Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-11-10
The Fruits of KnOw.NOthinsism

Our readers are well informed as to the state of
society in Baltimore for the last two three years
the b!oodshed, the murders, the riots on election
days, and the general disregard of law which have
attended and marked in almost ineffaceabe charac-
tiers the reign of Know Nothingism in that City
These outrages have at length become so numerous
and 50 fragrant that about hundred of the best cit
liens of Baltimore have united together and formed
q" City Reform association" the object Of which is
to protect the ballot box. restore order, and guaran
tee the safety of persons and property. This Asso-
cation processes to be above party, and to leave its
members Free while they unite to secure the objects
referred to, to consult their individual feelings
in relation to political parties. Some of the Bati-
more papers have noticed the movement in c0mmen-
da,ory terms, and look to it the only means of
restoring order and re-asserting the power of the
law; ard the impression of all good citizens seems
to be, that if his movement shall fail and the reign
Of the "Pug Uglies" shall continue, the character
of the City will be lost and its prosperity greatly if
not fatally retarded Such men as Samuel W. Smith,
John v L. McMahon S. Tackle Wallis, Frank Key
Howard, and James H. Barney are at the head of the
movement The officers of the Association have is.
sued an address to the people of Baltimore and the
public generally, which We copy as follows from the
Daily Exchange:
"a number of the citizens Of Baltimore, believing
that state Of things exists in this community under
which its members can no longer rest in safety or
without disgrace, have united themselves together
under the name Of the City Reform association, for
the purpose Of vindicating and preserving their po
itcal personal and civil rights. The evils and abuses
n their ind
ton Indispensable at this time, patent and in
VolVe deeply and VIGOROUSLY the good name of the
city and the material interests of every man within
its borders, as to supersede the necessity for any
elaborate exposition of them here. 1t is sufficient to
say-what cannot, they believe, be denied, with any
decent respect for the truh-that there is
able and sufficient security in Baltimore for person,
property or franchise, under the existing adminisra.
ton Of the laws. system of recognized violence
and despotlc ruffanism has grown to maturity and
power, as very element of government, under the
hemcency OF police force, ample it is costly,
but which, in spite of individual and meritorious ex-
cePtons, is defective alike in morale, material and
Administration Organized bands of conspirators and
outlaws have usurped open mastery over important
departments of industry; controlling the owners of
property IN the exercise of their rights over it, as
wen as IN the employment of labor in connection
WIN II, and driving humble and peaceful men from
me lawful field Of their honest livelihood and TOLL
ouuases. by day and night. npon unoffending citi-
aens; robberies on the public highways; savage as.
saults upon voters while vainly attempting to exer
Use The right of SUFFRAGE murders of men, at their
own hearths and in the streets-have become the
cuueh OF the press, until even the grossest enormi
"eS nave almost ceased to startle community, to
WITCH scarce anything would be novelty but peace
anu good government The comparative infrequen
Vi arrests; the facility with which the most noto
ous offenders find release upon insufficient security
.e 'araness of trial. the uncertainty of conviction
anu 'ae inadequacy of punishment, even when The
.,.ne most henious and garing-all tend, if left
t,Uhe 10 the perpeuation of misrue which is ut
Iy suoVerslve of the objects of civilized society,"
=, ~ Such an array, be added the GROWING outrage
su shame of the last election day-when the pun ity
~ n, Tue oalot-box was made public mockery, ant
e secrecy OF the ballot ITSELF farce; when access
:" ue polls was rendered impossible, except at tn,
ueu and absolute pleasure of the most abandoned
S. 's'cheS among US; when the most sacred and fan
u prerogatve of citizenship was trodden down
perfect lmpunty, in the presence II the consti
oa authorities, and the great mass of this who'll
Immunity om was disfranchised by force and ostenta
.os.: raud before the eyes and without the inter
te"''oh OF the officers of the law-there surely cai
s no need of dwelling further upon the causes which
l0.u. ,'uuced the members of this Association t
'ne quiet OF their homes and business for tn
al. poseS OF their present organization. They hav
roh such step to be demanded not less by their
,;,, ana interests than by the reputation Of tn
ety which such atrocities. unrebuked have SO sad
stained ' "'e ." so
s,, members Of this Association believe that tn
SUES under which they and their fellow citizens ar
scosr 'hg' are susceptible of easy cure. within tn
Of the existing laws, with good faith and req
v,s efficiency on the part Of those who are charge
fl. " .her administration. But they see enough il
temna experience Of the past, to satisfy them that
No porary dminution or suspension Of those evils
tb,,s guaranty for their permanent suppression, an
or no momentary efervescence of official vgilanc
meu .v!y affords any certainty Of the reestabIst
vn "s o. order and good government They are cor
CONT. that the only positive security against ii
,ion in the future, is the combined and reso:ute a
tha ", vi the Citizens themselves, within the limits
sel,a law also They have therefore pledged then
cstos 20 each other, to JOHN with such affiliated .