Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-24
From Yesterdays Whic.l
THE NATIONALITY OF TIE AMERICAN OR
KNOW-NOTHING FARTY.

For II long series OF years there have been two
great paric, in this couniry;c Wing party und til"
Democratic purity. The Whi- party not only
nai"ma! party, but it was, "so in tr"h great party
combining much talent, learning, emery and genius
la !cGIin- principles, however. were r"p"Snant 10
our Institutions and di-asiul 10 people, and Is
= consequence" were finally and cmphn!.ca!ly r"pr'
,iari. After ihis tc VA, parry va, aparty .! 'I'c
past; coupled with remembrance q; splendid ehcr-
,es misapllis and ;l. rnct visionary "hd "'"'nI"n-
schemes sgnaliy ani hopel:s-ly deic's!"d A"iwth-
standing the remarkable demolition oi this great par
~ its successful and more republican opponent has
not been left alone upon IN" field Many OF the eie-
mcn,s of the old Whiy creed, with others far more
ant.repubcan and obnoxious, have been melted anu
fused into i'll shapcn Of antagonems and in-
tuu rcpusions. with only common bond Of union
hatred TO Democracy, nnd only one cem"atns ainhH
ton the lust of power and place. THIS though
il can boast OF bat few years ana fewer acts ot me!i
now vnunis itself as u great national purity ar tie
pnrtv which is 10 achieve un-peakablc greatness and
power aml comfort for the people of this conirdc-
raay,
Whether it be called the Sons of the Sires of 7G,
"thc Native American" "he Know Nothing or "tEe
y
u.s. Itis, after ALL The same aid oppos'!!oH with some
of its best friends taken out and transferred to the
Democratic ranks. Many, who were Wings in the
time and under the lead Of Henry Clay, could not
Gnd il in their hearts their conscIcGccs to strike
blow in behalf Of the an;i-hmcrican principles ifnt
have been inscribed upon these latter-dny and mis-.
called "Amcrican' banners and, under the influence
of patrotic impulses have gaantly taken position
with the Democracy in their fight against ianaticsn
the ism for power and spoils, and ell the other i-!s
that conspirc to make this TIE most wonderful and at
the snme time the lea.t approbatory ism OF modern
times. Therefore, cauno say,without qualifications
that this ia tho old opposition. There nrc many
noble EXCEPTIONS and we are proud to record the fact
exceptions, too, in quantity and quality, that more
than compensate for dctectons from our own ranks.
This party proposes to the world, what !.e nltls'
ted in its ranks scarcely bce"" that II l.
national party; and, inleed, some Of Its shining
lighs would have us believe that it is the only ma
tional party now known in the United States This
nssumption so bold, so erroneous, arrogant, and
so totally uniuscd by the facts and figures of the
ast and the present, is palpaby cyravnsan, that
Guivcr himself could he hear it, would be COM
pelcd to smile. National, indeed. Where IL the single
fact connected with its various-lcavcd history that
points distinctly to its nationality? WherciS the SIN
gle result Of its brci but nuisy existence, that has
national odor, or tint, or procvty! True, it has
made several spasmodc efforts after nationGy-bu
they have been only spusms, except that, IN tins
case, sympathy has been substituted by ridica!G.
The wisdom aud the patriotism nf this new party
seem to he concentrated in the motto that they have
vaunngiy placed upon their banners-"Alner'rans
shall rule America" a stranger, not c"nversant
with our history, might be deceived by this inscrp-
ton into the belief, that heretofore foreigners had
rul,d America; but OF population nrc better
nrepared than the members Of this very party to d"
Justice To history by declaring the act, thai here
tofnre none bit dmcricdas hucs ruled .imcrIcd.
This opposition party owes lis existence TO the fact
TINT our nsuraized and Catholic fellow citizens
have, generally, sympatLised and voted with the De-
mocrstc party. The nnve element being too weak
and the na,urazed and foreign elements refusing TO
unite with it, the only hope for success, the only
means Of obtaining ihc loaves and fishes" the last
resort for power aud place for office and the spo's
was to begin n war Of determination upon our hatu-
rulized and foreign voters, II close the 5hotonxes 10
them cxpcl them from office, and 10 divest them OF
office, and then to have final pitched battle with
the raye elements of Inc Democratic party. From
such an encounter, by the way, We shond not shrink
firmly assured as we are that the native Democrats
form lnrge majority Of our citizens. But we wou!d
not invite the war because ofs ntucrnnt and anti.
American character
But how have they succccded in spreading their
National principles and cement'g the bonds Their
National Union All are familiar with their history,
their oa,Is their tricks their somerses, their falls
their boasn-s their victories nnd their defeats In
some Of the States at the North they have been vic
torous but such victories smack Of anything rather
than Of efforts 10 create or preserve heehy' con-
s@rvatrc, useful National party. Upon every battle
field in the Soa,h-sayc one-they have been beaten,
badly beaten, routed beyond the hope oil re-orshn;-
zatiou, respectable rally. AUDI ye'' tney Con-
s,itute National par,y7 At tine North, they en-
brace, cordially and traterpally AbolltlonIsm "nd