Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-04-14


bers of religious opinions Well, if we
are mistaken, why don't the organ say
500 Ofeoufss, we are not familiar with
the principles Of this secret political in
stitution, farther than We can judge
from their public acts, and if the organ
says positively that ace ere installer, we
should feel bound to believe it, although
We believe with Senator Douglass, thai
"a man cannot become a member Of that
institution, without swearing to tell a
lie" Why should the organ stoop lc
Suggestions" if it has facts. To use a
favorite expression of the organ, why
employ "shilimahoy" instead OF argu-
ments Give US facts-and away with
your Janus faced and possible sugges-
tiohs' We can admire manhood, even
if 1t he found in a wigwam of Know
Moth ngs, although we think it could
not long maintain the connection but
we detest deceit and hy pocrisy, G which
the Known othings have exhibited more
than moderate share
We called tia conspiracy" and the
organ submits "the possibility that
we "may be mistaken" Let US arrive
at correct definition Of the word icon.
spiracy,' and see if it does not agre
with an outsiders opinion of this "pecul-
lar political institution" Here is Web.
ster on
CONSPIRACY l. combination of men for ar
sons to commit some crime in concert: particularly
combination to commit treason excite sedition or in
surrection agai st The government Of a state , In
law. an agreement between two or more persons
falsely and maliciously indict or to procure 10 be in
diced- an innocent person for felony. A concurrence
general tendency Of Two more causes to one event
SYN Combination; plot; cabal
We hold the Know-Nothings as con
splrators under the first definition, as
we understand one object of their order
to be to deprive portion of our people
OF their citizenship which has been lie,
ultimately gained. The recent indict-
ments against Known othing Aldermen
in San Francisco, we think, convicts
them ON the fist clause of the first def
milton. The second definition "in
law" is a tender poinl but we APP
Proach it, nevertheless, and pronounce
them conspirators under it, Every man
is considered innocent until he is proved
guilty, and we think their published char
ges ofballot-b box stufing in San Francis
co at the September election, again t
men yet unconvicted, convicts them on
the ''in law definition"
As conspiracy is Synonymous with
combination, plot, cabal," we will ex-
anime the less harsh term of combiua-
ton. Perhaps that will suit our Ma
rysyille friend better than the one above:
Webster says the word combination
when standing by itself, ''is commonly
taken in a bad sense and as Webster
also pronounces it synonymous with such
hard names as-''coalition. conspiracy
cabal'-we will not force it upon our
newly elevated friend.
Perhaps it may be Plot. Let us
see: Webster defines plot to be "Any
scheme or plan adapted to the accom-
plishment of some purpose, usually a
mischlevious one. Deep reach Of
thought; ability to plot" synonymous
with Intrigue, stratagem, conspir ncy,
cabal, combination, contriyance." Well
Webster appears to describe the order
very correctly in many places; but as he
did MT know mach about them, we will
lay him aside and take up the organ of
the institution. Here is what it says of
some reauted members of the order
known as Know Nothings, and from
his meagre inforuatioo, we are to infer
that the order is an excellent one and its
mem bers all patriots:
"'Ve know some men, assigned by common rnnor 10
that order who have given IN their own persons me
quvoca proofs of devotion to the gorons land OF their
ofh nndwho are too proudly American in their feelings
10 become participants in conspiracy and too liberal x
generous in their sentiments interfere with the reg-
ious opinions Of their neighbors.r
Is not the order opposed to Catholics:
IND does the admission IF a few mem>
bers who ere too generous to intefere
with the religious opinions of others,
remove that objection from the order
Are there not naturalizcd cit zeas of the
United States who have equalled these
reputed KnowNothings, in 'une4uivo-
cal proofs of devotion to the glorious
land of ;heir" adoption Were they in
the Mexican war where was General
Shields Can you count host of
Know oihings who were in the Mexi-
can war Were there not thousands of
naturalized citizens in the same struggle !:
Who was Lafayette and what would
these magnanImous Know-Nothings do
with his descendants should they come