The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-10-14
Gov. Randall a knOyV-NOfhing.

There are probably few persons familiar
with the private history Of Gov. Randall,
who have any doubt about his having been
an early and active member of the Know
Nothing organization, or that that organi-
zaton was made one of the chief instrument
talities by which he was nominated to the
Office of Governor. No one of Gov. Ran
dal's immediate neighbors and associates
dare deny this, except perhaps, his paid
libeler and personal organ. Those more
remote from the Executive person, where
the proofs are not SO Immediately accessi-
bic, have and will deny it. Others merely
make light Of it, and say that it is of no
consequence now Known Nothingism has
failed in Wisconsin, and is no longer in the
contest. What assurance have the public
Of this! The organization was secret in the
first place; it had purposes which would
not bear the light of public discussion its
members were bound by solemn oaths to
make common cause against the rights and
privileges of foreign-born citizens. Be
cause the organization failed to accomplish
| the purposes sought by it, and was dissolv-
ed from motives of pohcy-is that any
proof that the principles and objects are
abandoned +? lie observes current events
to little purpose, who sees in the dissolution
of Know Nothing lodges the abandonment
of Know Nothing principles and purposes.
Was the spirit OF Known Nothingism less
apparentin the recent Republican Conven-
ton which nominated A. w Randall than
it was when Coles Bashford was nomina-
ted through the direct interposition of
Know N Nothing lodges Why then, that
secret preliminary caucus participated in
almost exclusively by delegates who had
recently been members of the Know n 9TH
ing lodges, which resulted in the defeat of
! Carl Schurz? Is the oath which A. w.
| Randall took to resist the elevation of for
eign born citizens TO places of honor and
trust IN our government, less binding upon
his conscience to-day than when he vol
unfairly assumed it with uplifted hand and
az appeal to Almighty God amid the SOL
emn mockeries of Know Nothing lodge ?
Is the robber and the thief less a robber
and thief after the gang with which he
had affiliated is dispersed Public opinion
has condemned the Know Nothing organ.
ization as conspiracy Of one class of citl-
zens against the sacred rights of another
Will public opinion acquit the members
individually of acts which made the organ
ization, collectively, infamous! Dare they
trust the power of the State to man who
sought to use the power of a secret comb
nation against the interests and the rights
Of portion of his fellow citizens?
As further proof of A w. Randall's
connection with the Know Nothing organ.
ization, we give the following extract from
q letter to one of the editors of this paper,
written by one who knew well of what he
was writing, and whose character for in.
tegrity is above question. He was but a
lad at the time of which he speaks and had
the natural curiosity Of his age in seeking
to penetrate a mystery. The writer doe:
not covet notoriety, but his name can be
had by any one who desires to controver
his statement:
'In regard to A. w. RandaIl's connec
ton with the Know Nothings, it is irnpos
sible for him or any other man to deny i
without falsifying known truth. Early il
the spring of '54, the Know NothiDgs o
the town Of Waukesha organized lodg,
and held their meetings regularly-at pre-
sent | do not recolect whether they me
weekly, or once in two weeks-in the vii
lage Of Waukesha, and among its member
was A. w. Randall, now Governor of tn,
State. | have stood at the head of tn,
first flight of stairs and seen Randall pass
up the second flight to the lodge; and
have often stood on the side walk, at tn,
bottom of the stairs, while they we're break
ing up, (Which was usually between 8 ant
10 O'Clock in the evening" and have seer
him with other persons come down th'
stairs and pass up the street. Had | no
seen this with my own eyes, should no
dare to prefer such a charge; but such
have witnessed at least dozen times, anC
my statement cannot be honestly refuted.
Madison Patriot