The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-09-10
From the New York Tribunal
The Hon. Henry wilson, K. N.

first accused of having been member
of the Know Nothing order, he had
frankly admitted it, and either defended
his action or said it was. o, mistake, he
would not now occupy the painfully
shabby attitude in which we have been
compelled to place him. Instead of ad
mittine the charge, he eyadcd it with as
little manliness as adroitness, and wrote
a letter about being "born in extreme
poverty" and being in favor of equal
rights This was accepted by some Of
his injudiclous supporters as denial of
the charge, but other newspapers, the
Tribune among them, which love truth
more than persons, and publish legiti-
mate news though all our idols fall. found
it necessary to clear up the point the
Senator had Intentionally clouded. We
published conclusive evidence that he
had been Know Nothing-a regularly
initiated member Of the order, candi
date for Office supported by its votes,and
sworn to do its bidding. We have been
afraid that the Senator would deny it
again before all the evidence was in,
which would be equally injurious to him
self and painful to his friends. SO that
we are sure we are doing him real
kindness in printing this morning let
ter from the Hon. Albert Pike Of Arkan-
sas, stating that Mr. Wilson was, to his
personal knowledge, a member OF the
Know Nothing order, and a delegate to
the National Council in 1855 Of course
that point is now settled, and the Sena-
tor will not do anything so useless as to
deny it any more.
1t seems proper time to show plainly
just what it was to join the Know Moth
ings; to let the public see,and especially
all foreign-born citizens, what were the
purposes and the sworn obligations of
the man who is now asking their suffrage
for high and dignifed office. He de
clared, in the solemn formula of the
Know Nothing Ritual, ''In the presence
Of the true ard everlasting God, and on
the Sacred Scriptures, His Holy Word,' .
that he would never s'vote for, appoint,
or elect any person of foreign birth, or
a Roman Catholic, to any office in the
| local or general administration of the
American Government; and [ he did
further declare snd swear that be would
use all the means in his power to conn.,
teract and destroy the influence of for
eigners and Roman Catholics in the adj
ministration Of the Government Of the
United States, and in any and all parts
thereof, both local and general. And
to confirm this stringent and binding
oath he invoked the sanction and aid Of
the Supreme Being.
This oath is still obligatory upon Mr.
Wilson. He has made no solemn and
public recantation Of it. The pledge
which he took before conclave of his
fellow citizens is not to be shaken off by
simple change of resolution in his own
mind and conscience He cannot be
purged Of this responsibility except by
confession and recantation as formal
as the original profession. If he had
done this promptly he might have lost
some votes by it,but he would have saw.
ed his personal dignity to some extent
in the eyes of thoughtful men. He has
chosen the other course; he has, hummed
and hawed and extenuated and limited
and suggested; he has done everything
short of absolute denial of his Know
Nothingism land the consequence is that
Mr.. F. W. Bird and Mr.. Pike have put
him in disagreeably tight place. See
how hard these extracts are to harmon.
Il izp.