The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-01

nothing organization, while In the North
the great majority of them became Republicans.
Numbers of them, however, became Know-noth-
ings, and remained members of the order until
the war broke out, when they returned and re
sumed their Democratic allegiance Speaking
of the relations of this element to the Democrat
ic party, John Kelly, of New York, then repre-
senting the Tammany Hall people in Congress,
used this language in the House of Representa-
tives May &C. 1856:
This party [Tammany Democratcl has sometimes
been called the Soft-she party in dstiction from the
Hards, faction whose leaders though arrogating the
Democratic name, but Know-nothings in disguise.
Yet these same Hards are designated ''the
regular Democracy of New York" in the minor
ity report of the committee on credentials, in the
national Democratic convention of 1886, and this
report made by Senator Bayard chairman
of the committee.
Speaking to the same purpose but referring to
later developments General B. F. Butler spoke
as follows in the House of Representatives, Feb
II, 1868:
When the Democratic party became sparty of
traitors left it. because did not any longer support
its doctrines. When it became the party of treason
these old hacks these old Wings, into it. because
it suited them. And from that time to this these
who were first Wings, then Know othings and then
Wings again; these men who first Aboitonists,
then Wings then know-nothings, and then back again
became Democrats. Then brains went out and
treason came into the Democratic party.
The Republican party had no sympathy with
the Know nothing order. Those who organized
it were unalterably opposed to Know nothingism
in ali its shapes They denounced it as con-
spiracy against human rights and Indignantly
spurned all its overtures in the interest of fusion
In cOrroboraton of that fact it may not be out of
place to quote the following pertinent remarks
of one of tine ablest Democrats then in congress-
Mr.. Branch, of North Carolina, who said, in the
House, July a. 1856, while deporing the vitality
of the Know nothing party in the South after its
virtual collapse in the North:
The Northern members (of the Know-nothng par
ty) who bolted when Fillmore nominated after
I'LL
ton and spurned from their doors have tamely fallen
into the ranks of Fremont and will doubt labor
the harder for the kicks they have received.
And F. K. zollicoffer, Know-nothing repre-
sentative from Tennessee, said in the course of
a debate in the House, Dec. 90 1865:
have reason to believe that the great lobby spir
its that cnntrol that (Repubcan) organization are
Greeley, and Seward and Weed and Webb-men of
intellect and power at the North-who bitterly
opposed to the Know nothingl party they are to
the Democratic party.
All the great men who assisted in organizing
the Republican party were bitterly opposed to
Know nothingism. They concurred with Sew
ard in pronouncng it IAN ephemeral organiza-
ton based upon frivolous and foreign ideas
The temper of the Republican party in that re-
spect TO und expression in a speech delivered by
Wendell Phillips, in April, 1856. He recon-
mended vigorous and unrelenting war against
Know nothingism and the utter destruction of
that bigoted and .proscriptive order. He ap-
pealed to his hearers to act promptly, earnestly
and vigorously saying that
Nothing but anti-slavery sentiment that will
trample Know-nothing lodges Indignantly under its
feet, will save even Charles Sumner
Many of those who entered the Know-nothing
party in the North abandoned it with a sense of
righteous loathing when they ascertaned its
true character. Of these it may not be invidious
to instance Henry Wilson, senator from Massa-
chusetts. few months of contact and associa-
ton with the know-nothings in 1855 thoroughly
disguised him. In referring to the matter at
that time the Lowell Citizen made use of the
language following:
General Wilson said, in presence of gentleman of
this city few days that the only act of his pot
ical life of which he was heartily ashamed and which
he regretted having committed, that he ever in
any way became cted with the American Know
nothingl party.
The Springfield Republican copied the item
and commented upon it as follows:
We havo no doubt that it is true and it is GER
tainy not disereditable to General Wilson to it,
being true.
The Know-nothings favored and defended slav-
cry as cordially as they hated and opposed for
eigners and Catholics. So there could be no
sympathy between them and Republicans-no
fusion or cooperation between their party and
the Republican party, which comprised the lib
eral and progressive men of the country, as well
as many Foreigners and which was boldly, unal-
terably, aggressively and enthusiastically op-
posed to the wicked curse and loathsome institu-
ton of slavery. Preceding the election of 1856,
or Aug. 4, the late E. B. Morgan, then Repub-
lican member of Congress from New York, said
in The House of Representatives in the course of
debate upon this subject:
The Northern Americans [Know-nothingsl are mere
hobs of the Southern kite Just the Northern Demo
Gratis The only question between the Buchanan
and Fillmore parties is which of the two parties,
both intensely and exclusively Southern shall vault
into power.
Now assert here that the thirty Fillmore mem
bers of this House from the South more
rabidly and furiousy prosavery than the Democrats
from the South are.
In speech delivered in the House, Jan. TO-
1860 William B. Stokes, a prominent Know
nothing representative from Tennessee indig-
nanty repudiated the idea that any sympathy
existed between his political brethren and the
Republican party. Said he;
None of the gentlemen belonging to the party with
which act in this House indorse the doctrines Of the
Republican party, as | conceive,
On December 49, 1856, Mr. Campbell, prom
inent Know-nothing representative from Ken
lucky, said in the House, his object being to
maintain his party intact against the allure
ments and persuasions of the Democrats in the
interest of fusion:
Have they 1.-THE Democrats held less communion
with the Abolitionists-with the Republican faction
which breaches the doctrine of political larceny of
prlitieal infamy than ours? Have they made less
capital by pandering to the preindices of Northern
fanaticisml Have they not sought the votes of men
who false to their country!
To the same effect spoke John s Carlisle, a
Know nothing representative from Virginia, in
the House, June 81, 1886:
Mr.. Chairman, can you account for the sim ilar;ty
of objects aim ed at by the Democratic and Black Re-
publican partiesl Each is anxious to crush the
American [Know-nothing p arty. Each complains of
this party as obstacle to effective union in its
section upon the slavery ISSUE May we not
see here why neither the Black Republicans nor the
Democrats would under any circumstances vote for
American Know-nothingl for Speaker of this House,
and why a sufficient number of Democrats to pass it
found voting for the plurality resolution with the
Black Republicans under which the present S eaker
Banksl of this House elected, after it had been
demonstrated by trial of than two months that
under no other rule could he entertaining his
views be electedl
Numbers of the Know nothings, however. did
become alarmed at the rapid growth of the Re-
publican party-so much alarmed that they re-
turned to the bosom of the Democracy, hoping
there to be able to do more effective work
against the growing anti-savery sentiment as
represented by the Republican party. Con