The true Democrat., 1856-07-08
The Gazette Against Know
 NcthinpiSm.

The Gazette Against Know
 Nothingis1n.
 The Editors Convictions of its Wrong-his defense of the Catholics and Foreigners
 he Places Himself upon Record as anti- Know Nothing.
 LET EVERYBODY READ.!.
 The following long article against the mid night Know Nothing order appeared as the leading editorial in the Gazette of August 24th 1854. We desire everybody to read it and contrast the positions taken and the sentiments uttered in it with those now taken and uttered by the same newspaper and the same editor Let every body read it and preserve 1t for the summer to read to Know Nothings when they commence upon Catholics and foreigners.-- Here is the article
 THE KNOW NOTHINGS.
 Under the above name, secret order has been instituted, within the last few months, which, we are informed, has increased to very considerable extent in most of the cities of the United States Of our own know ledge, we kaoe0 nothtng of the purpose of this organiza- ton; but from what we can learn from out siders, and from looking over the columns of the papers which profess to be their organs, as well as conversing with those who claim to be acquainted with the principles of the organiza- ton, we infer that 1t Is based on political and religious ntolerauce-that is, 1t IS an orgamiZa- ton against the foreign population and Catho- lie religion in this country. Ii this be true, instead of the order being American, 1t is anti Amercan;- n;-based upon bigotry and intolerance, its platform Is too harrow, and too much cir cumscrlbed, for an American democrat to stand upon.
 In this country where the constitution qua ranties the freedom of speech and the press, and the rightof the people to assemble publicly and petition for redress of grievances, where It Is the legitimate province of every citizen to publicly condemn and, if he think proper, for the sake of reforming 1t, to deuouuce any law or institution of the country, there Is no neces- sity for secret organizations to effect political ends. Indeed, when secret political party arises among us which avoids the public dis cussion of its principles, it ;s fair to infer that fear prevents its members seeking publicly to discuss them;-workers of evil, they prefer darkness to light. We do not make this as charge, but submit that 1t Is legitimate ilI- ference.
 Taking it for granted that we have stated the creed of the Know Nothings correctly it can be shown that 1t IS an organization for the purpose of contravenmg the principles of the declaration of independence, and the constitu- ton of the United States.
 We propose first, to examine somewhat into that portion ot the platform which proscribes the foreign population, and the naturalization of torel lgners and sec01l, to pay some attention to that part of 1t which proscrlbes any sect on account of its peculiar religious forms or opn- ions
 First: In regard to that portion prescribing foreigners, and their naturalization On refer ring to the declaration of independence, it will be seen, that among other charges the tollow- ing is preferred against King George III: 'He has endeauorel to prevem the population of these States; tor that purpose obstructng the la,cs for the naturalization of foreigners; retusjng to pass others Jor Mer migration hitte,.'
 After the doctrines so clearly, So emphatical- ly, and so unmistakably lail down, by the patriot-sages of :76, foreign aid was sought and received, ln the prosecution of the war of lnde- peudence Who 50 ignorant of the history of his country, as never to have learned that fol our independence we are greatly indebted to the material aid,' both in men and money, received then from France? Our French al-
  ton, both on the land and on the sea. At the growing battle of the revolution, which resulted in the surrender of CornwalS at Yorktown. Gen. Washington assigned du- ties separately to the Freuch and American troops. In brotherly emulation, each sought to outdo the other in acts of soldierly bearing and chvaric galantry. The battle was won. Cornwallis surrendered. The independence of the United States was achieved.
 Nor are we indebted for foreign aid in our revolution, alone to France, as nation. Many foreigners, both of the high and distinguished and the humble and lowly, loving liberty well enough to fight for 1t i'll another country, and for another people than their own, left their homes, and cast their fortunes among our revo- lutionary sires. Many of the present day, ap- pear to knoU nothing of the services to and sacrl- fees made by foreigners for our country, in that time which tried mems souls.' They appear never to have heard of Lafayette, De Kalb, De Stuben, KoSciusko, and many such men to whom the country owes so deep debt of gra- titude
 After the achievement of our national inde- pendence, a provision was incorporated into the constitution of the United States, giving Con- gress the power to establish an uniform rule Q, naturalization Thus, 1t may be seen, that the men of the revolution were not, Tn the hour of success, unmindful of their obligation to dc justice to the foreigners who so nobly stood by them in the time of trial and peril; or of theil obligation to make this country the home ol the tree,' by inviting to our shores men who are devoted to our institutions of equal rights and equal laws,' notwithstanding they may not have had the good fortune to be born within our borders. And this was not done as an act of justice alone to foreigners who aided in the war of the revolution, or after that time, were anxious to become citizens of our government but as an act of duty to our own country. Il was then, as it is now, necessary, to populate the country; to subdue the wilderness; to make productive fields, and rich cities of regions wild, uncultivated, and unproductive; tc strengthen the bonds of our Union, by build ing railroads, opening canals, and making works of internal improvements; to establish schools, which will shed, without money and without price, the light of republican know ledge, on every hilltop, and in every valley in the country; to rear temples where free men may worship the true God according to the dictates of their own consciences.
 This is the destiny of our country, as wisely foreseen by the men of the revolution. Wo to the man, who would, by his puny hand, at tempt to avert it. To work it out, we have need of the labor of more men than are borr on this side of the water. It will come and the Know Nothings, or any other order, had as we'll try to stop an avalanch of ice preclpltat ed from the top of the Rocky Mountains, o form an association to stop the mouth of the Mississippi river, and prevent the waters of it valley from entering the Gulf, as to avert thu destiny of this country.