Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27
THE KNOW-NOTHING WASHINGTON
MONUMENT SOCIETY.

because they are generally useful and very rare.
The old adage hath it, that necessity is the
mother of invention" and we fear that the ne
cessities Of the Knownothings have drawn a
draft upon their ingenuity and invention that
has sadly wounded and damaged that very
open, honest, and ingenious party.
Other parties have and proclaim many prin-
ciples. They are Federal and Wing, or Repub-
lican and Democratic parties. They are either
Bank, or anti Bank; Tariff, or anti-Tariff
Distribution, or anti Distribution State rights,
or anti-State rights; slavery, or anti-slavery
parties. Whatever they are they declare them
selves to be- But a new party has sprung up
in these latter days. 1t calls itself the Know
nothing party. 1t "ignores" that's its favorite
word-all the old issues, and has attempted
to make two new issues. 1t claimed to hold
but two principles. One was war against the
Catholics the other, war against foreigners.
But invention is-a great thing, and necessity,
its parent, asgreater. acknowledgment was
in straits !" Ignoring the slavery question
did not suit the South, particularly when the
Northern know-nothings pledged sacredly and
solemnly to "gnore" it--forgot their pledge
and rushed headlong into abolitionsm.
The persecution of Cath olcs,a religious sect,
is great thing in the estimation of those peo-
pie who forget that religious freedom is secured
10 all of us by the Constitution it is a great
thing in the estimation Of bigots; it is a great
thing in the estimation Of ignorant people who
have listened to the insane teachings Of bigots.
The acknowledgements of foreigners is also a
great thing with some people. 1t is . great thing
with tie descendants Of foreigners, who are
ashamed Of their foreign ancestors. 1t is a
great thing with demagogues who are anxious
TO get into power, no matter how foul the means
Of doing SO. It. is great thing with place
seekers and Office hunters. tits great thing
with Wings who ignore the defined and fired
principles of Clay and Webster, in order to get
into power. Separately these priaciples are
strong, but united theysare stronger. That is
separately, and unitedly they arere strong and
stronger. But the Know-notbings OF the North
have proved false and disloyal. They could
not contain themselves. They could not re.
press the irresistible uprisings Of Abolitionsm.
They were obliged to come out and make Abo.
lition issues. They were obliged to elect Abo.
lition candidates.
The Southern Know-nothings, despite the
efforts and the protests of the american organ
here in Washington, became Disguised and
disgruntled. They declared that they could
not cooperate with Senator Wilson, the new
Massachusetts know-nothing Senator, and
other men of his stamp. A new plank in their
mean and meagre platform became necessary.
It was easily furnished. 1t was supplied by
that great mother Of invention--necessity The
great Father Of this Country, himself, the i'm
mediate descendant Of Foreigners, was in.
voked. Amonument, the National Monument
the Washington Monument, which is now be.
ing built in this city, was directly brought into
requisition. by means Of a secret and clan.
destine arrangement the officers Of the Wash
ington Monument Association were elected by
the Know-nothing Order few days ago.
They now have three principles-the Persecu-
ton Of Catholics, the Persecution Of Foreigners,
and the Completion of the Washington Monu.
ment. If the great Father Of bis Country
could rise from the grave and see the vile pur-
poses for which they are using his name, he
would die second death, from which there
could be no resurrection. lie would be
ashamed Of his country and Of bis kind.
Henceforward--this party may be known as
the Know.nothing Washington Monument party.