Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-09-15
RISE AND FALL or KNOI W
NOIHINGISM

NY h~"i wv ouho o''ehiioh Siior, thc
same low appeals to Ignorance and pref
udicc, the same slang about the Pope,
which filed the air twenty years ago,
and they are preparing themselves for
n new invasion OF Know Nothingism.
But like the Asiatic cholera, the dis
ease is by no means as violent as when
IL made its first appearance. In the
generally increased intelligence of the
body polite is found a better means
Of resisting the approaches of tho dis
ease, so that the present accession of
Know Notbingism resembles the first
outbreak as much rs the varioloid does
n malignant type of smallpox.
In 1854 the Democratic party was in
power in the national government and
in most of tho states, while there We're
no questions of foreign or domestic
policy TO disturb the harmony of the
country. 0fthe foreigners who crowd
cd TO our shores nine out of ten, upon
naturalization, joined the Democratic
party. They had no sympathy with
the whig party, which was already in
the throes OF dissolution, and the lie.
publican party had not yet arisen 10
attract them with humanitarian ap.
peals against slavery. Among these
citizens were many Of the
Irish and German fugitives of I84S,
whose talents, rs well as suffcrings in
the cause of political liberty, had given
them much prominence, and who were
beginning TO take an active part in
political affairs. A strong feeling
against naturalized citizens was thus
engendored in the political minority,
who had no difficulty in persuadng
themselves of the danger arising from
this kind of foreign influence on the
government Of thecountry. Had these
naturalized citizens joined the Wing
party the danger from their interfer-
encc in politics would, in the estima.
ton of the leaders of that party, have
been materially lessened but they in
sisted on being Democrats. At this
time Judge Campbell, of Pennsylvania,
a Catholic, was Post Master General
of tho United States, a political fact
which was soon put TO immense use in
giving an impetus to the spirit of Know
Nothingism. Whenever naturalized
citizen or a Catholic received an ap-
pointment OF postmaster it was at once
attributed to the sinister influence Of
the Pope in the affairs Of the republic.
During the winter and spring Of 1854
secret societies were formed in the
principal cities and towns of the east
and gave the first decided proofs of
theirexlstence in the municipal elections
of the spring of that year. By some
the political changes indicated in these
elections were attributed to the feeling
aroused by the repeal of the Missouri
compromise, the bill for which was
then before Congress. But another
and very different influence was at
work. The Know Nothings had or
ganized on the basis of hostility to
Catholics and citizens of foreign birth,
and were preparing for crusade of
political prescription thatsoon extended
over most of the states of the Union.
The last Wing convention that ever
assembled in Pennsylvania met and
nominated James Pollock for Governor,
George Darsic for Canal Commissioner,
and Daniel NJ. Smyser for Supreme
Judge. The resolutions against foreign
inhuence showed tnat inc KNOW Notn-
ing sPlri. was I'D iuii cohtroioi the con-
Ven.loh'
linen commenced campaign oil
iraud, menaaeity ana chicanery never
equalled IN inc pontlcai annals oil Penn
sylvanIa. hnow Nothing lodges were
FORMED 10 an parts Oh tne state. Inere
was scarcely remo,e namlet into
whicn tne iahaticism uiu not penetrate
IN inltatioh Oh otner secret societes'
,here were Signs OIL recognition, pass
worus, grips ana soiemhities OF ihltia-
no .,on; Inc neopnyte upon entering
the ioage, LOOK u solemn oath 10 sup
port LOT once no Gathonc or CITIZEN
OF loreigh plrtn. ne aiso promised
opeulence 70 al the decrees
OIL ne iooge. AS II ashamed Oh the
purposes Oh the organization, as its
menpers wen might DC, tne meeungs
Oh ,ne oruer were nelu q. UNUSUAL hours
ana IN tnc most secret places. Ap,,
phcah's ior ADMISSION were iniua'ea
IN oarns' IN outhouses ana under cul-
verts, ana 'ne peiateo hovitiaees mas
tened 70 the'r MONIES y lest tney m'ght
pe W"y,mu py 'hc e''',ssarics ol ,hc
ivpo. pupnei, anu 'ying "ero III,
as poli.'cal virtues. oworl, y
nelipers p oi 'nc orucr acconpanleu
u1n. p'g,e. ~ ms Po'is,oa, so campaign,
auuresseu 'ho pcopie from 'ne saine
platform, posscsseu themselves oi such
secrets as mgnt DC uselsi 70 thclr
secree iiicnus, n, anu returned returned 70 vo,c ior
roiiock' incy supported canuiua'es
iVr NOMINATION IN 'ne conventions ol
.ne'i parry whor, ~, 'noy pe',ayeu u.
the paliot pox; Inc secret decree OF
. .ne mlun'gn. 'ouge was plnulng on IN, .he
,' oi aii VINO pciohgeu 10 tne
oruer. Inc members were autnoriIeu
anu ,'goincu 70 uecia,c puonciy thas
,ncy Nno'e ,., no'N"g o' ,ho existence Oh
sucn poll.'ca, oIgahlAa.,on' wnchce
arose .ho popular ueslgnauoh Oh hhow
No.hlhg g,i wn'ch the oraer assumeu. nS,,
TN, nv elec.,on r ca'he' anu o,loeh W. was y