The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-04-12

new Territories aud un0ccupied domain of the
Uulon with all other kinds Of property. The
issue in the ensuing Presidential canvass must
be, We repeat, state equality. None can con-
sstently contend for such equality but those
who deem their own laws and government
equally good with those of other states.
PHILOSOPHY OF KNOW-NOTHING.
ISM
To the casual observer nothing could be more
perfectly unaccountablc than the rise and pro-
grcss OF Know Nothingism in the United States.
When our ancestors came first, some Of them
were Catholics, flying from the prosecutions Of
Protestants, some Professionals flying from the
prosecutions Of Catholics, and at most all were
men who for conscience sake had left the land
Of their fathers forever and determined for
themselves and their children to conquer peace
and quiet from wild and foreign country and
o savage foe.
As might well be imagined, when the de-
pendants of these men formed the government
under which they intend to live, they were uni
vcrsally animated by two great principles; one,
that every man should worship his own God
in his own way without question from any
other man; the other that all new corners were
their brothers and aids in their struggle with
the uncultiyatcd soil and its savage and cruel
occupants.
How comes it that within less than three
fourths OF . century after these principles were
consecratcd in the constitution of our govern
ment as in the hearts Of our people, party
arises and seems for while to flourish, whose
two cardinal principles are the prescription Of
every new conner and Of every one who differs
from themselves in religious belief? Two prin-
pies, the logical result Of one Of which is the
renewal Of Massachusetts WITHDRAWING aud
Quaker hanging, and Of the other the handing
over of our government to the descendants Of
those sayagcs who scapcd our fathers and TOM
ahawked our mothers
1t is certainly strange, but not wholly mex
pllcable. On u scrutiny, it turus out that the
party is really not solid homogeneous mass,
but coation-that these two principles are
respectively the opinions Of two very different
sets OF people, and are the results Of two differ
ent causes. They are, perhaps, occasionally
ntcrlocked; a Know Nothing inhabiting city
is sometimes a Halter Of Catholics, and Know
Nothing of the country is sometimes hatcr of
Foreigners But these arc the exceptions As
a general rule, the rustic enthusiast who has
no amusement except his Westinghouse on Sun
day; no associate, cxccpths equally intelligent
neighbor; and no idea of Supreme Being, ex-
cept that inculcated by Parson but little
above his own level, is of necessity prosecutor
in religion. lie takes his own narrow notions
as absolute truth and rcgar DIS all who differ
with him, as deserving the seycrest suffering
here and hereafter; and If he gets the chance
he infalliby unitcs with those who come nearest
his ideas to wage war on those who differ with
both. Such is the man who makes the bone
and sincw of the Know-Nothing party in the
country districts; careless Of the place of birth
of u man. SO he hates, or processes to hate
the Pope. Few Irislmen ever cross his path
with their noisy ignorance, and no German
underscls him in labor or in business; but his
parson says Hate Catholics" and he hates
them. On the other hand when u city laborer
or shop-kceper finds himself met ut every turn
by a competition coming from foreigners, his
eyes are opened to the fact that his interests
arc suffering by their presence, and he easily
believes that any thing which will discourage
their coming will benefit the country he is
quite sure it will benefit him and cries out
that Americans shall rule America. The fact
that majority of the foreigners are also Cath
1oheo, k''So oh nIShacn1di appearance VI uIh
nimity to the party which disappears whenever
Il question is presented involving the rights of
forcign-born Protestants or Of native Catholics
What is to become Of this party is rather
question of curious speculation than Of practi-
cal Importance. They have no chance to elect
a President; but little to carry any State
The Democracy are preparing in the coming
struggle to meet somewhat blackcr foe.
Fillmore is beneath notice as an opponent
when Seward is in the field. Ifhowcycr, in the
coming contest Fillmore should carry u single
Southern State, it will remain for the irony of
history to tell how he and his friends did their
best to ruin their country while protesting to
be its peculiar guardians. Every vote they
succeed in taking from the Democrats is prac-
tically vote for the Black Republicans.
The GOVERNOR OF New JERSEY ARREsrED--