The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-09-14

run, 10 use iaporIte phrase,) it nav succeed
oat IL VIII be very long run indeed, OF suffer
ing and dlSnonor, and social disoIganlzation an
Imminent bankruptcy Every one OF lhps
results has IN point OF fact already ensued.-l
huge municipality has been created which thu
lar cannot manage itself. Its Legislature is
immature Harrisburg, translated to Phiadel
Pha The treasury is bankrupt. The credi
Of the community has been narrowly saved 81
far as the payment of mere funded interest i
concerned, bat PROSTATE in everything else
New loans are iamiliary talked OF. New taxes
are inevitable, and Vet no one ventures to pro-
pose them. These / affirm to be- the consequ-
rnces-the bitter and the natural fruits OF tni.
consolidation scheme.
In May OF last year occurred the first election
under the new system.
1t was at this election that, for the first time
was developed new and most dangerous ele-
ment OF political action, which has been running
short race OF triumph ever since, but which
now, am happy 10 believe, is near its appro-
| pirate end. l Ui course refer to Know Nothing
ism or secret Americauism. How, or where. or
exactly when IT originated, no one knows-at
least, no one out OF It's Councils, and, suspect.
not very many in them. 1t is believed to have
| had very IMPURE origin out OF this State, and
10 have been tranSpanted hlther by hands al
ready stained with good many black political
spots, bankrupts in fortune and character, spirits
congrnIal to any device OF fraud that might
under cloak of secresy, be perpetrated with
safety. Such Ibtlleve 10 have been It's origin.
though | am equally well satisfied that much
PERSONAL respectability and honest, though mis-
directed; sentiment has been infused IN Ii since.
No matter, however, how or where it began,
the disease broke out with great vIruIence in
this city in the spring OF 1891. Hundreds and
thousands Of sturdy Wings, who have been fight
ing open Amerlcanlsm all their lives aud as
many herce Democrats, rushed into these lodges
-WeTe initiated by some mock Ceremony, and
swote that they would never vote or assist or
and members OF one Christian denomination
that they would prescribe every naturali-
zed Citizen; sworp, too, though nominal Wings
or Democrats, that they would break faith with
ancient trleGds and abide by the decision OF Sc
cret lodges-swoTe further to a code of dsin-
me.nberal.~ which required than to ae--'i = ~
and spemed 20 make II safe. Many man who
was ashamed publicly to preach intolerance and
could do it safely Ia secret coun-
Gil room. This system OF denial and equlvoca-
tion-a cardinal principle OF Notninglsfn
led to SOM instances OF personal degradation III
this city which do not like TO think OF.
1t was not long after this election when the
glory of triumph was brightest, that the Wig
State Committee met for the first time in this
city. am confident IN the belief that at that
tim. this secret party had no considerable foot
hold in our Committed / have no idea oi re-
captulating the acts or counsels OF the Commit
tee then or thereafter. GU wall do me the
Justice to say, that from first to last, IN every
form and guisr, | opposed all affinity to this
new party. and | am glad to do you the justice,
that Won were equal decided and resoIute on
the same side We worked together most bar
Inoniousv. Then, too, it was that question OF
our duty to George DarSie was considered and
discussed. and then We we're, or seemed to be,
unanimous. that it was matter Of duty and
honor to support him. The fact is now contes-
sed. regret to say, that some otour Committee,
thus pledged in fairness and honor, recognizing
the superior obligation of a know-Nothing oath,
voted for Mr. Mott, the Democratic candidate,
believing him to belong to the order. The same
subject Of discussion arose at meeting at fltts-
burg, with the same apparent result, though
have no doubt the scheme OF SacrIhclng MI
Darsie was in the meantime matured 1t GER
tainly was most Systematically perfected, and
thus one of the ableSt and most upright public
men in the Commonwealth, who, IN spite OF his
nativity and few years of infancy IN Protes-
/ tant Scotland, had been a Pennsylvania legiSla-
tor for nearly fifteen years, was sacrificed at the
bidding of secret oaih-bound association, COM
posed. TO large extent, of individuals who o.
penIy claimed communion with party they be-
traved.
How little the State Committee could do TO
avert this discredit, you very well KNOW Inc
secret influence was around them, and upon
them, and within them, and those who, Ike
myself and others, were open and candid IN then
condemnation of this secret action and organIza-
ton, were not fairly met or answered. ht
secret order was satisfied with rapid recruiting
The oaths prevented discussion or tar play.
It was confidently alleged and assumed thai
Mr. Pollock himself joined the order. From hi'
own lips have it that, at the time oi hS elec
ton. he was not member of any party whose
organization required him to prescribe any por
ton of his felIow-cltizenS, and relying on tha
assurance, | continued my exeItions, and votet
for him. voted for the Whig ticket at th'
fall election. voted for Mr.. Tyson for Con
, Gress. after he obtained the Wing nomination
though confess ! was perplexed by many ru
mors that he, too, had joined the order, and ia
: ken the requisite oaths. / could not persnad
myself that a man at his time of life, who ha
: pronounced so many elaborate dlscourseS IN ia
! vor of religious toleration, and who venerate
I with faith SO sincere and protesting, the nan
Iof WIN. Penn-the friend and favorite of Eng
lands Roman Catholic KING could not per
' suade myself that he had ahjured the principle
of his education, and sworn to this new alleg
\ ance. Had lived in the first Congressiona