Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-11
FaIitirai.
u 10 y HT'H7H N NV 7TT-TT-1
THE KNOW NOTHTNGs.

The sudden rise and progress If this
strange faction, is singular, and almost I'M
exampled IN the history OF any country. Its
growth, unlike TINT o. the great political
parties into which our country has hitherto
been divided, has not been the result OF any
decided changes of public opinion, upon
questions of foreign or domestic policy. -
The elements of which II IS composed are
widely diverse, and the excitement which VI
has awakened throughout The length and
breadth OF the land i an evidence that us
machinery was adjusted by 30 unskllliul
hands. Every ariiice which willy pulilicl-
sans could resort To. every appeal 10 the pas
sluus and prtiudlces OF the people. has been
brought to bear upon the Formation of this
IesuItica order OF krow Nolinugs Nor
have the times been uuiuvorahlc for lis sp-
t.u~saurc. since the passage OF the Com
promise measures OF 1850. and uieir accept
ance by the Baltimore Conventions of -,
and more especially since the passage OF
the Nebraska enormity Of 81. The old party
lines have been broken M; aud It De- not to
be wondered at, that so many nave rushed
blIndly into this Know Nothing organization,
beguied by its fair pretensions of progress
and reform. and trusting 10 its power to car
~ out 10 their fullest extent the principles
Of true Republcani.m. Yet lbs popularity
should deter no one from an examination of
lis aims aud purposes. They demand the at
tculion OF every friend 10 the welfare of A.
merca, and especially should one youth stu
dy the principles upon which this new party
is based, and see whether they be Of per-
manen, and vital interest 10 the prosperity Of
the nation. We hope 10 enter upon tliis in
yestlgation with candor aud fairness, believ-
ing that the motives and ends OF every par
~ are 10 be condemned or commended, ac-
cofding as they tend 10 the destruction or
Advancement Of the true glory OF our coun-
try.
1t Is impossible not 10 perceive that the
prominent objects OF the know Noihlngs are
an opposition 10 our foreign born and CAtho-
lie population, although these elements are
so strangely blended that i Is diliicnlt to de-
termine where the one ends or the other
beglus. Natvism"-or hostility TO natur-
alized citizens, Improperly called foreign
eFs'-has not until recently gained foot
hold among the masses but has vet 10 form
or wears had periodical spasms of existence.
As far back rs the famous Hartford Convcn-
ton, lSll-l5, the easy naturalization of
aliens was complained among the number of
grievances of the ultra-Fe1ealisis of that
day. Since then, at different times, organ
izat0ns under the name of Native Ameri-
can have sprung mp in Philadelphia, New
York, aud other of the great Atlantic cities.
Their operations, however, were mostly con-
fined to municipal elections. As natural
result Of such cliques, there was continual
fighting between the - natives" and foreign
ers." la lsli occurred The Philadelphia
riots" by which several liyes,and much prop
erty, including Catholic churches, were de-
stroyed. Public opinion so strongly con-
demned the course OF this order that it was
soon everywhere PROSTATE or totally extinct.
lis next aud last appearance was Ia 1852,
from which time may be dated the growth of
the popularity termed Know Nothing party
of today.
The careful observer cannot fail to see
that this prejudice against foreigners has
arisen IN no small degree from jealousy on
the part Of the labodng population towards
those with whom they feared they would not
be able TO sustain a competition. To us this
fear seems groundless Il may be true that
in our Eastern cities there Is a surplus of
laborers, and that in many cares, kinds of
labor which had hitherto been done exclu-
slvely by our own countrymen, have fallen
into the hands Of the foreign born population.
But il needs not TO be proved that our coun-
try can supply labor for millions besides the
present inhabitants of the soil; and 50 Il
has ever been the policy of our government
to encourage emigration The good results
of such course are To been seen in the
great works OF internal improvement which
contribute so much to the advancement of
our prosperity as a nation East, West
North aud South, are bound together by
links of IRON which have been forged by the
stalwart laborers from the Emerald ISLE
/ And at the present time when there is every
prospect that the gigantic scheme Of a rail-
road 10 the Pacific will be realized, surely
our fierce natives need no, be alarned by
any fears OF want Of labor on their own
part, SO long as these works of internal i'm
proyement continue to demard the labor of
/ the despised Foreigners new world is
yet TO grow upon the vast territory of the
West, and is it wise or commendablc poll
cy for us TO discourage the emigration Of
those sons Of Europe who have sacrificed
their love of home and country for their
higher love of liberty, and have come here
to assist in developing the industrial resour-
ces Of Amercs, thus identifying their own
interests and welfare with the interests aud
welfare Of their adopted land ?
But this hostility Of the Know Nothings
towards foreigners proceeds not alone
from jealousy Of foreign labor. Much is
said at the present day concerning nsturaliz-
alton, OF the comforting npon aliens the r,ghls