The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-02-24

The Know NOthings.

4,
/ For the Free Trader.
| The Know Nothinss.
! 4 Mr.. EDIToR With your permission
Propose giving to the world, through your
excellent paper, a few thoughts, whicl, have
ethered from various sources, in reference
2 that new political organization, known as
no@ Nothings. In doing this shall en-.
eeavor to adhere strictly to what conceive
y be the plain common sense view to be
taken Of our present political exstcnc and
q the real design ofthis government, as well
q the influences which every citizen should
I'm to exert upon its destiny.
| This organization is Of recent date. Its
Finciplcs, and objects are unknown, except
= Tar as they have been gathered from few
extortcd avowals, and the policy pursued by
those who have obtained offices under its
inspces. II is not like other political or
&nizations, here, ayowing principles, and
meeting and taking the responsibility Of the
ss y: sss s;sES VIZ ssss ssi sFisf1sss Il sss
hel0ySd country, and who are willing to de-
thqe prneiples a the arerld, 4 ,lApd
id or 'faH With thorn" MOI " lacks ali
hese noble characteristics, and like the
5oisonous viper hidden in the grass, it metes
gut its deadly blows under concealment.
Its vital principles arc based upon n
yrong conception of that feeling which
y strong IN every country--the feeling OF
nationality, without which nation cannot
fxst as aa independent government but,
Which, at the same time, when kindled and
naddened, may destroy all that is good in
I government, and subyert the very principles
| upon which it wns established Oppomtion
I % foreign immigration and the participation
m natnrdLized foreigners IN our gorernmsat,
Are the most prominent maxims upon It's
Ephylactcrsy, and these are harped upon in
Every act OF the party, for the purpose Of
4leating general prejudice against all who,
k6rsuth were not born on Columbus shore.
There is not q nation upon the earth in
ghich this prejudice against foreigners, and
Ipreign population, cannot be aroused; and
4he most beautiful and soothing effect Of
$iyizatIon--thc loylicst influence Of our own
+ Institutions has been. to soften and aliay
+ heir prejudice against those outside OF our
"A BORDERS, and to bring the whole family oi
ations, as It were, into one common broth
ttrhood. The United States should be the
Mast nation to harbor opposition to foreigners.
The principles Of Know Nothingism, belle
our lotlcs-our noblest aspirations, that o!
Standing upon the very summit ofcilllization.
II is fixed historical fact, that, in proper
ton to the degree Of nations civilization,
iinccording as it is high or low, as a general
/. I.rule, will be found this prejudice and hosti.
lity TO foreigners. As nation is elevated
in its consciousness OF power, and in its
knowledge of the high and magnanimous du-
ties, Of civilization, so will it receive and that
[with respect, those who spring from n for
k.fign soil--those who iorsalle all the fond en-
learmcDt5 which cluster around the home
bf childhood-who, to taste the liberties
The so much boosted, gCHrdus .treottom OF
bur Republican institutions, break oil tltetf
Allegiance to the oppression Of tyranny and
with bright hopes and admiring eyes ice to
our hospital shores. And as nation sinks
Din the scale 0! self-respect and Civilization, in
Ethe same degree do you find this prejudice /;
Fnnd the greater degree nation is composed
tbf rabblc the easier can be aroused lis fury
,bgainst all who canRo. pronounce its shib-
b0lctt. Since nave given my attention to
this subt-etr, A++e- -i-stiend1 -hnih-in the
pr;.,.s ur.4.- 49, ,,~1-a.--.-= e .L- g.0s"
NothiDgs, and by them avowed Of those whom
| had good reason to believe belonged to
the order various justiiicatory reasons for
keeping up this organization. shall en-
deayor to examine all Of these during the
cousc Of few communications, ifprOydcnce
gives me time, leasure, and health.
During the recent discussion Of this sub
jeot, in Congress, noticed as an argument
Of justification Of this organization, "that
there are secret organizations Of .toreigneys
nhich m,st he counteractcd IN tbs manner. "
Now, suppose such political associations do
exist among the foreign population, 1t GER
talnly seems 10 bc q strange method to re.
bukcthc error, by forming other associations,
in which are embodied all tnat is wrong in
those we condemn We give dignity and
consequence to their conduct, by imbitating
them, and lose all the advantage of honest
principles by leyclling our own conduct TO
the standard of those we rcprobatc. lf the
foreigners have adopted rules o action incom-
patiblc either with social order or political
rights there can be no duty more consistant
with pure philosophy or elevated patrioti,m,
than to attempt To correct their error, and
infusc into their minds justcr views of the
duties Of the citizen, both to his neighbor and
and state. ! have adopted the humane and
tolerant opinion Of Mr. Jefferson, the great
apostle Of the democratic party, and who
infused into il that generous and trusting
faith in man, whether native or alien born,
which has been the germ OF the chief differ,
cnces between the two great parties Of the
country. "1hat Htth is 10 bs teard from
error 1hih reason is ictt free 10 combat IT,"
The evils that we see are not TO be cured by
persecution :; the laggot and the stake are eX
plodcd arguments; and having discarded the
more open, manly, and responsible instru-
ments of torture, we will not now turn to
sieze upon those which are secret, sinister,
and irresponsible.
In countries where tyranny, with its iron
hand Of oppression, bears down the rights of
her citizens, there may be some excuse for
secret political cabals designed for the pur.
pose Of maturing schemes to enlarge the
rights ofthe people and Rd-eircumscribing the
power of the rulers. But in country where
the people rule--wherc they enjoy full free
dom of speech, and free and enlightened
press, there can certainly be no necessity for
them. Reason is the great antagonist Of cr-
ror, and on an open field invariably comes
ofvictorious. MoRE OMnDIArELY.
ASEcpoIE-A gentleman found that spc-
cies Of vegetables, called onions, were in the
tol;t ,r l;sop,o, r;n,, from, thn o,r,l.n ~ a.