Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-06
rO N,ehnlls and Know Nothingism.

The Radicals Of this distrIct, IN COM
mon with their coRtreres throughout the
Union. are in desperate strait, and, like
drowning men. are eagerly clutching at
anv straw which comes within their
reach. Acting upon this principle, two
circulars have been gotten out and dis
ributed-doubtless by the Radical
Executive Committee in the district
harping with great JUNCTION upon an ut
terance of Col. John c. Nichols N his
speech at the Theatre Monday night, in
which that gentleman is made to appear
as not favoring foreign Immigration to
this country, and he is boldly charged
with being hostile 10 foreign-born citi-
zens, and with being tainted with Know
Nothingism.
Nothing could be more absurd. The
extract from Colonel Nichols speech to
which objection has been raised, and
from which the friends of Mr.. Atkins
are striving to make so much capital, is
reported as follows: eve want this
country built up by lone industry and
capital. and not by foreign immigra-
ton" We heard Col. Nichols speech,
and do not believe he is correctly re-
ported in the above alleged quotation
therefrom. His address was not writ
ten, but was entirely extempOraneous,
aud as we understood him he said that
be favored our people relying upon their
own exertions and industry to develop
our section more than upon foreign i'm
migration. This makes all the differ
ence in the world, and we know that,
even if we have failed to give his exact
words, we certainly state what he in
tended. He never for moment
meant to place himself on record as
opposing foreign immigration or as not
being ready and willing to secure to all
foreigners who may desire to become
citizens of this country their fullest con-
stitutiOnal rights and privileges.
Colonel Nichols entire public record
is at variance with any other sentiment.
He has all his life been 8 straightout
Democrat, and therefore has never felt
any sympathy with Know NOthingism. In
this he differs very materially with his
opponent, who, if in Know Nothing days
was not a member of that party, GER
tainly is now in full accord with the Re-
publican organization, party which is
the lineal descendant of the old native
American faction, and which to-day in
the North is constantly making, through
its organs, bitter attacks upon at least
one element of our naturalized citizens
The Irish. If any one doubts this all he
has to do to be convinced is TO glance
over a file of that eminently Radical
publication, Harper's Weekly.
But, further than this, Col. Nichols
can point to his public record to prove
him in full sympathy with our foreign
born fellow citizens. He has published
card in reference to the language at
tributed to him, in which he denies
meaning to say anything in opposition to
foreign immigration, "of which, he
says, II have always been an advocate, ="
or to the rights of naturalized citizens,
"for whom l entertain only the kindest
appreciation" In his card he refers to
the journal of the Senate of Georgia for
1872, page 229, where it is shown that,
in our State Legislature, he was the
mover of a resolution for q committee
on the subject of Direct Trade and
Immigration. This resolution was
adopted, and Col. Nichols was Chair
man of the committee appointed there
under, which committee reported bill
to appropriate money to send agents to
Europe to induce immigration to Geor-
gia. In reference to that bill Colonel
Nichols says:
"As a member of the Senate and as
Chairman of that committee, l worked
earnestly and voted for its passage. The
bill failed only by reason OF the lmpOv-
erished condition of the State at that
time. My views and feelings upon. that
question have undergone no change. l
am still an advocate for the encourage
ment Of foreign immigration into the
State, and l greatly regret that any pass
ing remark made by me in the discussion
of other subjects should have been mis-
construed"
Here, then, is plain, positive and pal
pable evidence to prove the charges raised
by the Republicans for the purpose of
prejudicing foreign born voters against
Col. Nichols are utterly false and
groundless. As we said at the outset
the fact that such charges were made at
all is conclusive of the desperate straits
to which the Radicals of this district
have been reduced. Misrepresentation,
like curses as well as chickens, come
nome to, roOst, as the Republi cans will
in this instance discover. Their foolish
and absurd conduct in this matter will
prove a boomerang which will return to
strike Mr.. Atkins a serious blow at to-
morrow's election.