Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-29
THE KNOW.NOTHING MOVEMENT
IN OHIO AND WARYLAND.TR

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ton of the Republican party and the
introduction of new issues have for the
time being produced a feelingof "vague
unrest" among a large class of voters,
It is hardly to be wondered at that the
element who favor reviving the an
tagonism once sought to be en-
gendered between native and foreign.
born citizens of the country
should seek to turn the opportunity to
their own advantage. Soon after Re-
pubIcanism began to be recognized as
as a growing political influence, it was
heavily reinforced from the defeated
and disorganized Know-Nnothing par
ty; and there can. be no doubt that,
since the abolition of slavery and the
settlement of the questions con-
nected Herewith, the old pro-
scriptive feeling toward foreigners is
beginning to reassert itself. As proof
of this lamentable fact we have hereto
fore referred to the movements already
inaugurated In Ohio and Maryland.
The Republican leaders are unquestion-
ably az the bottom Of the conspiracy
for such it is sin the former
State, and operate under the
delusive title of Patriotic Order
of the Sons of America. That their
designs may be better understood, We
give the authoritative announcement of
the objects of the organization, its
qualifications for membership, as well
as the preamble, to which every person
desiring to join must subscribe. The
following is the text:
PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA.
Preamble.
"Whereas, the experience of all ages and
all countries distinctly shOweth that pOpu-
Jar liberty, born amid the din of battle,
baptized in patriot blood, and rocked by the
rude storms Of civil strife, demands for her
preservation against the rage of party
spirit, the wiles of ambition and the stern
arm of power the undivided love of all
her votaries, and the firm determination Of
all her friends in an eternal struggle with
her foes; and
"Whereas, the history of the world most
plainly proves that it IS the business of one
generation to SOW the seed of which another
reaps the harvest, be it Of grain or tares, of
good or evil;
"NoW therefore, we the sons of America,
children of her soil, reared beneath the
shadow Of her flag, loving her as none
others can love, knowing her as none others
can know, and having an interest in her
future welfare, nearer, truer, deeper than
all mankind beside, do hereby associate
ourselves into an Order for the purpose of
encouraging each other in the practice of
our rights and duties as citizens Of a cOun-
try in which We are called to exercise,
among our felloW-men, the common rights
Of sovereignty. In which act of association
We seTerally pledge ourselves to the OBJ
seTvance and support of the laws Of the
land and regulations Of this body, as be-
comes the Sons of FTeemen, willing to sub
nit to the restraints of social order, and
acknowledging no other bonds but those of
duty to our God, our country and our
selves"
The qualifications for membership
and objects are printed on the same
side Of the card, and start off as fol-
lows:
"GOD, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR ORDER.
"WGSLiHgtOn Camp No, Ohio.
"PdtriOtjC Order Sons Of AmeTicd.'
Qualifications for membership: Can
didates for initiation into the Order
shall consist of male persons between
the ages of eighteen and fifty years,
being born on the soil or lUitkiR the ju-
risdiction of the United States of Amer-
lea; of good moral character, free from
any constitutional disease; who believes
in the existence of a Supreme Being;
opposed to Union of Church and State,
and believes in the fundamental teach
ings of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence.
COLLECTS: The primary object of
this Society is to build up the Ameri-
can Order based upon Patriotism, Edu-
cation, Charity and Fraternity, as
t1ugtt under the doctrines Of Protestant
Christianity. 1t aims to use all honor
able means to defend and perpetuate
its institutions, and by encouraging a
true spirit of fraternity within its ranks
to advance the interests of each and
every member.
"'These blanks are furnished only
by the State Camp Of Ohio"
We see it very plausiblY suggested
that the main purpose of this Ohio
organization is other than that stated
above. It's to lure off members of the
Democratic party into scratching
names Of candidates on their tickets
simply because they happen to be
foreigu-born or tohold a certain form of
religious belief. Its aim is to break the
force Of the onslaught Democracy has
made and still is making
against the corrupt practices of the
party. 1t is the Know
of 1856, with its grips and
signs and dark-lantern mummery re-
vived, and its abject is now, as it then
was, to raise false issues and divide the
party. 1t is safer for Democrats to
let all such organizations severely
alone.
The Maryland movement seems to
be intended as a "No-POpery" crusade.
It is not native" party, but claims
ID embrace many foreigners in its
ranks. What the leaders propose is
shown in the following circular, issued
asst week and now being distributed
throughout Maryland:
"Citizens-You are called upon to
mite at the ballot box to resist the Papal
lretentions in our politics. The Church |
IF Rome has long controlled, directed and |
nisled the Democracy, and now believes |
hat, with her compact military, church or |
carnations, and by the aid Of her ancient |
her couIsels may totally ignore |
he Protestant spirit within her party. Con- |
rene, then, citizens,' for the purpose of |
that you may with more Ger
aiDfy of success defeat at the elections |