Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-09
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

The Union, commenting on the Louisville
riots as illustrative of the effect of Know No.
thiDgism on the country says:
1--WE are now speaking Of where
the awful responsibility of the last consequence
of Know Nothing doctrines should be fixed.
1t is quite unnecessary to inquire for the I'M
mediate cause of the murderiBgs and mobbings
in the city of Louisville. Those who have
studied the fell anatomy Of the secret con-
spiracy which disgraces the American name,
as it insults American manhood and proSeribes
American rights-thOse who have heard its
leaders, like Infatuated demons, g bounding"
Oh the riOtOus ard reckless in their assaults
upon upoffending men because of their nativi-
ty or their religion-those who have seen its
public prcTiums offered for perjury, and its
exposed terrors held over the heads OF all who
would rot accept these premiums-those who
have watched its prostitution of the press and
the puipit-its cOld-blOOded neglect of the
duties of public gratitude to the public bene-
factors-its remOrseless prescription even of
helpless women to crafty the vulgar preju-
dices Of ignorant men-its wantOn invention
and wide dissemination Of falsehoods upon
eminent public Servants-and, finally, its de-
liberated and Unexplained attempts TO pollute
the ballot, and to build up b" a wall of fire"
between the North and the South, in which all
the guarantees of the constitution, and all the
affections of a common brotherhood, should be
destroyed we say, those who have stood by,
the reluctant and the sorTowinS witnesses of
these scenes, will not be astOnished that the
end should be as tragical and rs bloody as
il has been. The manner la which the seed
was sown was enough to prepare the country
for the terrible harvest.
''These results, then, were to have been ex-
pected; and, mOurnful as they are, they do
not excite our surprise. They were foreshad-
owed when the secret order began its march Of
prescription and of perjury. More or less, the
Accomplishments of that order in its fret sud
den advance to power, were riot and violence.
It's subsequent fruits haze all BEEN similar
1t has promised Us blessing-it has given US
curses In place Of reform we have had op-
preston. Instead Of peace we have had tu-
mutt. Instead of a holder, and broader, and
more liberal American tone, guaranteed by
the authors of this monstrOus fraud upon pub
lie opinion, We have seen i system adopted
and adhered to which rejoices in secre. !, and
In silence, and fvurishes Only by deception
and falsebOOd. Ever since this organization
has existed such scenes as that at Louisville
have beer OF frequent occurrence. The tragedy
IN that city involves more loss of life than any
which has preceded il, but ii is a fitting sequel
OF those that transpired in Cincinnati anu in
Columbus, and will doubtless be a fitting
precedent for more enlarged operations of a
similar character wherever such Americans.
rule America as George D. Prentice, Garrett
Davis, Charles S. Morehead. and their col
leagues. The practical consequences of Know
Nothingism speak a more eloquent language
than the false hearted professions of such
leaders as these. AH Mey haUe Effected as of
me same character. They can point to no trO-
ply to show that religion has been advantaged,
s.ciety improved, politics purified, public sta
ton elevated by the election of more eminent
men, or the constitution strengthened by tie
efforts of their confederate. They can only
point, as the monuments of their progress, to
ballOt-bOxes polluted, Christian men and VIC
men prescribed, abolitionism fortified in the
North, State hts weakened in the South
and, finally, TO the victims that have fallen
amid the glare Of burning dwellings as so
many sacrifices to the spirit that Americans
must rule America"
The LntefigtAcer Of this morning contains
little editorial, being devoted to historical
"reminiscences, news, literature and science.