The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-24
PUT NONE BUT AMERICANS ON
GU6RD."
Nofre DAne scholaatlc

Notfe DAhe ScnolAatc
A periodical called the National Ameri-
can has lately been started IN ST. Louis
with the avowed intention of reviving al
old and malicious humbug, the Know
Nothing party. We feel Inclined to give
the editor a bit of a lecture on English
uudeied, it's use and abuee, even in regard
to the title of his publication, bat if he be
a true Know Nothing our logic would like
ly be thrown away upon him. Apart from
his abuse of the verp acular, the following
ia specimen of his abuse of history: "We
firmly believe" he says in his leadin 6
editorial, "that native born American cit
izens are the only and proper ones to fill
all positions of honor, trust and profit in
this country, and under that this, eh y
belief shall advocate only the election or
appointment to all responsible positions of
none but native born Americans. We
have the advice of the father of this
country, George Washington, who, on the
eve of an important battle being fought
[eve-beipg fought-oh oh j gave orders
to the under officers to place none but
Americans on guard to. night Thus it
will be seen that while he had great conf
dence in some who were not native-born
citizens, yet he was unwilling to trust any
any what y with responsible positions at
times when 1t was important to have true
aud reliable men. We might cite nnmer
GUS instances similar to the above, but
that alone will SUFFICE"
Yes, this will suffice. But, Mr. National
American, where did you find this pre-
ciuus historical moroccan upon which ynu
count 80 much Certainly not in the
'Life of Washington" nor in any of his
papers; certainly not in any History of
the United States that we know. We are
aware that such a maxim was, some TWEEN
ty and more years ago, attributed by the
Know Nothing papers of that time to Cen
eral Washington, but we also know that
the falsehood could not long stand the
light of day, that it soon disappeared from
the public prints and was only heard of
from Know Nothing orators in the halls
and rendezvous of the Know Nothing clubs,
Very likely the editor of the National
American has been reading up history from
old files of that organ of the Plug Uglies
of Baltimore, the Clipper, or some such
delectable sheet, redolent of fire and brim
stone, and now has become 30 full of it
world. We woald scarcely have noticed
him, his bad English orr his falsehood
were it not that he is the second who
within the last few months has trumped
up the old forgery, "Put none but Ameri-
cans on guard to night" That Washing
ton never used the maxim, either in the
language or in the sense given it by the
Know Nothings, can be clearly proved by
examining that great mans papers. Pro
fessor Sparks: hls biographer, when ap
pealed to in regard to it on it's fret appear
ance. replied that he had never met with
the words in question in any of Washing
toms writings. Nothing dsunted, however,
the irreverent Know Nothings then mutt
lated and garbled the order issued by
and published the forgery in
heir organs throughout the country,
palming it eff as the genuine document.
Many were gnlled by the artifice, and,
to their narrow N inded prejudices,
soon had the county in an uproar. Riot
ing and bloodshed were the consequence.
So much for what a few malicious bigots
IAN do. Now let us look at Washington's
Order and then at the Know Nothing for
gerry. The genuine document as given in
General Orders, FORCES American Ar
,hivee, VOL II, p. 1884 read as follows:
"CAMBRIDGE HEADQUARTERS. !
1SSS {