The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-04-19
Know-Nothings Exposed.


experience in looking up "the m Know
Nothings." Smiths purpose was to ex-
pose, explode, annihilate the Order
Read what he says about it =
My first idea was to find Know-Noth-
ing. know'd I could do nothing till l
found one, that was sartin. Well, | cav
orted around considerable, as cute as a
'possum, as cunnin' as fox. l ax'd a
good many privately if they didn't belong,
and, of course, lied considerable in gittin'
around them. Well, all [ got out of 'em
was II don't knoao," so 1 had to change
my tack. I goes to one of 'em who did mt
know nothin' and l telld him that 1 was
gittln tired of the old dimmycratic way
OF doin' things, and l intended to with
draw now from popular life, and devote
my declining years to my country. Itold
him that | know'd l was an old sinner,
but [ wished to repent in sackcloth and
ashes, and if ye'd only get me into the
w-Nothings, Id show, by zeal in the
cause, the sincerity of my repentence.-
He looked at me right straight for some
time, and then he seemed to think was
sincere. He ax'd me if | wanted to jine
right off, and l told him yes Then he
ax'd me to meet him by the Hospital at
10 o'clock that night, and he would take
me to see the elephant.
"You see how long headed l am Mr..
Chairman; know'd l could come it over
'em if l only parsevered, and did mt l do
it? He met me at 10 o'clock, and he
took and blindfolded me, for he said we
hadn't fur to 60. He told me 1 must not
only know nothin' but l must say nothin,
until the hull thing was through. We
walked on a pretty smart distance, l
reckon nigh on to mile, when he give
me devil Of pinch on my arm, and he
sez, Now look out l felt kind O queer,
l tell you, for | was goin' it blind alto
gether, but my prospect for Recorder was
at stake, and you may reckon it sort O.
served me up.
''He took me down stairs, aud then
through celler then through long pas
sage way. Right thar in that passage
way he told me to give him all my mon
ey. | obeyed him of course, though I
didn't like to part with it. We walked
along the passage till we come to door
when he gave me the signal. It was two
raps. The door opened, and thar were
some fellows whispering. Directly voice
said bring in the repentin' sinner
and | was led forward. heerd 'em talk
in all around me, and sometimes they
would pinch me. They stripped me stark
naked, leavin' nary a stitch on mo but my
stockings. DO you repent old sinner p
said one to me. Yes, said I gittin' down
on my knees. Whack cum a lash right
acrost my bare hide, maxim nee squirm.
Get up said the feller that had been
talkin' to me, that's no position for an
American citizen Then he gave me two
more whacks with the LASH and put a
heavier blindfold around my eyes.
Then the Know-Nothings all COM
menced singing the Star Spangled Banner;
while the guides led me around the lodge
room. Some would tickle me, and some
pinch me, and kick me, but 1 stood it all
for the sake of the Dimmycratic party
After they had rolled me over, striped me
with paint and the lash, and tried my pa
taince completely, they stopped"
"Can you keep your tongue still ~ ask
ed the guide.
eyes Sir" said boldly.
"Will you know nothin' all your life?"
ayes sir" said.
"The bandage fell from my eyes," con-
tinued Smith, "and saw that was
"Where :" inquired all
SIN Deacon Johnson's stable on Canal
street"