The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-01
THE"KNOW-NOTHING"O ORDER
Its Relation to Existing Political Parties
Facts from Official Sources.
The Democratic Party and the KnOw-NOthing
in Accord - Republicanism Opposed
to Its Principles.


eral, progressive and fair minded men regret
that so bigoted an organization ever existed in
this country. 1t is not surprising that persons
who were members of it seek to hide the fact,
nor it is remarkable that they took solemn oaths
not to divulge either its secrets or the names of
their fellow-members.
Inasmuch as it is freely charged by Demo
cratic speakers newspapers, circulars, etc, that
the Republican party is measurably responsible
for the existence of Know nothingsm and the
the dissemination of its peculiar principles it is
deemed proper to meet the charge. Justice de-
mands that the facts be laid bare and the truth
told Honest and impartial men have a right to
know the truth in this matter and in the light
of the official records it shall be stated.
WAS Mr.. BLAINE MEMBER2
1t has also been charged that the candidate of
the Republican party for the presidency was at
one time Know nothing, and circulars stat
ing have been widely distributed. But that
accusation is altogether mendacious. The charge
that Mr.. Blaine was ever Know nothing, or
that he ever countenanced Know-nothingism, or
that he ever voted a Know nothing ticket, is
glaringly and maciously false.
The extracts from the Kennebec me- Jour
nal, published by Democratic newspapers, and
quoted by Democratic speakers, in reference to
mites there offered to a certain Catholic priest
named Father Bapst, were published months be-
fore Mr. Blaine became resident of the State
So the Boston journal AYERS. and Mr.. Blaine him
self corroborates the statement. John L.
Stevens, of Augusta. who was one of the editors
of the Kennebec journal, writes follows
touching the charge of knownothingism pre-
ferred against Mr. Blaine:
As his [Blainesl editorial associate at the time,
aud tn oroughy informed as to his political principles
and affiliations, l declare that he had sympathy
with the distinctive views of the Know-nothng organ
izaton, never was member of it. but on the con-
trary was adverse to its doctrines and purposes.
Mr.. Blaine himself unequivocally AYERS that
he was never in any way connected with the
Know nothing order, that he never Endorsed its
principles, and that he voted for its candi-
dates. He has a nature too sympathetic, lib
crafty too broad philanthropy too ardent, a
disposition too candid, character too manly to
render it possible for him to have belonged TO
the knownothing party or to have Endorsed its
narrow and proscIiptive principles He never
was in any way connected with it.
RELATIONS OF EXISTING PARTIES TO THE
KNOW -NoTHINGs.
But let us examine the relations of the Re
publican party to the Know nothings. Let us
investigate the matter and ascertain whether it
had any sympathy with their distinctive views
or at any time Endorsed their proscriptive policy
Let us examine the records and see the attitude
not only of the Republican, but also of the Dem
Ocratic party, in relation. to Know nothingism
Let us appeal to official sources, and thus learn
reliably which party, whether the Democratic or
the Republican, is the more responsible for the
growth, and spread, and outrages of the Know
nothing organization.
Know nothingism first attracted attention in
the winter of 1894. At that time it took shape
and was organi zed a secret society. For sew
eral years it was confined to few localities near
the seaboard. Its members generally repre-
sented the most bigoted and uneducated classes
Of the communities where its lodges were estab-
HSh0d g G bONVaVaP q
representative to Congress from a Democratic
district in Pennsylvania. His name was Lewis
C. Levin. In 1851 he was succeeded by VIM. II.
KurtZ, a Democrat In the Thirty second Con-
gress, which met that year. there was not one
Know-nothing. People were inclined to believe
that the pIoscrptive organization had died of its
own inanity. But in that they were mistaken
Conditions were merely changing.
In 1852 the Democrats nominated as their can
didate for the presidency comps ratively obscure
man named Franklin Pierce The Wings
nominated General Winfield Scott, a in
every way superior to Pierce Yet the Demo
Gratis were so powerful that they elected their
candidate by a prodigious majority. Pierce
carried twenty seven States and had 354 electoral
votes, while General Scott carried but four
STATES and mad only AZ electoral votes. That
signal defeat caused the Wing party to break
and crumble to pieces The Wings were be-
wildered. They hardly knew whittier to go or
what to do In the North however many of
them became members of the Democratic and
the American or Knoytnothing organization.
In the South numbers of them joined the Dem
ocratic party but probably the majority
identified themselves with the Know nothing
order. The attendant agitation in political mat
tiers effected many odd changes. The Know
nothings spiritedly propagated their doctrines
and soon surprised and startled the country by
the exhibition of strength they made. Hundreds
of thousands of Wings and Democrats entered
the order. They acquired political supremacy
in Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, &c
indication promised them speedy domination
in polite The sources whence the order de-
rived its Fength are clearly indicated by the
twelfth section of the national Know nothing
platform, adopted in june 1855. The preliminary
part of that section reads as follows;
The American IKnownothingl party having risen
upon the ruins and in spite of the opposition of the
Wing and Democratic parties, cannot be in any
ner responsible for the obnoxious acts or violated
pledges of either
Referring to how rapidly it grew, and how
powerful it became in short time, one of its
members, Bayard Clarke, who was a representa-
tive in Congress from New York, said in the
course of remarks made by him in the House.
July "a, 1885,
Within few short months not years after its es.
Establishment, the American know-n othingl party
traversed the whole Union and deed its enemies at
the ballot-box. so silently certainly, overwhelm
ingy that faction stood aghast at such revelation of
undreanedof power No matter what combinations
arrayed in opposition, matter what intrigues
were entered into to arrest its progress: no matter
what anathemas were hurled against its friends, the
result was still the same.
The Know-nothings sought to name their
ganizaJion The American Party" but peoDle
generally preferred to apply the term KNOW
nothing to it. its members habitually
answered, II don't know" to questions relating
20 the internal working and purposes of the
order. All knew, however, that it was bigoted
and proscriptive in its objects. 1t aimed to
change or modify the naturalization
laws, so that people of foreign birth com
ing to this country to live would have to
reside here for twenty years before being en-
born citizens from holding public offices. 1t I'M
dertook to abridge the constitutional rights of
Catholics, and to exclude them from all positions
Of official trust and emolument 1t persistently
Disseminated against them and stubboTnly dis
credited their patriotism, fidelity and honesty of