The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-09-19

e We recommend to the attention
of our readers the following article. To
the members of Protestant churches, who
have joined the Know Nothing party, it
| is peculiarly applicable:
The Obligations of Certain Glass of
our Fellow Citizens.
We have among us many good and re-
spectacle citizens, exemplary in all the re-
lations of society, members of the Chris
tian church, some of them ministers of the
gospel, who have become members of the
order of Know Nothings, and who still
keep up their connection with that body.
The characters of these persons preclude
us from the presumption that they were
actuated by other than good motives in
the establishment of this alliance; and we
are bound to believe that the membership
in some cases, at least, is still continued
under the pretence of hope that some
thing of good may yet be secured through
the instrumentality of the organization.
In making these admissions we are forced,
tsiSO, W SuopCCC Cudg tilC pClSOuo W w NUN
we alude, are not gifted, to any great de-
gree, with knowledge of the world--that
practical wisdom which is gained by the
study of mankind, historically as well as
cotemporaneously. They are of those
who conscious of meaning well, practical
ly hold that Providence is, in manner,
bound to add its blessing to efforts inten-
ded for good, however ill,judged and in
consistant those efforts may be in reality.
The class of persons to which we refer
have not in general, been active members
of the order. Many of them perhaps have
never attended the lodge since the night
of their initiation. Of the vices, there
fore, of Know Nothingism, so far as they
are the results of false system, they are
almost totally unaware. Being American
born, and protesting Protestant Christians,
they know nothing of the order except that
it is society formed for the defense OF
Protestant Americanism. Finding such
body in existence, they have taken it for
granted that Professionalism and American
ism are in danger, and need the enlistment
of an army for their defense. They are
ready to believe that men cannot enlist in
SO good cause without righteous. mo.
! tive, and with them, therefore, to be O
Know Nothing is to be Protestant Chris,
tian, devoted to the defense and promul.
cation of'sentiments of American Repub.
licanism. Of the fact that the lodges are
cages of unclean birds, where prescription
reigns, and where outrages against the
law are planned and uggested-whert
demagogue strives with demagogue, fol
Office and emolument, and where Protest
antism and Americanism are but the pre-
tence to cover the vilest of practices he ii
neither informed, nor when informed i.
willing to believe.
This class of persons is, of all others
the most difficult to reach. A well dis
posed man who has been an attendant up
on the lodges, and has no feeling of self
Righteousness to close his mind agains
the power of truth, frequently needs bu
an appeal to his own consciousness to Sc,
in their true light the deformities of Know
Nothingism; but who shall convert tn,
bigot, whose ignorance stands to him il
the place of better knowledge than al
the world beside can teach, and who, look
ing upon himself as one of the elect, count
it almost blasphemy for any one to doub
the sacredness of cause in which himsel
. is enlisted? Reason and motives can b.
applied to the sinners of the order, with
now and then hope of success; but VIII,
+ is there that can devise a weapon of sucl
celestial temper that it is able to pierc,
through the case-hardened shell that GOV
ers the conscience of saint? 1t is be
fore this impenetrable bulwark that W
halt dismayed and yet this is the citade
and donjon keep of Know Nothingism
and until it is captured nothing has bee
achieved
The Know Nothing order, so infamou
has it rendered itself by its deeds of frau,
and acts of violence, has nothing to stan,
upon but the excellent characters of it
respectable members protesting chris
, tians and ministers of the gospel. VIII
have not been active participators in it
iniquities. To these it is now stretchin!
forth its hands. To such, it is giving it
candidacies and inviting forward to place
of honor which they but recently bestow
ed upon the needy demagogue, the mis-
chievous charlatan, and the profigat
leader of the rabble. In doing this it i
impelled, not by any love of respectability
/. reverence for religion, OF regard for it
professors. The Professionalism of tn
Know Nothing order has nothing in
akin to religion, except fearful look
:. I. ing-for of Judgment ''fiery indigna
= tion," which begins by condemning Goo
. and ends in hating his creatures. It
: the instinct of self-preservation alone tina
impels it to call upon those whose aid
: has never hitherto deigned to invoke, t
save it from that extinction that is due t
the universal hatred and dread, which il
unholy passions, its mean vices, its UT
wholesome practices, and its detestabl
crimes have inspired.
Under these circumstances, will thi
: class of our fellow Citizens step forward
H. 4 -.