Demoine courier., 1856-04-03
The order Of Know Nothings.

Know Nothing State Convention which
met at Iowa City on the 9Th inst, was a
very good criterion OF the condition oil
that party in Iowa. Ont of over two
hundred councils in the State onlv ff
teen were represented, and of its thou
sands of members bu, lorty.tive were in
attendance. After they had assembled;
so little interest was felt in regard to
their organization, we are assured by
one who was there. that had it not been
iora few uneasy spirits from the town
of Muscatile, the Convention would
have adjourned without trying to accom-.
plish any thing,-as il was, they did not
succeed. IL is true they appointed Pres
idential Electors. bus they did so with
out he advice or consent of the gentle
man mentioned, and with no assurance
iha. they would serve in The capacity in
wkich they have been placed. They
ignored their former PLATFORM, thus vir-
tually d%lsbaRding their organization; very
family endorsed the Philadelphia plat
form to show that lhev still chung to
their former prejudices; and adopted the
Temperance plank as the best means of
identifying themselves with the eoub-
hcan party. Homes, and true men uni
ted with the Know Nothing party in it's
i~ncipiency. 10 the hoFe that it would be
the means of Kidding the country of po-
iisicai Romanism, foreign domination
and professional office seekers. Blu. no
sooner had 1t begun 10 acquire strength
than the latter by their peculiar art in
winning favor, began TO obtain ingress TO
lis councils and TO sway them by their
influence. Honest men saw thai, n
grea. object of the association was dis.
regarded, but still chung to it in the hope
thai good nigh, be accomplished
Gradually one barrier after auothe ,:con.
stfsuilDg its opposition to political Ro-
manism, VISA removed, until the Nation
al Convention at Philadelphia threw
down every impeachment and admitted 10
It's deliberations Roman Calholic dele
gates. Then i, was, that observing the
object for which the order was cons,itu
ted had been forsaken and that its ten
dency was now to strenghent the very
power they had hoped 10 destroy,
good men of every grace left the organi.
cation TO a few spoiIsm en-, destitute oil
all principle but love OF off e.
Ii Is these men who have seen the fol-
ly Of trying 10 effec, any object by secret
associations, anc who are disguised with
The action of the order with which they
were connected, who are now so unani
mously uniiing with the Republican par
~ and claiming il! as an organization
which upon the n great, paramount
principle reflects most truly their senti
ments. They come to us as men tried
by a fiery ordeal : one which tits them
TO do battle for the great cause in which
they have enlisted. They unite with the
Republican party on the background of
OF a%nIagonism to Slavery extension over
free Territory and that thev do not tar.
ry Ia enquire if this or thai man agree
with them in minor matters. They
no for political Romanism; they
VIII not turn a hand to conciliate for
signism; freedom is the day star Of their
hope and all lesser objects are bu rried
with the past. L, is 10 such men and
their kindred associates, tina, the nation
must look in the hour of need. and dem
[ anG stipendiaries in these
times OF trial will tremble before such
an organization of tried men with free
d ON inscribed on their banners. -rav.
Gazette.