,
and that is ''re!igious persecutionl" If we I'M
derstand the matter, the party propose not the
least restraint upon the rights Of conscience or the
freedom Of religious worship. 1t is only as Ro-
manism is power in the State that the Know
Noihings contemplate dealing with it. We
shall not discuss now whether the Catholic Hi
erarchy have any designs upon the liberties of
this country, although we might quote numerous
from their organs TO that effect; but
the impression has cot abroad ,hst the Cstholi.