Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-25
The Plumed Knights Very Un-
sayory Record.
THE CONVINCING ARGUMENT
Evidences That Cannot be Disputed, and
Which Show That Change of Heart
Was as Easy.

)een put IOrHarO IN lnlS Campaign %
champion Of the rights and interest Of that
particular class of people known as Irish
Catholics His whole life up to the present
has been in bitter hostility to foreigners Of
every class and especially to Irish Catholics.
We do not hear anything here about any
support for him in that quarter from people
Of that class Who happen to live in this
State. There is quite respectable Irish
population in Augusta and we have failed
10 learn of a single voter among them who
who will support him beyond the few that
have ALWAYS done so. Mr. Blaine personal
organ in Augusta, the Kennebec Journal,
has never until recently lost an opportunity
to ridicule the Irish and fight the Catholic
Church. While Mr.. Blaine is not now edi-
tor it voices his sentiments as rule. Ger
tainly it does not give expressions Of opin,
ion that would be distasteful to him. As
late as the l7th of last March, when | sup,
pose the Blaine policy was in embryo, or
not even that far advanced, the kennebec
Journal took occasion to write up, with con-
effort at ridicule, the celebration
ofSt. Patrick's Day. From long editO-
rial, full of nasty epithets and iunuendoes, |
take this little excerpt as sample:
A Blaine Compliment to the Irish.
Last but not least He must drink aud
drink again and again Of whisky or any
thing that will intoxicate until the day be
gun so glOriOusly is ended in drunkenness
His sharp native wit is dimmed in the
streams Of fiery liquor that have run down
his throat and the pride and glory Of the
Emerald Isle are lost in brutishness but
little above that Of the swine.
This is the old fashioned way the Repub.
licans of Maine have had of talking about
the Irish Catholics. 1t sounds quite natural
to one who has been reader of Mr.. Blaines
old newspaper, and that is why | find a
broad grin on the face Of every man when
ask him if the Irish people are going to vote
the Republican ticket this fall. The Kenne-
bee Journal has always opposed the cleo
ton of any Catholic ITishman to office,
whether that office were a seat in Congress
or seat in the town school board. In its
issue for April %, 1880, find this short
editorial hint concerning a school board
election that seems to have been impending
about that time;
We understand that the Catholic voters
in the village school district will make
rally at the meeting to-day to elect the
Catholic priest one of the board of school
directors. An attempt was made last year
and failed and will be defeated again this
wear if there is a full attendance OF voters.
Il will be necessary, however, for all who
are opposed to Father Murphy to be on
hand promptly at the hour of the meeting,
which is at o'clock p. m., at the high
school building.
a Change of Heart.
But the Keunebec Journal does not now
publish things OF this kind. 1t will proba-
Div relapse into into its normal condition
after the campaign especially if Blaine
should be defeated. and continue its assaults
upon the Irish people and their religion, but
for the present it is busy with most Of the
other Republican papers in trying to make
the country believe that the leopard can
change his spots, that black is white, and
that two and two make five.
The Kennebec Journal was piloted into
Nnow- NOthingism in 1854 by Mr.. Blaine
whose name was up all that year as editor,
coeuuaLwith Mr. James Baker. Mr. Blaine
was the politician and the writer Of the
two and l suppose the brains IS well. Ar.
Baker seems to have faded out long ago,
but Mr.. Blaine grew quite uxurisutly 1t
was in 1854 and 1850 that the Kuow-Noth
ing or American party got its strongeS:
hold, and Maine probably furnished the eN-
tremeSt legislation in answer to that politi-
cal craze seen in the country. Hon. Lot
VI. Morrill, who was elected Governor in
1854. was Republican, a ProhibitiOniSt
and Know-Nothing. Mr.. Blaine support
I'd Mr.. Morrill, with all the fervor OF q young
man both talented and ambitious In his
first message Gov Morrill, dwelt with much
length upon needed legislation to protect
the country against the incurSions of the
dangerous foreigners as well as upon the
treaties of the law of prohibition. In the
course of an article highly commendstory
of Gov Morrilrs message delivered to the
Maine legislature on the lst day ofJanuary,
lsJ5, Mr.. Blaine had this among other
things, to say about the know-Nothing
clause;
The Governor alludes TO the many and
serious evils entailed upon our community
10y the hasty admission of foreign immi-
grants to the right of suffrage, and suggests
that the Legislature, in discharge Of their
appropriate duties, investigate whether
new legislative provisions are necessary to
preserve the sscredneSs of the elective
franchise and guard the purity OF our insti
tutions.' Whether they shall continue to
so dishonor themselves and entail ruin
upon us remains for our legislatures to de-
eide. We think, however, that the revolu-
ton of sentiment on this subject brought
about by the energy and indomitable PerSe
verance of the American party, will cause
the enactment Of such Just and wholesome
laws as will result to the advantage OF both
the native and foreign born citizen.
An Endorsement.
Here is a plain, destinct, undeniable en-
iorsement of the American Know-Nothing !
Among the articles of faith
in its creed were the following:
|. Repeal Ofsll naturalization laws.
>. None but native Americans tor office.
3. A pure American common school sys-
.em.
4. War to the hilt on Romsnism.
5. Opposition first and last to military
companies formed Of foreigners.
The Republican Legislature Of 1855 took
ne hint given them so often by Mr.. Blaines
,aper and ~ Gov. Morrill, in lis message, !
md passed some Of the most remarkable !
avs on the subject of giving naturshzs-
ion and the franchise to foreigners ever
leard Of
The next law, entitled "au act annnlling
powers of thu courts Of the !
,tate of Maine, +" made it impossible for |
nreiCper 10 come direct to that State and
,btain the rights of citizenship at all His
nly wav was totake his papers out in some
ther State and then come to Maine, This |
) the law. 4
Nor shall this court take cognizance of
nv appIication ofany allen to be admitted
: become citizen, 10 make any record of
nv orant or issue any certificate or other
osument or paper whereby any alien shall
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