The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-03-26

garian party at an evening reception, and
Il number Of congressman gave kossuth
4 subscription dinner at the National
Hotel. at which several of the kncwn
aspirants for the Presidency spoke. Mr..
Webster was. as became the Secretary of
State carefully guarded in his remarks,
and later in the evening, when the cham
payne had flowed freely. he INDUCED in
what appeared to ne his impromptu in
dividual opinions. but unluckily dropped
at his seat slip Of paper on which his
gushing sentences had been carefully
written out. General Houston managed
to leave the table in time to avoid being
called upon to speak, and General Scott
who regarded KoSsuth rs a gigantic
humbug-had escaped to Richmond
Kossuth was invited to dine at the White
House. and on New Years day he held a
reception: but he failed in his attempt to
secure Congressional recognition or ma
terial aid.
\ number of the leading public men
at Washington were so Disguised by the
assumption and arrogance displayed by
Kossuth, and by the toadyism manifested
by many Of those who humbled them
selves before him. that they organized a
banquet, at which Senator Crittcnden
was the principal speaker. Beware,
said the eloquent Kcntuckian, in the
- " 80 to,
ton or exercise of foreign influence
among you. We are Americans. The
Father of our Country has taught Us.
and we have learned, to govern ourselves.
If TIE rest Of the world have not learned
that lesson, how shall they teach u.s.
We are the teachers, and yet they appear
hare with new exposition of Washing
toms Farewell Address. For one. do
not want this new doctrine. | want to
stand super aRtiq"os rnS-upon the old
road that Washington Travelled. and that
every President. from Washington to
Fillmore. has travelled
Tie only effect of Kossuth's visit to
lHc Hltet SldlcS WAS all eHlIdpItiiHall
impetus given to THE Order of United
Americans" from which was evolved
that political phenomenon, the American
or know-Nothng party. The mysteri-
Gus movements Of this organization at
tractea the curiosity Of the people. and
members Of the old political organiza-
al, II 20 1an, hat
carefully concealed. Secretly held lodges.
with their paraphernalia, pass words and
degrees, grips and signs, tickled the pop
ular fancy. and the new organization be-
came formidable. Men of all religions
and political creedS traternized beneath
the "stars and stripes and solemnly
pledged themselves to the support OF
'our country. our whole country. and
nothing but our country"
The leaders Of this knOw-noth!ng
movement. who i'll the delirium of the
hour were intru>ted with dictatorial au-
thority. We're in no way calculated tn ex-
crcisc 4 permanent. healthful CONTROL
They were generally without education.
without craftsmanship, without knowl-
edge of public affairs. and. to speak
plainly, without the abilities OF genius
which might enable them to dispense
with experience. Losing sight of the
cardinal principle Of the American order.
that only those identified with the rcpub-
lie by birth or permanent residence
should manage its political affairs, the
leaders fell back upon n bisotcd hostility
to the Church Of Rome, to which many
of their original members in Louisiana
and elsewhere belonged. The result was
that the mighty organization had began
IL decay before it attained its growth.
and that the old political leaders became
members that they mi -ht elbow the i'm
provised chieitains from power when the
etfervescencc of the movement should
Subsite.
TO BE CONTINTED