The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-09-05
KnOV-NOtEings Trying to Control
FOreign-bOrn Voters.

ialeIy leu Ine hnOW NOtnlIS CruSaue uoW
attempt to control foreign-bOrn voters,
shows that they feel the same contempt
for foreigners that they did when they
were denouncing them on all occasions,
and laboring night and day to get men to
take their proscriptive oaths.
The whole country is flooded with
speeches made by German demagogues
and office.seekers, and translations of such
English speeches as it was thought would
be most likely to mislead the Germans
In this county bushels of these speeches
have been circulated They were franked
by Known othing member of Congress
(Tom Theaker) to the most violent Know
Nothing ever in this county, (Warren
Ho'lister) and are divided out among
other Know. N Nothings for distribution.
The man who franked these speeches,
the man they were franked to, and most
of the men who distribute them took an
oath that they were "willing to ase their
influence, aud vote only for native-born
citizens for all officers of honor, trust or
profit, in the gift of the people, to the
exclusion of all foreigners and aliens, and
Roman Catholics in particular, and with
out regard to party predictions.
But not thinking this oath sufficiently
strong, these same men-those who frank
ed the speeches, those to whom they were
franked, and these who distribute them
each took this further oath:
THAT if it may he done legally, I will,
when elected or appointed to any official
station comforting on me the power to do
SO remove all foreigners, aliens, or Roman
Catholics from Office or place, and that
l will in no case appoint such to any
ofice or place in my gift. l furthermore
promise and swear that this and all
other obligations which have previously
taken in this order, shall ever be kept
through life sacred and inviolate"
These same men, many of them, en-
dorse the Massachusetts law, which makes
foreigner, after he is naturalized, remain
in the State two years longer than is ne'
cessary for nigger. before allowing him
10 vote. These same men, but little
while since, were loud in denouncing the
German ci'izens as 'lop-eared Dutch, +" an6
the Irish citizens as "red mouthed Irish,
Now, while the oaths are scarcely done
ringing in their ears, and while the same
hatred of foreign born citizens is ranking
in their hearts, they are begging and i'm
ploring the Irish and Germans to joir
them in breaking down the only part.
which kept Know n othing SIN from sweep
ing this country from end to end.
Think of Republican Know. N othing
on an election day, trying TO get the vote
of foreign-borE citizens in the followin,
style:
Knew Nothing walks up to an Irish
man and says:
"Walk up here, my red mou'hed Irish
man, and cast your vote in favor of max
ing a niger your eqnal;' walk up, ant
cast your vote for the men who haV
sworn to deprive you of your rights -
Or approaching a German ard takinl
him by the ear, Mr.. Know Nothing says
walk up here, my lop,eaIed Dutch
man and vote for making the niger you
eqaal .
But why do you want ny vote?" say
the German, "you say you will carry tn
State any how"
Why says Mr.. Know Nothing
Republican, "you know that the Republi
can party of Massachusetts, passed la,
degrading Germans and Irish below th
niggers.'
Eyes"
"Well, you know it was said that woul
injure the Republican party in othe
States. and especially with foreign-bo
votes"
Yes
"XNell now we want to show them tha
they have not injured the party in othe
States by this law. We want to give
rousing majority in the State to show tha
such laws rather help the party than injur
it, and this will encourage other States t
pass similar laws.
But" says the German, "why not g
to native born citizens, if this is your oh
ject?"
'.Why, you see" says Mr.. Know Moth
ing, 1--WE want the German votes, so as t
show that such laws do not keep German
out of our party, and to show, also, tha
Germans will help our party to degrad
l.l- 4 l. h.