The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-23
THE ERA ON KNOW NoTHINGIsM.
CUMBERLAND Co.. Ill. July "a. Is

CUMBERLAND Co., ILL.,, July "a, 1856.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
We are told by the Know Nothings here that
the greater part of what the Era has to say, in
exposing the workings of their secret Order, is
mere guesswork, and that all our opposition is
just talking about something we know nothing
about. Well, it has been said that guesswork
is as good as any, when it hits right but, be
that as it may, you have certainly developed a
remarkable faculty for guessing in this instance,
as it is being made clear by developments of
their own that you have not missed the figure
in a single instance. But if you have been
mistaken, or made wrong statements, cannot
some one of the vast multitude of Know Moth
ings condescend to enlighten us on the subject
by pointing out your mistakes? Methinks you
might safely challenge their whole combined
hosts to produce single statement of the Era
respecting them, which has not been confirmed
by their own statements and doings.
Again: when we point out the evil conse-
quences into which their principles are liable
legitimately to run, such as secret legislation,
secret courts, secret churches, and the proscrip-
ton of any class or sect, creed or profession
whatever, we are told this is an extravagant
conclusion; that we must Judge the tree by Its
fruit; that we have seen nothing of this kind
yet, &C.; that secret, oath -bound societies are
creatures of necessity; that when the necessity
ceases, they will be of no more use, something
like pulling your OK or your out of pit on
the Sabbath, | suppose.) Well, we ask, where
is thu necessity in the present case? Surely,
the Importance of the object to be promoted or
accomplished, should be the fundamental ne
cessity in all cases; the necessity may be en-
HANGED by surrounding circumstances, such as
the liability of your OK to suffer damage by re-
naming long in the pit. In the case of the
Sons of Temperance, the Importance of promo.
ting the cause of Temperance was the necessity
in that of the Know Nothings, in changing
public opinion in reference to the privileges of
our foreign population, especially Of Roman
Catholics. Admitting that the advocates of
these societies are sincere in believing that a
necessity did exist for their formation, why, |
ask, may they not conclude, upon the same
principle, that necessity exists for applying it
IN the organization of our legislative and eccle.
siastical bodies? Surely, the object to be pro-
NOTED i'll these, especially in the latter instance
is paramount to all others. There can be but
one answer to this, and that is, that there is
nothing to prevent it, but to conclude that a
necessity exists for it and surely, if it be ne
cessary to the promotion of our temporal and
political affairs, the same necessities cluster
around our religious interests with tenfold more
intensity. And l again would ask, how long
does any one think it would be before all this
takes place, after public opinion is fully brought
to believe that the secret principle is necessary
in any case, under Republican Government
In conclusion, permit NE to point the adher
ents of the Bible Know Nothings to one single
passage of Scripture, amongst multitude
which might be adduced, as | am very fearful
they have neglected to consult that Holy Book
In reference to this matter: But the stranger
that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one
born among you" w. NJ. ALLISON.