Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-13
TOT IHt IsHVHVt7
TIE KNOW-NOTIIING PLATFORM.

TIE KNOW-NOTlIlNG PLATFORM.
Many comments have already been spread before
the public upon the mnngrrl chapters ofthe Philadel
phia Convention OF aSSembied kAOm- -NOthngs; and
while propose 10 give our peculiar views on some
few of their articles, yet we are confident that we
shall express sentiments already presented and de-
velop nothing new. The American people Of the
present day are indeed like unto the Corinthians Of
old; they are constantly coming together to shear
and learn some new thing" and it is fact, well
tnbishci, that no assemblaga ever convened that
their fellow did not discover some new trait of
character something, IN fact, whereby they could
have an excellent for reversing the decision OF
Solomon, that There is nothing under the sum-.
In regard To this pnrty and lis assembled wisdom, we
well eXclam, "tlere Is nothing old under the SUM-
When this CUnyention-this Nt'OnM Convention
this Nuttomdi imsricaR Convention-was advertised,
all eyes were turned thitherward, hoping that the in
genuity of Aae,icaMS motcd would produce and de-
veop some mighty principle of government, that
would soon bring forward the millennlunl-thc su-
prGmciy excellent administration Of ntfairs which
would establish the primeval days OF Paradise and
cxpe all .to,eSHcrs especially the 0Id serpent, No.
maA CaihoItcism from the bowers of Eden. Week
pectcd that all men, every where, would he called 10
repentance" and Professionalism flourish as "grcen
bay tree" with every will ac,lng in unison,
and all the people ot this land with q sure pass.
port in their hands ul hearts to ente them to full
and secure pissn.c Jordan into the land OF eter-
nal bliss. But, after this body went through the ditli
cultcs of uccouchemcn and It's infant was delivered
TO the vision of men, behold it came into the world
with "aOthiHg," and we may sny with JOB, II can
.'ccrnnly carry "oihiRg out Of it,"
But to the platform The first article real thus:
1.-The acknowledgment Of that Almighty Being WHO
rules over the universe-who prcsides over the coul-
ellis of nations-who conducts the affairs OF men, and
who, in every step by which we have advanced TO
the character of IN independent nailOn has dlstn.
guished us by some token OF provdential agency.
This by all men Of intelligence is considered ms de.
clcdly Unitarian III its sentiments The doctrine oi
! Il untyGnd is extremely rcln!sve Ia Bible Chris
tiaus-thusc who confess to the triple nature OF Deity
In fact, this lrs article in the creed of know-Noth
ings is iu direct contradiction the Holy BIble es
pec;ay where it teaches hat the Holy Spirit is the
divine principle which has the controlling influence
in this world. After such 4 declaration as this, how
pucrc is their eleventh article II the Bible is To be
taught in this manner, how many parents wish their
children educated in the "schOUl provided by the
Statc!" But We would direct an inquiry TO those
ministers of the different Protestant churches who
have ssiduousy given their support to this secret
organization, and it is this Which is the worst evil
CGtholcity or Dcism n nation OF Catholics, or
nation of Deists What SAYS the rcdnubtablc editor
Of the Methodist journal in Virginia TO this feature OF
Tie organization His ire has been as highly raised
against Unilariansm rs against Catho!icity, ana his
predilecon for either is about as great rs n sailor S
ior shark. Docs lie throw his influence on the side
of Deism! Such arc some of the sirange lnconsis-
tcncics which nen conmiX in when they run not with
prudence, and forget the station where they appropr-
atc!y belong.
H. THE cultivation aud development of senti-
mcut of profoundly intense American feeling; OF pas
siunnte attachment 10 our country, lis history ana lis
Institutions of admiration for the purcr days of our
national existence: Of rencratlon Tor tie herolsm
that prcc.pitacl our revolution and ot emulation OF
the virtue, wisdom and patriotism that framed our
Constitution, and first successfully applied It's provl.
siuns.'
The feeling of patriotism is cnnobling in its inau-
eucc upon individuals. II has been said by one OF our
a al, u1,,
ere one would forget the land OF his nativity, and the
sentiment is worthy of every mind: but when we con-
slider the natlrc of PATRIOTISM we lind TINT there are
two kinds; one ennnbling, the other degrading; one
leading grand results the other tending to stngna-
ton. There is patriotism which looks upon every
thing that is not Indigenous, rs curse that "no
GOOD can come out of NAZARETH" that would raise it's
Arm TO crush rcrrSt minHtrst atom OF existence that
spruny from foreign clcinent-"a prCf0umdiy in
htUSr ptriofi,aa' that runs not with international
comcs and thinks only of self. Egotsm is its name,
and it arises from very exalted estimate Of the pow
crU of the individual members Of socIetyi which con-
ccves that the land has reached perfection in every
thing. This principle, when it operates society, or
On large mass of men, places them exactly i'll tho
same condition with the individual whose whole guild
Ing principles are involved i'll seltshncss. Restless
ness anxiety and dsquetule mark his every step.
and his end is that Of suicide; for, he becomes dis
satisfied with every one, even his best triend-aye'
even with himself.
There is another patriotism which acts upon socie-
y as religion upon an individual. II rcncs and ele-
Yates the emotions, it expands the intellect, and en-.
ghtens the understanding; it goes forth "dong good;
it establishes the principles OF comfy between ma
iuns it is wachful of the varied interests "t the
whole it good, let it come from what NazalctI
Of Gaec it may; and it hesItates not to enSratt n
hoalthlu principle upor the body polite, even though
its origin was III barbar!sn
We think that the sentiment expressed IN INC Sc,
cond article u this platform, parakes ot the nature oi
cgotis;c patriotism. Let US see It we are moi way
rancd in openly declaring this opinion This article
pre-suppuscs n first princplc-as MAJOR premise
that the overnment OF this country as u exists At
preseut i, inferior to the days vi T16 and 1852 when
there was 10 Constitution aud no fixed law: for the
davs that are past were "ruREE' days than these
When this Government was started, lis hrst success
full appliers" found many difficulties in their way and
not until the days of Monroe, did the engine Work
smoothly: since that time our Constitution has re-
mu;ned intact we have acted successfully upon those
principles, and if those principles were pure, then
their legitimate action is none the less pure conse
qucntly we exist at the present day, under better
Government than in those "purcr days spoken of in
this resolution Were the day of the elder Adams
more pure than these! Were the days of Bun
pureri Were The days Of Quincy purer! DO THESE
men mean to say that men were purer and more en-
lighened than this generation II they be, and they
ndnit the fact can they themselves, existing inthese
impure days resurrec the purer days Are they more
pure than their fellow men! DO they pray us the Phar
see "Lnrd | thank Thee that we are not rs other
men, And vii! il not be said Of them: "Wo unto
you Scribes and Phnrisees, hypocrites p ;,
But to give additional proof OF their '.prcto"ndly
intense patriotism" we frd the 9TH article, which
| reads thus
Hostility to the corrupt means by which the lead
ers of party have hitherto forced upon us our Fue
and our political creeds Impacable enmlty against
the present demoralizing system OF rewards ior Po,
litical subservency and OF punishment for political
independence. Disgust for the Wild hunt a!'ef ohce
which characterize the age.
"These on the one hand On the other
Limitation of the practice Of the purer days OF inc
republic; and admiration OF the maxim tnu, oie. U
should seek the man, and not man the oihce, anu o
the rule that the just mode Of ascertHlnlns htness or
office is the capabity the faithtulnesS' ana Inc nom
esty of the incumbent or candidate.
| "IV' The reformation of the character of our Ma
,onaI Lraslaure, by eleva,ng TO that dgnitied and
responsible position men Of higher qualifications
purer morals, and more selfish pairiotIlns,in. Is,
This is their .'whted sepulchre.' The words, how
lair, The sentiments, how seemingly beautiful But