The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-12
ahe Know Mornings aud their late Draw
h~acks-Thelr Prcspecta and tllslr Policy.

~ :" Wisconsin frumbult I0m Ilircls, |
e." Massachusetts,, and Seward
- York, has somewhat shaken the
! 4ence of the Know NothiGgs in their
-nity OF purpose, aud invincible strength. Ger
tainly, in these late Senatorial developements,
particularly in the case Of Seward, this new
American party has received its lessons and
ard warnings. But the party, young, fresh and
vigor Gus, should turn its late experiences to
practical account, take courage, and proceed to
adapt its general discipline, platform and poll
cy more closely to the sympathies of the popu-
lar mind, and the exigencies of the day.
The field of practical reforms opened to this
new America party, by the spoils corruption,
of an imbecile administration, and the rum AID
rowdyism which have so long disgraced our DO.
litical elections under the demoralizing h,ibes
and bargains Of the old effete wAis and
democratic parties, is a field too inviting
to be abandoned, short, at least, OF one
Presidential campaign. Upon these great
elementary issues Of q revelation in the
management of our elections and a thorough
going reconstruction of political parties, the
honest masses of the people, in all the State
and local elections, North and South, of the
last twelve months, have manifested their SYM
pathies to be with this new American move
ment. In a general view, the majority OF the
people, in all quarters of the Union, are thus
evidently willing to cooperate with this move
ment, in anticipation Of the great and salutary
political and party changes which it promises.
mi new American organization is, however,
defective in some essentials. Its discipline is
too rigid for. the neral atmosphere of this coun-
try. The violent oaths and penalties attached
TO a membership of the order are calculated
rather to excite detection and rebellion than
5rotherly love and harmony. Between men Of
honor and truth, in the relations of social lite,
a simple declaration Of good faith is enough.
In the secret caucuses OF the political parties,
which have existed since the revolution of 1776,
no other test has been deemed necessary. The
deserter from Tammany Hall, for example, has
never been pursued with the penalties Of burn
ing in effiey, and a combined party persecution
against him in his private business affairs.
Neither the sacrifice Of his soul to the devil, nor
the loss OF the means which support his family,
have followed, as the fixed law OF his treachery
to the Sachems.
In this respect, the oatbs, pains and penalties
of the Know Notbings imperiously demand the
pruning knife. In this enlightened age, ami
among this free and enli gbtened people, neither
the ter rors Of hard swearing, nor the spells of
superstition, nor The espionage cf the Iuquisi-
ton, can be made to work successfully. From
the Grand National Council to the 10 west subor-
dinate lodges Of the Know Nothings, therefore,
the first thing suggested by the late OBJECTIONS
at Albany, and the 81 mptoms Of disruption in
Massachusetts,, is a radical modification OF the
secret discipline of the order.
1t is generally Understood that the Know
Nothings have taken the field as the inveterate
enemies of the Catholic Church and religion.
And here, they may be transcending the limits
of constitutional justice and sound policy.
Under the supreme law of the land, every man
in this country is protected in his religious
faith. The rights of the Catholic and the Pro-
testant are the same, and cannot be disturbed.
AS far, then, as the platform of the Know
NotbiDgs involves a political prescription Of
the Catholic because he is a Catholic, it con-
ficts with the supreme law. Hostility to the
political or worldly encroachments OF the
Catholic hierarchy, in the management of our
elections, or in the monopoly of their church
property, is another thing. When q Catholic
p%relate enters the political arena with his flock
at his back, he and they are responsible for the
consequences.
The experiments OF Archbishop Hughes,
under the malign influences of VIM. II.
Seward, to WELD the Catholics as a sepa.
rate element in our elections, were the i'm
mediate provocations to this very natural anti
Catholic. reaction. If this reaction has been ex
treme, it is due to experiments from the same
prelate, under the bad counsels of the same
demagogue, to morop0lize, in the hands Of the
Catholic hierarchy, the real estate of the
church. Our universal American church poll
cy is, that the property Of the churches shall
be held by trustees, on behalf of the congrega
tons, clergy and laity included. The opposite
policy of concentrating the church property in
the hands of the Bishop of each diocese respcc-
lively, is aptly illustrated in the present des-
potic power Of the Catholic hierarchy
in Mexico, and its lamentable results.
All revolutions there will he vain. short
Of a revolution in this matter, and the con
cession OF that religious liberty which is the
corner stone Of our republican system.
1t is important, however, that our
new American party should keep within
the limits of the constitution, and that Decla-
ration Of Independence which Protestants aud
Catholics, in council and in battle, united to
make good. Opposition at the ballot box to
all Efforts Of the Catholic hierarchy to interfere
in our political elections, and against all efforts
to monopolize the property of the Catholic COO
grcgations in this country, is Legitimate aud
nathalie The Catholic laifu will aaai.i In L