Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-05-25

odibOo ~ dOhspug INV I've
John w. III. Underwood.
DEMISE OF THE KNowNoTH-
ING PARTY.
The Know nothing Party has at last gone
into insolvency, Its growing weakness
had for some time past admonished its
friends that fatal crisis was approaching,
and many of its more provident members
have thus been enabled to prepare them
selves to meet the final crash. A few
made arrangements TO join the thriving
firm Of SEWARD 4 Co; and still larger
number, after vainly striving to induce
men of influence aud capital to become
partners Of the old house, by represent
ing that it was doing prosperous bust
ness, withdrew from the establishment,
and took stock in the new Constitutional
Union Company. The concern, there
fore, may be considered to have formally
closed its doors last week, leaving no
assets worth speaking Of, and multi
tude of operatives have been thrown out
of employment, who must be in a state
of great destitution. Save to one or two
lucky spectators, the business has been
absolutely ruinons to all engaged in it,
for it was started on such erroneous prn-
cipes, and has been 80 loosely conducted
from the outset, that in addition to the
loss Of their investments, the regulations
Of those connected with it have been Sc
riously damaged.
The Know-nothing Party is dead, and
though it has left no estate to be admin
stered on, it has transmitted to posterity
a record of its life, which may studied to
some profit. AS a party it never advance
ed one liberal or comprehensive politi-
cal theory, nor did it initiate a solitary
practical and benefcient public measure.
1t was organized under circumstances
that it is disheartening to advert to, for
the secrecy, the mystery and the solem-
mites which attended the formation Of
the Knownothing order, were the reverse
of credtable to the good sense aud man
illness of our age and nation. Its prin-
cipes, as sanctioned by successive Com
vontions, were tho narrowest and the
most indefensiblc that were ever adopted
by any political party Of the country
This assertion is not founded simply upon
the Interpretation which hostile critics
have given to the platforms in question,
but is supported by the conduct of tho
very individuals who asseuted to the re-
solutions, which were levelIed at the Cath
Ollie and naturaized portion Of our popu-
lation. From these resolutions which set
| forth its distinctive features, the Ameri-
can Party, derived its vitality, and yet
csarcely a man could be found to admit
their meaning and defend their logical
consequences. On the contrary the most
eyaslve construction was uniformly put
upon their language, and not an ndivid-
ual who was elected to Office on the faith
Of his endorsement Of the Philadelphia
| platform ever ventured to propose to give
effect to its suggestions by legislative en-
actments. These leading tenets Of the
party have been quietly ignored, and of
late years its supremacy, at least in this
city, was certainly not attributable to its
rigid adherence TO principles Of any sort
The means by which il has maintained
itself here, need not be recapitulated -
All are familiar with the methods it
adopted 10 attain its ends, when IL enter
ed upon that "wid hunt after Office"
from which it had SO faithfully promised
TO abstain. The atrocities and frauds
porpetrated in its behalf-the manifold
wrongs committed by rufIians out Of Office,
and by imbecile and dishonest indiyidu-
ais in Office, and from which it reapcd so
many temporary advantages, are now
known TO all the world. So stupendous
and glazing had they recently become,
that its earliest and most earnest suppor-
ters we're compelled TO abandon IL, and
their reputation Of its acts materially
hasiened It's inevitable downfall. Its at
tempt to take n position as National
Party failed miserably through the eau
ses VIC have first adyertcd TO, and its he
nous misdeeds have brought It's existence,
even as local organization, to disas-
trous end. II dies unregretted. If IL
had only maintained principles which
were repugnant to our sense Of what was
cxpedient or just, we should have met
and disputed with IL always in perfect
good temper, and we would part with il
now in tho same unrulled spirit for
mere political differences can aud ought
TO be healed without leaving scars and
wounds to perpetuate the remembrance
OF their existence. - Bait. Eg.