The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-01
YHE RISE AND pRoeREss or KNOW .NorHINoIsM

have become acquainted with the proscrpye Of its
doctrines and the childish character of its mysteries II had
the merit Of novelty and the attraction of myseytwo
powerful agents in seducng the young thoughess and
inexperienced from the path of duty It appealed with
equal and peculiar force the political fanatic and 10 the
religious bgot and assuming the counterfeit eloaks Of pa
rosm and Christianity II called into offensive existence
the deepseaed jealousy Of birth and the warng prejudice
of religion 1t offered encouragement to the bankrupt
in reputation and held in tempting proximity, alurng
brides for the prohgate and discarded Of all parties II
national in It's character far eager willingness
displayed to receive dupes opposing sentiments and
from every locality in the Union and justified its assump
ton of liberation by bringing to its communion table the
abolitionss Of the North aud the shareholders Of the
South. 1t matered not what mans antecedents had
been it matered not how deep he had been stepped in
cal proaigacy and degradation, how often he had
been spuned for want Of character credit and confidence
by the various parties which he had successfully joined
all that required of him was TO battle in the Letbe
waters of knownothngism obtain orgeiulness Of the
past and to take rank with the Pixies and Rayners and
Pentce and Johnstons and Wilson's and the other Latter
Day Saints Fresh and dripping from bapsma waters
nothngism who could doubt either his Professionalism
his patriotism his pety bis principles Who better
entitled the spols Of office under the broad and capt-
waiting declaration that "none but Americans shall rule
American?
That know-nothingism should have swept the
country with the force fury and desrucyeness of pra
re fire, of those seemingly unaccounable
which can be easily explained The anti Catholic senti-
of the country wisely subdued by the trainers of the
constitution, has been extingushed That little
of spirit which would make monopoly of civil and
relic hlelsinU tha
encountered with mean, narrow-minded with purely
selfish instincts. 1t has been naturalized in every
country and in every age Of the world. But these
elements separate combined could not have effected
the sudden, widespread political revuson which have
just witnessed We look to other causes for disas-
States whose political histories had previously pre-
scented unbroken succession of democratic triumphs
The whg party had preserved its name organization,
and distinctive features for longer term Of years than
had been vonchsafed any previous oshoot Of federal
ISM but it in state of transition when know
ingsm its appearance The old issues between the
whig and democratic parties, if they had ceased
exi, least lost sight Of and the opposition of the
former to the latter not much matter of principle
contention for placea mad blind adherence for per-
sonal preferences The abolition party although too
weak for mschevous agitation literally impoent in the
Tree close
cured and when, of course the opportunity presented
itself of demonstrating the baance-oi-power principle
Rowing wings with whom federalism is chronic; abolition
lists eager rob pllage and destroy mercenares who
had joined the democratic ranks in the unsuccessful expecta
ton of place and pay avarcous parsons with whom the
lust of Office is greater than the love Of God religious
fanatics who would argue with the sword and convince
with the faggotthese the men, the classes and the
parties who gave vitality to know -nothingism and who
threaten TO undermine the institutions of country
through the dangerous machinery of its organization.
In recording the ravages of epidemic turn with
pleasure from the sickening details when frequent ndca
lions give that the maady has spent its force
The national convention of the order at Phade
phia was in effect its national burial The proscriptve
and tratorous objects of know-nothngsm could only be
fully realized when its distorted and discordant materials
brought together State after State has repudiaed
with oathng and contempt the socaied national plat
form and while the northern lodges torn asunder by
the dasensions between the dupes and the aboonsts of
the order the southern councils scattering in all drec
tons before the vigorous blows of aroused democ-
racy Elections will be shortly held in Kentucky, Tennes
see Alabama North Carolina and Texas Three of these
States have hitherto been regarded whig States but
notwithstanding this fact and the additional fact that
disposed to join political organization
than support an old which they have uniformly OPP
posed still feel confident of the complete overthrow of
knownothngism throughout the entire South Although
large majority of the southern wings have identified
themselves with the order hundreds and thousands
and of thousands Of southern wings have noby rail-
lied upon the platform Of the only true national contu
tional party of the country We could fill page after page
of the Union with the of southern wings who have
this crisis openly and noby espoused the democratic
cause and with the of who, having been de-
ceived into full fellowship with know-nothngism have
had the honest bodnes to reasset their independence
AS of at least thousand evidences which might be
adduced of the state of feeling prevailing throughout
the entire South, make for the following "ca
which appears in paper published in the interior of Lou
isiana
'sThe citizens Of the parish of Laourcbe opposed to know
nohngsm respectfully invited to meet in convention
the house. in the of Thibodeaux Saturday the
18th August 1885, ii O'Clock, to organize and
take steps may be deemed necessary render effect
ual their opposition"
The above "call" is signed by hundred and forty
ohigs of the parish of Lafourche, "who indignant
saws the paper from which copy the above, Eat being
numbered with the hordes of the know-nothings ndig
nan that candidates should be thrust upon them without
nan ut the attempt to upon them Of principles
and platforms revolving their of right and their
lberalitv.n