Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-01
KNoW-NoTHINGIsM in HISTORY.

KN0W-N0THINGISM In HISTORY.
Through this campaign no paper
dealt greater death and destruction
to British interests and designs in
this country than the Irish World.
Its editorials carried the power of
conviction because they were be-
You'd contradiction. It's issue Of
Nov. LIST gives fact-and figure his
tory of the knownothing movement,
memorable part of the history of
this country wrongly charged upon
the Republican party by large
body of the American people. 1t
says -
AS to the assertion that the Re-
publican party is Know-nothingism
in disguise, never was a more un-
truthful charge more recklessly utter
ed. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Tor Native
Americanism) showed itself in poll
tics a century ago. The distemper
broke out in localities. North and
South, but did not put national
ticket in the field till 1866. The
first victory the Know -nothings ever
won was the election of James Har-
per to be Mayor Of New York in
1874.
| In 1874 tile Aholitionists put a
Presidential ticket in the field, head
ed by James G. Birney. They kept
up the fight until 1856, when the
Free-Soilers, the anti-Slavery Demo
Gratis, aud the anti-Slavery Wings
fused, and under one party name en-
tered the lists with John G. Fremont.
That party was the Republican par
| ty. But the so-called American
party still held its ground.
The Republicans were beaten in
1856, but they triumphed in 1860
with Abraham Lincoln at their head.
In each of these Presidential contests
the Know-nothings had national
tickets in the field. After 1860
Know-nothingism disappeared.
Into which of the two surviving
parties, the Democratic or the Re
publican, did Know-nothinglsm
empty its contents at its dissolution
With Irish votes in view, but with
statistics kept conveniently in the
background, Democratic politicians
have time and again untruthfully
declared. that the Know nothings
appeared in force in the Northern
States which are now Republican,
whilst ACKNOWLEDGMENT was not
permitted to get a foothold in the
South, which is " solid for the Dem
ocratic Party. The very reverse OF
this statement is the truth. The
statistics show that in 1856 twenty
per cent. go per cent.) of the North
ern vote was gwen to the Know
nothing party, while the Southern
States gave forty -seven per cent. al
per cent.) of their vote to the Know
nothings. In 1860 taco per cent. e
per cent? of the vote ofthe Northern
and Western States was cast for the
Know nothings, while FORTY FIVE
PER CENT. as per cent? OF THE
VOTE OF THE SOUTHERN AND
SLAVE STATES tcent to sustain the
Knoao-nothing party.
The Democratic party and the
Know-nothing party were as one
against the Republican party, at
least as to the constitutional powers
of Congress. Both were subscrv lent
to the Southern Slave Power. In
1859 Know nothingism was confined
exclusively to the Southern States
OF the % Know. nothing members of
the National House Of Representa-
tives and the 2 Know-n0thing United
States Senators who we're then at
Washington every man Of them soas
a Southern man. Here in this con.
nection it may be mentioned that in
1856, when there were three Presi-
Dental candidates in the field Ire
publican, Democratic, and Know
nothing), Maryland, which was then
a slave State and an integral part
of the Solid South, was the only
State that gave its electoral vote to
Fillmore, the Know-nothing candi-
date.
But let us come nearer home.
Here in New York we find the or.
gans and orators of the Cleveland
Democracy impudently telling Irish
men that the Republicans and the
Know -nothings were identical, and
that each party reinforced and again
drew from the other, as convenience
offered. What are the facts As
Stunning New York to be a doubtful
State, that is that the total vote is
on the average divided equally be-
tween the two regular political or
CARNATIONS, it follows that when a
third party arises that regular orga-
nization which falls below its old
rival is, of course, the most infected
by the new idea. 1t SO happened
with the Democratic party in New
York State in 1856.
One-half of the total vote cast
that year in New York State would
be 297, 500. The Democratic strength
was, in round numbers, $4,000,
which was one hundred and t,co
thousand 100000 potcs less than
halt. The Republican vote in the
State was 276,000, which lacked but
twenty-one thousand 21,00O) of one
half the total vote cast. The residue
of the vote (124,OO0) expressed the
strength Of Know -nothingism.
From this it will be seen that it was
the Democrats, rather than the Re-
publicans, that reinforced Know
nothingism, when the K-N.'s needed
a favor; and it was from that Know