Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-29
THE KNoW-NoTHTNG SOCIETY.

What field for philosophic contemplation does
the political history of the last two years afford
Contrast the KnOw-Nothingism of two years ago
with the Know Nothingism of to-day How insolent-
ly andntOerantly it then proclaimed the old issues
and the old parties dead and itself pure exhalatiOn
from the corrupting elements of decayed Democra-
cy and,Whiggery How omnipotent was "Sam {"
| then proclaimed to be! And to look at the thing
now-not daring to defend its original organization
or its original creed-with but single issue, and
that one of the dead ones of two years agotacking
on to its name the words sand Wh[g," so fe1cely
repudiated two years ago-a scof even with those
who voted with it but fortunate enough not to
have entered the culyerts, where it initiated its
dupes-making sickly and aguey effort, under
false eolors, for place in four or FIVE Of the States
but damned even beyond an effort at redemption in
all the rest-such is the spectacle which Know
NOhngism now presents the political philosopher
Such is the contrast of only two years.
What is there in ACKNOWLEDGMENT to induce the
people of Tennessee to step forward in the election SO
soon to come off and rescue it from the deep damna-
ton of last November? Look at its picture as thus
plainly drawn by the Montgomery Advertiser: Know
Nothingism has no faith but spoils. 1t avows all
ereeds, and is responsible for none. It has multi
piled platforms, professions and pledges, and now
discards them all Its partizanship is as relentless
as the grave, and itsdemagoguesm as constitutional
and inveterate as sin. 1t openly wars on the Con-
stitution of the United States in the name of a
paramount Union" 1t promulgates religious
liberty its creed and illustrates it by relentless
persecution of Cathocs It's blatant of its '.Ameri-
canism," and disgraces the name by immolating all
foreigners on its party altar, roasting them alive
in the fires Gifts unjust prejudces. 1t clamors about
the purity of the ballot box, and forthwith arms its
rOwdes to inundate cities with blood. 1t execrates
all other parties, and showers its smiles and bene-
dictions on the hideous monster associations of
" Chunkers," Grip Raps" and "Plug Uglies. p
Haunting the badges of Southern rights it pro-
pOses by aw, to exclude Southern property from the
common territories. Boosting its fidelity to consti-
tutional liberty, it elevates traitorous Black
Republican into the Speakership of the House of
Representatives. Sounding the bugles of State
Rights, it drags the States in chains at the feet of
the Federal Courts, and locks them captive to the
iron car ofparamount Unionism. 1t is Federalism,
In6delity and Abolitionism. 1t is political anti
Christine devil of despotism exalting the genius
Of American liberty to prospect of the kingdom of
the Earth from ''an exceeding high mountain" and
torturng it with its subtle temptations in the wilder
ness until it shall fall down and worship him 1t is
Outawed by the sufrages of the freemen of America
from the ranks of enlightened partzanship. Like
stalwart impudent beggar it swaggers in the filthy
rags of faction and defes the public opinion of the
nation. Away with the monstrous filthy d,0arf who
would defle the feast of American craftsmanship
with his ludcrous cranks, his malignant prejudices
and his slabbering puerilties Away with him!