The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-09-07
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
HENRY WILSON AND THE KNOW
NOTHINCS,

NOTHINCS.
The efforts of the Greeley papers
to connect Henry Wilson with the
old Know Nothing party, which
died aud was buried some sixteen
years ago, and Las known no
resurrection since, and thus TO
ALLEVIATE from his support foreign
horn citizens, especially the Ger
mans, will, of necessity, prove a
failure. Tho demagogisn in
this place is altogether too trans>
parent. Gernan-Americans gen
ally are too intelligent to be caught
by such chat. Granted that Henry
Wilson did for time fall in with
the Know-Nothing movement, it
is no reason at all why foreign
born citizens should refuse to vote
for him. Thousands of the most
prominent men in both the present
organizations were at one time in
Identified with the American move
ment. All that can in conscience
be demanded of any man is that
he should be capable, honest, and
in accord with the views of those
whose support he asks. Whats
ever Henry Wilson's political
views on this or any other sub
ject may have been in the past, no
one has ever seriously questioned
his integrity, his ability, or his
gentlemanly character No one
i'll view of his political conduct,
since the death of Know Nothing
ism, can accuse him Of enmity to
citizens of foreign birth. The
amendment to the Constitution of
Massachusetts requiring two
years residence in the State after
naturalization found one of its
most determined opponents in
Henry Wilson. He and Carl
Schurz made common cause, and
together spoke against the amend
ment. That was thirteen years
ago. Indeed, years ago Shurz
testified that the Germans had not
better friend on this continent
than Senator Wilson Of Massa-
chusettes. Mr.. Wilson is of the
people, and has gained his present
position not by demagogism, but by
a steady adherence to principle
and strict political integrity. His
sympathies have been, and are,
with the toiling masses, having
toiled himself. To say that such
O man is inimical to the interests
of citizens of foreign birth, OF
whom so large proportion Of our
population is composed, is prepos-
ferrous folly; to ignore all his own
political acts and speeches, and
charge it upon him as a
crimo that at State conven-
ton of the Know Nothing party,
held seventeen years ago, ht
/ received some fifty votes as candi
date for Governor, is a piece o
| political meaness such as only .
/ party conceived in duplicity ant
born in deceit can be guilty of
1t has not yet been proved tina
Henry Wilson ever was Know
! Nothing.
| The fact that he was voted 70
as the American candidate at tn
convention alluded to above
proves nothing. Then as now poll
ticians understood and practicet
the expediency policy. Herr,
Wilson was an American by birth
of growing popularity, and Viii.
he was every way available. Til,
Know-Nothing party, though
strong, was still in the minority
and could only hope to succeed
as it held the balance Of power o
! should succeed in drawing Of
|! votes from either of the othe
| parties. 1t was therefore, no NOR
necessary that Henry Wilson
should formally unite with TIL
+, Know Nothing party in order t.
I receive the nomination of thi
party for the candidacy OF Go,
.rnor OF Massachusetts than it wa
the life long enemy of the Demo
crazy, Horace Greeley, to formal
unite with that party in order
receive the nomination Of its ns
tional convention for the Pres
J denoy.
While calling attention to the:
points, we are perfectly indifferel
: as to the fact whether Mr.. Wilsc
e was or was not a member OF Il
: Know othing party; we ha,
D only to do with the principles ar
views he represents and maintain
e The fact is, Know Nothingism w
G mistake, has been proved and
). acknowledged such on all hand
n 1t was desinged as remedy f,
e existing eyils-real tangible evil
n but the remedy proved worse tn,
the disease, end was thereto