Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-08-05
}1olititaL
The KnOw-nOthing AboIitionists ana
the "POor Foreigners

Arotdnche The facts it puts upon re-
cord should never be lost sight of, espc-
ciolly by adopted citizens:
Four years ago new political organ
ization, known as the know-nothing or
der sprang up in this country. 1t was
bound together by oaths, obligations.
and penalties, and was secret and hidden
in its movements. Its avowcd objects,
when it was forced TO avow them, were a
radical change and an unreasonable ex-
tension of the naturalization laws, the
prescription Of the foreign born and Ca
tholic citizens of the United States, and
the exclusion from tho Offices, honors,
and trusts under the Government, of all
except native-born Protestant Americans.
Tho candidate for admission into this
order, having first signiied his willing
ness "to use his influence and vote only
for native born American citizens for all
Offices of honor, trust, or profit in she
gift Of the people, to tie orclusion Of aH
foreigners and aliens, and Roman Catho-
lies in particular, and without regard to
party predictions, was required to take
a series Of horrible and blasphemous
oathsa fact not now denied by the
know-nothings themselves.
Bound together by these obligations,
this party, having swept over the north
crn States, commenced its southern march
in 1855. The main points upon which
it rested its claims to support were its
opposition to the growing power of our
foreign and Catholic population; and, by
dangers likely to spring from this source.
they denounced the great body of those
who emigrated to this country as igno-
rant and uninformed-a paupers and
criminals lave-hatcrs and abolitionists
and the Roman Catholics as the willing
tools and abettors Of corrupt aud cor
rupting church. Headed by leaders Of
talent and standing, heardless boys and
weak-mindod men, who had mover been
deemed fit to fill the Office of constable
or Of the lowest subaltcrn in militia
company, went about the country reflect
ing upon the worth and patriotism Of
such men as fancy and Shields, and de-
nouncing others who, in esa responsible
positions, had rendered Invaluable SER
vices to the country as civilians and SOL
dicrs. Whole bodies Of Irish anG Ger
man citizens were branded as red-mouth-
ed, beer drinking aboitionists, and cha
racterized as the corrupt tools Of corrupt
and reasonable church. In their bitter
hatred to these classes Of our citizens,
aud their mad zeal to debase them in tho
eyes Of tho world, and deprive them Of
the rights and privileges promised and
guaranteed to them by the Constitution
and laws of their country, some Of these
politico-relgious fanatics even made tho
streets of Louisville and Baltimore and
New Orleans red with their blood and
the blood Of their innocent wives and
children.
But they were not without defenders.
The great democratic party Of the nation
was their shield and protector Every
where, from the Aroostook to tho Rio
Grando, with civil and religious liberty,
equal and exact justice TO all mon, en-
craven upon the ample folds Of its broad
banner, it stood forth tho champion Of
the Catholic and the foreigner, as well
as the Protestant and native, making
merit alone the test Of qualification. IL
conquered, and those for whom it did
battle were secured in their liberty, their
equality, and the enjoyment Of their
rights.
But what is the case to-day? Strange
as it may seem, the donunciators and
prosecutors Of two years ago have changed
front, and now assume to be the peculiar
friends and protectors those whom they
80 recently hated and despiscd. General
Cass, who never believed the Pope was
a raw head aud bloody bones, nor tho
foreigners set Of vagabonds aud "jail-
birds, wrote letter tho other day adj
yising some Frenchman not TO return to
his native country during the existing
war. The know -nothings read it, re-
read il, and pondered over ii for several
days. and finally discovered that il was
sEamefully unjust TO the foreigners
those men whom they had denounced as
paupers, criminals, and yagabonds
refuse, in fact, Of the European popula-
ton and thoreupon they, kind and gen.
crous souls, became 10 wonderfully ex-
cited and fcarfully indignant at the un,
grateful and rascally democracy that for
time wo really feared they would get
up "a seryilo instruction" and brighten
"our mothers, and wives, and sisters,
and children" out Of their tiny boots. -
We are glad to be able to announce,
however, tbat their excitement and in
digDation has taken less dangerous
turn, and is now running off" at tho
mouth in the shape Of learned DISGUST
tons on international law, most wise and
cogcEt arguments on the duties Of gov
ernment toward naturalizcd citizens, iu-
termixed with a large quantity of the
"sOftcst blarney." Indeed, il is now
confidently believed that no very serious
consequences will como Of the matter
the only danger being that some Of these
oycr-zealous olcycnth-hour friends Of tho
poor foreigner will get a shilalah raped
over their empty patos for daring to In
suit the honest, intelligent emigFant,
upon whose character and standing in
both bis native and adopted country they
have hoapod 80 much SANDER and abuse,
with their hypocritical cant about his
rights, and their hollow sympathy for hia
wr0noa