Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-26
THE LONDON TIMES AND THE KNOW.
NOTHINGS.

4
| NOTHINGS.
That the Democratic party has ever been
the true American party, no one at all ac-
quainted with public affairs will deny. 1t has
always been the party to proclaim and enforce
an American policy, and to present a stern and
stubborn resistance to all attempts of foreign
Governments to subject this new country to an
alien influence.
Herein consists one Of the glaring inconsis-
tencies of the Wing or Know-nothing party. 1t
makes no distinction between foreigners who
come here to reside and rear their families,
and foreigners who live abroad, except this-a
very important distinction-that they altogether
ostracise the former, while they acknowledge
the control of the latter They damn, exclude,
and Witty the resident foreigners, while they
tamely submit themselves to the government of
the. nonresident, especially the English for
eigners. Is war on foot, the Wings always
oppose it The know-nothings, their sue
cessors, do the same thing. Foreign govern
ments always sympathised with the policy of
the Wings. They now sympathse, the Wing
! party being dead, with that of the Know-noth-
ings. They always opposed the Democratic
American policy; they do so still. Foreign
governments hate our country, because they
fear the influence of our free institutions, and
because their subjects come here in consequence
OF an honest preference for our political sys-
tenn. Democrats welcome them because of
that preference, and after a proper pupilage
and probation would admit them to the fran
chises of American citizenship. Wings with
some, we are glad to say many, exceptions) or
knownothings, join in with the foreign govern
ments from which they come, and condemn
them.
In another column we publish an editorial
from the London Times. That journal, with
true English sympathy, embarks in the political
controversy now going on in this country, and
instinctively and naturally takes sides with the
knownothings. The reason that England
English cabinets, and English newspapers al
ways oppose Democratic policy is, that Demo
cratic policy is always opposed to foreign in
fuence, and contemplates the advancement
and ascendancy on this continent of American
ideas and American Independence They love
most that American party that most tolerates
English or foreign influence.
The Times has Just conception of the
hnow.nothings. 1t looks upon them, despite
their name, as the European party of this coun.
try. Hence its sympathies. Again it says:
On many other topics the manifesto (of the
know.nothings) preserves discreet and signi.
.fcant silence, probably because (although the
hnow-nothings are cordially united on some
points, that union does not extend to all. Tins
the VITAL QUESTION OF SLAVERY Is
LEFT UNNOTICED, BECAUSE IN MAS,
SACHUSETTS, FOR INSTANCE, THEY
HAVE DECLARED FOR EMANCIPATION,
WHILE IN OTHER STATES THEY SUP.
PORT THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Again-THE ANNEXATION OF CUBA
AND OTHER TERRITORIES is NOT
ALLUDED TO. because ecery extension Of
Territory inhabited By men of tie Spanish
race and the Roman Catholic faith, must tend
10 aceaken the national american character of
the Union"
The London Times is right in asserting that
the Know.nothing party has never permitted
the protection Of slave property to enter as an
element into its creed. 1t IGNORES SLA-
VERY" The highest authorities in that pie
bald party so declare. So far from declaring
IN .faror of the Kansas n ebsaska bill and
against the repeal of the Fugitive Slave law,
the abolition of slavery in the District of Co
lumbia, and the abolition of the interstate
slave trade, it has on those subjects, as an or
ganization, most discreety kept silent. Indeed,
some Of its most prominent members, for in
stance, Senator Wilson, ex-senator Hale, and
Hon. Mr.. Burlingame, have in. the most en-
phatic and unmistakable language expressed
rank-the rankeSt Abolition sentiments which
are re.echoed by Massachusetts and all the
Northern States in which Know-nothingism
prevails.
Now, in regard to Cuba we believe that
the strongest opposition to acquiring Cuba has
proceeded from the Know-nothings. Not one
Know.nothing editor, or member, that we know
of has avowed sentiments in favor of the &C.
QUESTION Of that island
These facts being proved, it is not astonish.
ing that the London Times, genuine John
Bull journal, should embrace Know-nothing-
ism. England is an abolition country; Eng
land is opposed to our acquiring Cuba; Eng
land desires to rule American councils; the
London Times is an English journal, imbued
with English prejudces and full Of English
pride. The Know-nothings are playing into the
hands of England; the Democrats are oppos
ing English influence in American affairs-in.
deed, all foreign influence. Then does it not
seem to be the most natural Of all things that
England and the London Times should hate
Democracy and hug Know-nothingism.