The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-24

Temperance Alliance.
The American Know Nsth,ngs and the Eng
lish Press-John Bull Waking Up.
The articles which we published yesterday
from the leading editorial columns of the Lon
don Times and Chronicle, in reference to the
great Know Nothing movement which has so
mysteriously but effectively cleared the course
of all the old party distractions, to new and
comprehensive political revolution in the Uni.
ted States, are worthy of especial attention
The article from the Times is based upon the
American platform of Council No. IL, of the
Fifteenth ward of this city and our accompany
ing editorial article, published in the HERALD
of the 18th ult.; and for the commentary OF the
Chronicle upon the inoecile administration of
Lord Palmerston, we are confessedly Indebted
TO the same Know Nothing manifesto.
There is evidently, then, something in the
policy and priDcip pies Of this new American
party proclamation from our Fifteenth ward,
which strikes at the roots of the corrupti0ns
and failures, not only Of the old parties, and
the incompetent administration of this country,
but of the old feudal and aristocratic institu.
tons and parties and cabinets of the British
Empire, and of all the old despotic and "half-
feudal, half constitutional" political systems
Of the entire continent of Europe
Nor should we be greatly surprised were the
British people to seize the hints thus thrown
out by our London cotemporaries aud or
ganize great spontaneous Know Nothing
movement in the British islands, looking to
nothing less than the most thorough going po-
pnlar revolution. Nay, more, at this progress
sive and revolutionary epoch, when the spirit
of change and reconstruction in republics en-
pires and Kingdoms, seems to be epidemical
and universal, it would scarcely be matter of
establishment If such movement in Eugland,
without bloodshed, were shortly to result in the
final extinction of the ieudal relics of the Eng
lish government and English society, and in
the prostration of its overshadowing and mono
policing aristocracy to the common level of
the body Of the people. Aud if such things be
possible among the patieRt, plodding, and sub
missive people of England, surely we may count
upon similar achievements, through these mys-
terious and potential Know Nothiugs, among
the more iDfammable revolutionary masses Of
the continent
The demoralizations Of our old political par
ties, and the corruptions and moral marasnus
of this wretched Pierce administration, are
destined to bring us from this Know Nothing
reaction, in some shape or other, wholesome
and most comprehensive change. 1t is easy to
perceive it. The leading journals of London
give to this new movement its true meaning
and its proper application in taking it home,
and in measuring their own incompetent and
old aristocratic political machinery by the
| same standard. Their reasoning is perfectly
consistent and logical. Let them watch the
progress of this new revolution in the United
States and profit accordingly, aud Young Anne
| RIGA may yet, within brief space, effect more
! for the redemption Of Old Eogland from the
shacB]es Of feudalism and q bloated. superan-
nuated arstocracy, than she has accomplished
for herself through all her trials, struggles and
| revolutions Of thousand years.
This Know Nothing movement with us has
not yet half developed its purposes and its
power. In the Northern States, the native
sentiment Of hostility to these intrusive aud
accumulatiDg foreign balances of power, SO
habitualIy and corruptly used by the old
parties in our popular elections, will still con-
tinue 10 strengthen the Know Nothing ranks.
In the South, on the other hand, they have dis
covered that the bulk of these European &C.
cessions to our Northern population Is actively
hostile to our Southern institution of slavery
Our Southern people are, therefore, in favor
Of stringent naturalization law, which
will arrest these constant foreign acees
sioDs to The aptislavery parties and fac
tions of the North. and correspondingly check
the threatened ascendancy of the anti slavery
sentiment in the popular branch of Con-
gress and in the popular vote of the Union.
Tbne, while the junction Of the Know Nothings,
North and South, in the approaching Presi-
Dental election, is very doubtful, we have
no doubt that in both sections they will estab-
lish their ascendancy over both the old parties
in the elections Of the current year. They NAV
unite or divide in the general election OF $50.
but In any event. we anticipate q radical