The weekly Placer herald., 1855-08-04
In the punv days of Know.Nothingism


nations, but chose rather to select from the
nominees of the Whig and Democratic parties
such men as were believed to be the most
capable OF serving the people. Their success
for time was overwhelming. Politicians
stood aghast at the blows that were dealt
them. But with success came presumption.
Soon the prejudices upon which the order
were founded began to show themselves--hos-
tility to Catholics and our naturalized citizens
was no longer concealed.-It was the war cry
they sounded through the land. Bloodshed
and foul imposition was the result-freemen
were basely treated and the worst passions
of men were aroused to brutal acts against
naturalized citizens disgraceful to the cOun-
try. But these excesses caused sober men
to reflect-and reflection brought home con-
viction to many minds of the unsoundness
of the creed they had espoused-o its injustice
to their fellowmen-and of its certain ten
dency to anarchy and the subverson of the
liberal principles upon which our government
is founded Hence, we have generally seen
the Know Nothings after their first victories
routed by the democracy. The "sober second
thought" of the people has triumphed.
OF those who have fOcked to the standard
of KnowNothingsm vast majority have
been members of the whig party. who tired
and worn out with continued defeats were
willing to embrace almost any political creed,
which could give them even a hope prospec-
lively of defeating their ancient and victori
GUS enemies. With the mass of them too may
he found the hungry expectants of whiggery,
who are now loudest in proclaiming the vir-
tines of the great Know Nothing order. And
this is but fair representation of the order
throughout the country. CTis true they have
ensnared few democratsD Yet some con-
tend that it is independent of either demo-
cracy or whiggery-but let any democrat. who
still retains his membership look around him
and see if his wigwam or council is not most
ly composed of wings. If they are not the
leading spirits and workers in the order. If
they, of all other men are not the most anxious
for IT'S life and prosperity. We know such is
the fact in the town of Auburn, and we
are credibly informed it is so throughout the
county. And why are they so trcmblinely
anxious? Simply because the wings in the
Know Nothing lodges know they have proven
traitors to their party, and if they fail that
they are gone politically forever. They know
that they have carried the bulk of their party
with them and bound and shackled them by
obligations, and that too. in the very face of
the heavy vote which they polcd in this
county last year-only leaving few national
men, the jewels of whiggery, remaining as
monuments of a once great party-who look
with scorn and contempt upon the course their
Iaithless and unprincipled deserters have
pursued and the principles they have adopted.
Yes. the whig Know Nothings feel all this,
and hence their great desire to nveigle as
many democrats into the order as possible
knowing full well their political salvation
depends upon their doing so. Hence, too,
their great desire to please and consult demo-
cratic associates and their earnest persua-
sions to remain when one declares his sense
of right will not permit him longer to stay in
the order. Neither is this ALL these same
Whig acknowledging congratulate themselves
that they are "Me ,chig party''-and that
Know Nothingism is in fact whiggery. Such
has been the boast in private conversations of
some of the leaders in this place-the centre
of power, from whence emanates the hopes.
feelings and wishes of this hopeful band
Little do they know the Democracy of this
county. They cannot be long deluded by
such men, nor can they be got to forsake their
party for the sake of elevating to office those
who all their lives have been warning against
the principles Of the Democratic party. and
are attempting now to overthrow it by obi-
eating men in secret to do so. If not directly
it is tantamount to the same thing. That
Democrats can he blinded as to the intention
of these renegade politicians" as a whig
friend Of ours pointedly terms them. we can
not believe, for the very nature of their or
ganization is revolving to good sense, sound
patriotism and selfrespect Based as it is
upon distrust Of honesty and fidelity of men,
Its binding by oaths in advance to pursue
certain line of policy and sustain certain prin-
ciples without knowing what they are and to
what result they tend. is insulting to those
who have any self-respect and is NEARLY the