Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-09


Those who accuse Gen. Wilson of having
been a "knownothing" in 1854, carefully omit
quoting his speeches in proof of what they say.
They confine themselves to asserting that he
was connected with knowDothing organization
in that year, and attempt to have it under
stood that he held and advocated the offensive
principles of Native Amercanism." May we
not fairly assume that they who assail him in
this style, hold views on this question directly
opposite 10 those which he then advocated?
He delivered speeches in 1854 in which he dis
cUssed Native Americansm" very fully. We
propose to quote some of these speeches for the
special edi1cation of his "liberaP accusers.
May &c, 1854, Gen. Wilson delivered speech at
Brattleboro', VT, Of which "Native American
ism" and the American Movement" were the
chief topics. AEter expressing hope that this
movement would "tend to make the distinct
races and nationalities in America one homo
geneousg people," he went on as follows
81 have no sympathy with that ,ldrroto, bigot-
ed, int0Ierdnt spirit that would make war upon
race of men because they happen to be born
in other lands, doStdrdiy spirit that would
repel from our shores the men who sought homes
here under our free institutions Such shirt
..'s4 't'''s tONHte &C JtOHt ptt
bottom Of my heart
This is what his present accusers denounce
him for, perhaps. They don't agree with HIM
il may be. AT any rate, they need to be watched
carefully by those who do agree with him, for
they seem quite capable of carrying clark Ian
terms in aid of very dark principles Here is
another extract from the Brattleboro speech:
There is a kind of natige AHtericanis,n far
more alien to Afnericd than are the ddoJteG sons
of the old lcorld IL Dould degrade into SerUle
races. True genuine Amercansm rebHkes big
otry, intolerance and observation-disclosures
abuses-adopts wise, humane and Christian
policy towards all men, a policy consistent
with the idea that all men are created equal II
the American party is TO achieve anything for
good it must adopt q wise and humane policy
consistent with our democratic deas-a policy
which will reform existing abuses and guard
against future ones-which shall combine in one
harmonious organization moderate and patri-
Otto men who love freedom and hate oppres-
sion."
In speech delivered at Indianapolis, in July,
1854, he said: 81 loathe opposition to foreigners
as foreigners" AT Springfield, Mass, August I, ,
1854, addressing the state council, he rebuked
"intense natiyism" in the strongest way, and
said;
"Sir, the American movement is not based
upon bigotry, intolerance or prescription II
there is anything of bigotry, intolerance or pro-
scrlptlon in the American movement-if there
Is any disposition to Cypress or degrade the
the Briton, the Scot, the Celt, the German, or
any one of another cline or race, or 10 deny to
them the fullest protection of lust and equal
laws, II is time such criminal taR0tictSnl lraS
sternty re6a6ed by the intelligent patriotism OF
the state and country"
1t was in 1854 that he was CONNECTED with the
know nothing organization, and these speeches
show very clearly what sort of "knownothing-
ism" he ADVOCATED. His assaiants appear to
dislike it; thereforeit is reasonable to infer that
they prefer the other sort which be describes as
"eriminal fanaticsm," 1t is true, however,
that, even in 1854, his sort was much more COM
mon than the other. Iii well known that he
opposed the 1.-TWO years amendment" and pre-
sided, in Boston, at meeting called to make
demonstration against it. Reviewing the know
nothing movement, afterwards, he said in a let
ter to Hon. Thomas Gillette, dated April 20,
1859:
That there are great abuses growing out of
the loose administration OF the naturalization
laws, especially in our large Atlantic cities and
towns all fair-minded men must admit, Ii has
appeared 10 me that these admitted abuses
could be reinedied either by the modification or
revision OF the naturalization laws, or by a re-
form ID their administration; and [ have ever
Deen ready, in any practical mode consistent
WIN Tue equal rights OF all men, to reform these
acknowledged evils. But have ever declared
that i0ouM support no measure, even 10 re-
FORM these abuses, which would in the slightest
degfdde any man or class Of men; that would
give TO every human being equal rights, the
same equality would claim for myself or my
own son. No power on earth could force me TO
Ysie Tor any proposition which lair-minded and
intelligent men felt to be unequal or PERSONAL
ly degrading. Never have / supported any
measure inconsistent with the equal rights Of
men,"
Those who know anything whatever Of the
"knownothingism" Of 1854 and 1855, scarcely
need to be told that most of those connected
with II used it as a means Of recognizing oppo-
sltion 10 the democratic party, and that not one
IN zen oil them had any sympathy with what
is known as Native Americanism." Their aim
was 70 secure great national party which
should be opposed to the slave power: or. as
Gen. Wilson said his Brattleboro snooch ,aono
harmonious organization Of moderate and ,otr,.
QUO men VINO loVe freedom and hate oppresson;"
and TINS they DID secure. Those who now nc.
cuse Gen. Wilson for what be did then. may bo
willing iasiliers; but we suspect them of secro,
sympathy with the worst sort of "inteuse ma.
tiyeism." His speeches which we have quoted
show clearly what views be advocated. If his
accusers like these views, why do they assal
him2 II not, why do they attempt to hide then
own "natiyism."
The Grand Rapids tMicb.) Daily Eagle pub
lisies q letter from Samuel ID. Clay, on adj,
lawyer Of that city, heretofore democrat anC
one ofthe most effective stump speakers ia west
ern Michigan, renouncing and denouncing th,
Greeley democracy He SAYS. "lt is a danger
Gus coalition. The alliance utterly ignores thu
90 men Of the south aud the war democrats al
the north. was always war democrat, and
Fhi moi be party to such combination