Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-30
Changing Front.

There is, beyond doubt a feeling of opposition to
the Roman Catholic Church prevalent in the minds
of a majority of the American people. This is
fact so apparent not admit of discussion. 1t is
not either our business intention to say why
this is so, even to argue whether this opposition
should or should not exist We leave that to papers
a nd orators of theological cast enough for that
ii is
Well, hen the order, now calling itself the
sAmerican party" but originally and more generally
recognized as the " Know Nothing order, commenced
its career this feeling seized upon and the reli-
gious opposition TO the Catholic church turned
into the channel of politics, and made of the
main stays of new political organization and, for
time, it answered the purpose. But soon the COOL
erehection of the people led them to vie in lis pro
per light this admxture of religion and politics. AS
Protestans, they might object 10 dogmas in their
opinion erroneous, but, citizens, they could not
submit 10 the introduction of SO dangerous ele-
nent into the civil government of the country, or
into its political contests This began to be felt,
especially at the South, and, forthwith, we find in
many places this religious feature apparently ADAM
donei. 1t went first in Louisiana, where the Catho-
lie vote too strong to be nsulted 1t followed in
Virginia and South Carolina, where fanaticsn of
any kind can make slight Roadway. 1t has virtual.
ly followed in NJrth Carolina, the most purely Pro-
testant State in the Union, but one distinguished for
cool, common sense, and avoidment of dangerous
innovations. We ask any one to contrast the tone,
in this respect of the presses and orators during the
contest in August last with that now prevalent, and
the difference will lie apparent Those who heard
Mr.. Reds speeches in the Court House, will recoI.
lect how very little indeed he had to say about for
eigners and that almost apologetcaly and how very
much he had to say about Catholics. Those who
read X. N. papers, or heard K N. orators, of more
recent days, know that all this is changed The one
cl3prap is abandoned, least openly as soon as the
result shows that 1t won't do. The two blanks are
changed into
Again, in August last, it seemed to be the policy
wherever possible, to pat forward former Democrats
TO be Stayed, and to studousy and energecalIy deny
that the movement was one in opposition TO the prn
ciples of the Democratic party. Every K. N. can
didate, almost, proclaimed himself as good Demo
crat as ever Contrast this with the bitter attack.
upon the Democratic party, made in the more re-
cent speeches by the orators of the order-at
tacks not predicated simply upon occurrences ia
king place since the organization of the order but
stretching back years before such thing was heard
of. Why this is so, let those in the secrets of tht
matter say We all see that it is so. We comment
it to the attention of those who have been assured
that they forfeited nothing of their character in
dependence as Democrats by going into the thing
Certain it is that the history of the order exhibit
more shifting OF ground catch the popular
than that of any other association in so brief time
Even the radical principle of secresy, is, in SOM
places, said to have been abandoned In this Stat
the ostensible abandonment Of secrecy has been &C