The Washington union., 1857-05-30
WASHINGTON CITY,
SATURDAY EVENING. MAY 80. 1857.
ouR MuNIcIpAL E1EcTloE.


Knownothingism has ceased to exist either as a
national or as State organization. In the northern
States it has lost its identity in abolition absorption
In the southern States ii is completely disorgar
lied that it's few remaining followers no longer wage
against the democratic party as the persecutors
of Catholics and foreigners as the only living i'm
bodiments of genuine Americansni In Virginia Sam
has abandoned his signs and his grips, and has
ceased to talk of the American flag, the American
eagle, foreign influence, and the Pope of Rome, and
reveals himself TO the amused democratic masses a.
a "dstributionst. In his zeal for land disubu.
ton Sam is now willing 10 embrace Foreigners
and Catholic foreigners, as friends, brothers, aud
Americans. prominent know-nothing at a public
meeting recently held in Tennessee frankly admitted
that naturalized foreigners We're just as much emit,
tied to all the rights Of citizens as he was himself
who was born upon the soil of that State, and De
clared that s'that man fool who would deny 10
this icohg class Of citizens these inestimable pry
eges" Being willing to concede all this, che called
upon this nce-proscribed class to forward now
and unite with them in the support of the great
measure Of land distribution which in fact the
only unsettled question before he people.
If this Tennessee orator is correct in his statements
what issue is left for the know-nothings of the city
of Washington? They can have no immediate or
remote interest in the land distribution question and
can only hope for the continuance of petty local or
ganization by reviving issues which their former
brethren out of the District have ignored in spirit
which has marvellous resemblance to disgust. Do
they appeal to the voters of Washington religious
bgots, ready to use the incendiarys torch and the
assassins knife against all who may differ with them
in regard to the Interpretation of Gods own Word
or as weak, narrowminded men, seeking TO circum
scribe the area Of civil and religious freedom? or
as the promoters of mobs and brawls, ready at all
times and on all occasions to excite the prejudices
of birth the ranking jeaousies of sectionalism and
the vndictive intolerance of religious fanaticsm?
We had hoped, after the almost annihilating de-
feat of the knownothings at the presidential election
that the city of Washington would longer be dis
tressed and disgraced by political organization
which can only be kept alive at the expense of tho
general prosperity of our citizens, to say nothing Of
extreme risk to life and property. This hope it
seems, is fallacious one So far from abandoning
their organization, the know-nothings of Washing
ton have nominated entire municipal ticket which
they win endeavor to elect on Monday next by re-
Sort in all probability, to such means as our citi
zens are already painfully familiar with. Will the
friends of law and order, will those who have the
good name and the prosperity Of the federal city at
heart, stand lstlessly by while the fourth, and we
hope the last attempt is making TO place the mum.
cipal control of Washington into incompetent and
dangerous hands
A very large majority of the citizens Of Washing.
ton are decidedly opposed to the obnoxious princi
pies and practices of the know-nothing party. They
have it in their power Monday next to redeem the
city from the blghting disgrace undcr which it has
rested for the last three years.
Will they exercise that powerG