Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-17
THE FUTURE OF KNow-NorH1Ne1sm

1t is the part of wisdom and prudence to
have regard to the future. He merits but little
consideration who, disregarding great, solid,
and enduring principles of action, resorts to
shallow shifts and disreputable agencies to Sc.
cure present success. The man or the party
that 50 acts only prepares the way for future
OF shame, ignominy, and adversely.
The man who, in free country like ours,
joins party Of which he is ashamed to avow
himself a member, shows distinctly that there
IS something wrong in that party. He shows
that he himself thinks so. Such is the case
with the know-nothing party, which processes
to be temporary only in its nature.
If its members are ashamed of il now. when
It is new and in the full tide of triumph, what
will become Of them when, exhausted by its
conyulsive efforts and demoralized by the evil
elements that have contributed to give it vital
ity, it falls to pieces like a rope of sand? In
that dark day the young men who have been
tempted into ESPECIALLY the Democratic
young men-who have talent and ambition,
would give the world to expunge their names
from that fatal roll. But that will be impossi.
bic. The roll viii stand an enduring monu-
ment OF blindness, folly, and frenzy. The
Order of which we speak will prove the grave
of many politician. Hereafter-and that
hereafter is not far distant the man (this is
especially true Of Democrats) who shall be
proved to have joined the Know-nothings and
IN hay aIb a,
choice. forced him to leave, will be marked
man, doomed politician. Political antece.
dents know no obivion--political sins no for
giveness- This will be new SIM and revolt
ing as new. The Tories of the Revolution, the
men Of Hartford Convention memory, the
blue-light Federalists, experienced no more ter
rible retribution than viii be experienced by
those Of whom we speak.
Hinsensible TO the appeals of common sense
and patriotic virtues, they should at least heed
the suggestions of selfish interest They
should seek respite from their phrensy and
think calmly and gravely Of their future. They
should quit, and quit instantly, party that in
its nature cannot last, that does not aspire to
permanence, that raises bubbles only to burst
them, and elevates men only to degrade them
They will fare far better in the future by sub
hitting 10 the proper discipline of a regular,
wellordered, and historical party, than by seek
ing the feeting honors of this new and ephem.
eral Order. The rewards Of such an orraniza
ton will be like
Dead sea fruits that charm the eye
But turn 10 ashes on the lips
The time will come, when those who cling to
this Order will experience bitter remorse. 1t
may succeed for a time, but it will soon fall
and when it falls it will crush all within its nm
hallowed walls. 1t will be great political
graveyard.
When the reaction takes place, as take place
il must, those who now are jubant will then
be odious. In all the bitterness Of remorse
they may say, "out damned spot" but that
spot will still remain. No penitence, however
sincere, will be accepted by posterity. Their
sins cannot be burnt and purged away. For
such political sins there will be no forgiveness.
The only hope and the only safety are in an i'm
mediate abandonment Of this new and Secret
Order