Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-27
know-Nothingism
from the Rutland Herald


KNow-NorurNcfsN was u very natural ex-
istance after men had seen, again and again,
the controlling power Of the foreign vote in
town, state, and national elections after they |
had seen the base and treacherous subscrvi- |
ency Of demagogues to the bigotry, supersti-
ton, ignorance, and prejudces of foreigners
in our midst after they had seen the willy
insinuating, and grasping operations Of
Jesuitism after they had seen the donation
alzing, and dsloyalizing effect of the cru
SADIE Of "the eloquent foreigner" into this
country and, especially, after the confusion
of parties at the close of the eloction in 1852.
Last year, in Vermont, tho Democracy
were at heart disguised with the pro.slaysry
policy of Pierce and Douglas. The Wings
were disheartened and saw little hope Of
reunion of national party. The Free Soil
ers, after turning hither and thither, and re-
christening themselves again and again, had
become bewidered. The temperance leaders
we're running off in mad career of forming
q new party, when the people felt that there
| was no need oft There were u multitude
! of young men who cared nothing for either
party, and looked with suspicion upon old
party leaders, and also with Jealousy upon
| the encroachment of foreigners upon their
! fields of labor. After the preparation of the
| Nebraska perfdy, Wings and Free Sellers,
| generally, we're glad to unite on a common
! ground and vote for the same principles and
| ,ne,-- '"u then, bcwitching news of Know
| Nothing victories In other States was coming
in. 1t was good joke. Just then, also, the
chief leaders in the union of Wings and Free
Sellers, were guessed to be among the Know
| Nothings. Here, then, was n chance for
| Wings, Democrats, Free Sellers, no-party
men, etc, etc, to join a new and anonymous
party OF jokes and victories. Is it strange
that the Know Nothings grew apace,
When a snake would cast off his last year s
slough, it retires out of sight, into stone
heap, and there performs tho re-Juvenating
process. Many men wanted to cast of
the slough of old parties, and so-they
went into Know othingism.
Months have passed, and the workings OF
a party, in when old party leaders, fore gn-
crs, las-ends of old parties, and many most
worthy men did not JOIN, are manifest. Know.
NoTHINGIsN takes its character and colorine
from its immediate neighborhood. In the
South, it is pro-savery. In the North, il
is anti slavery. In Massachusetts,, it hat
done some good, and many foolish things
In New York it is tool of Silver Grays
and has behaved itself unseemly. In Yer
mont-it has o present but no past.
If Know Nothingism in Vermont, can de-
better than any old party.-Ifit can clea
out of the way rubbish which no other part,
could move.-lf IL can eject better mel
than any old party.-If it can give success t.
good principles then-success to it. If not
away with it. The talk about midnigh
assassins, :" " secret cabals," &c, &c, is al
piaruey. 1t Is Impossible 10 .i', up., /" u:
: months time, one-half or one-fourth of tn
voters of Vermont, into new combination
that is dangerous to any body or any thing
1t is not the character Of the Know Nothin
, men. 1t is not their secresy which set
outsiders to raving and talking with sue
a "rich brogue.' 1t is their strength
, it is their success-which excite violent op
position.
, But the Know Nothing. have existed lon
enough in Vermont to cho,rder large portion
. of the old parties. Their secrecy has aide
them. Now in order to accomplish grea
and good ends-In order to do the state an,
nation permanent good. should they no
undrape the statue which they have wrought
and set it forth in the light They can d
much-they ought to do It. Let their mott
be-OPPosITIoS TO SLAvERr-OPPosIrroN T
CATHOLIC AND FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN GOVERN
HEST.
With such principles, they can unite host
: and accomplish great and permanent good