Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-10-09
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. OCTOBER. 8. 1884.
Democrats Responsible for Know Moth
ingism.

Democrats Responsible for Know Moth
ingism.
John Brennan in a speech at Indianapolis
The slave-hOlding states were the
home of knOw-nothingism. O'COnnell
had excited the wrath of southern slave
holders by spurning their offers of as
sistance and den0uncing their institu-
lions OF slavery; and the cry ireland
for the Irish," which was the war cry Of
the repeal agitation, was pharaphrased
in the south by the war whOop of Amer
lea for Americans" KnOw-nOthingism
was q Democratic bolt which seriously
Democratic organization. A majority Of
the Democratic leaders had sense enough
to see that this phase of fanaticism
could not succeed, and to provide for its
own perturbation the Democratic party
of the period took sides against it; but
1t most found favor in the cities which
were then and now are most powerfully
Democratic. Places like st. Louis and
Louisville ran red with Irish blood, and
the malice of the mob found vent in
heartless excuses and cruelties.
The know-nothiug party was in the
height of its power In 1855. 1t pOlled
nearly half million Of votes (479, 1861
for Fillmore In the slave-hOlding states
in 1857. At the same election John G.
Fremont, the Republican candidate, re-
ceived less than one thousand two hun
dred Q,l9D ia all of the fifteen slave
holding states. There was practically
no Republican party in the south in 1856
and in 1861 the vast knOw-nOthing army
Was absorbed bodily into the ranks of
the Democratic party or the party OF tn
rebellion, which ia the south was one
and the same thing. In 1860 the Demo
Gratis and knOw-nOthings united in the
state of New York, the knOw-nOthing
party receiving seven electors and their
share of the joint ticket. Grover Cleve-
land was then a Democrat residing in
the state of New York; and if he voted
at all he voted for these seven know
nothing electors; and the chances are
that he voted.
WAS BLAINE KNOW OTHINGp
The slanderers might as well say that
he assisted at the cruci6XiOn of our Sa-
viOr. He was an active Republican in
1855; supported Fremont in 1856, and
fought for Lincoln in 1860, The state
of Maine never pOlled quite 1000 know
nothing votes, while the little state of
Maryland gave Fillmore $1,000. No,
Blaine was not a knOw-nOthing. lie Is
the son of a Catholic mother, and he has
declared in the most emphatic terms
that he would not for thousand presi-
denotes say one unfrlendly word against
the religion of his mother. 1 challens o
the Democratic Press, defy the Demo-
cratic bosses, to produce single line or
single word that Blaine has ever spoken
or written unfriendly to the race or re-
ligiOn of an Irishman.
1 will go farther. The Republican
party has been in power for quarter of
century. 1t has been guilty of its sins
and am not an apOlogist; but [ will dc
fend it against the foul charges of which
it has been uDjustly accused.
Ichalienge the Democratic party press,
/ defy the party bosses; appeal to the
letter of history, and defy any man to
show me an act upon any statue book
enacted by Republicans infringing upon
the rights Of any man on account OF his
religion or race. Its spirits and its pur-
poses have been utterly Incompatible
with the objects of Know-n0thingism.
If yOu want to find the flesh and bone
and spirit of intolerance which ANNA
ted know nOthingism in its palmy days,
commend you to the Democratic party.
In Mississippi they shoot man to
death for an opinion, In Indianapolis
they seek to ruin his business for an
opinion. In the state of Maine the Irish
know-EOthings burn highsouled Irish
man in effigy for the atrociOus crime of
rising above the prejudices, and the
Democratic state convention Of Iowa
Kisses the name of Patrick Ford, the
fearless editor of the Irish World. You
yourselves know we'll that right here in
indianapolis your Irish candidates on
the Democratic ticket run behind their
party vote. Quite recently, am inform
ed, an estimable young Irishman OF this
city was candidate for City Clerk, and
he ran more than 500 behind the party
vote. Need call your attention to May.
or Grace. of New York, who, on acc0pnt
of his religion, ran 10000 votes behind
his Democratic party ticket, or to Sena-
tor Herman, one of the most eminent
men of the Irish race. who lost the gov.
ernOrship of New York through Demo.
cratic detection on account Of his relig.
ion.
The demurrer of Utah Mormon to an
Indictment for pOligamy, on the ground