Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-18
BLAINE AS A KNow-NoTHING.
"Ned BuntIine," the Boss KnOw-NOth-
ing Organizer, Rises and Testifies.


ing Organizer, Rises and Testifles.
To large class of novel readers, says
Stamford, N Y, dispatch TO the New
York World, no person is better known or
more widely read than Col. E. 4. C. Jud-
son, or, as he delights to call himself,
'Ned Buntline," and though approaching
the allotted three score and ten he still
sends out his tictions OF the Buffalo Bill
order to large though not very discern
ing or cultivated constituency. The hero
of three wars and literally riddIed with
bullets, he resOlutely declines to be placed
on the pension list, and is content to pass
the remainder of his days with rod and
gun at Eagles Nest" one of the cosiest
homes in this mOuntain-environed and
surprisingly lovely village. Varied as
has been his career, no portion of it is as
interesting as his connection with the
Know-Nothing movement of thirty-odd
years ago.
Commissioned by the central authority
to repair to Maine and institute lodges,
he soon became the head and front of the
knights" of the dark-lantern in that
State. Being, as he says, ''young, active.
vigorous and somewhat fiery speaker"
there is hardly spot in the land of pine
trees he did not visit and hurl his anath-
emas at foreigners in general and Catho-
lies in particular. Great as was the ex-
citement of the hour he intensified it by
his impetuous zeal and in visiting town.
village or hamlet thousands fiocked to see
and hear man who was to destroy Arch,
bishop Hughes power, prevent the Pope
from transferring his seat to America.
and take the ballot from all Catholics and,
in fact, every person of foreign birth.v
While on his way to speak at Bath his
horse was stopped by person in the
dark. "Buntline'' drew his revolver, shot
and killed the intruder, and then drove on
to fill his appointment. This, coupled
with the burning of the Catholic churches
at Bath and Lewiston and the outrage in
flicted on Father Bapst, Who was tarred
and feathered and ridden on q rail, only
served to inTame the passion of the bigots
who shouted: america for Americans
only"
AS the father of almost every Know
Nothing Lodge in the State he had ample
and particular means of familiarizIng
himself with the roll of members of that
now odious order.
When asked by the writer if it is true
that Mr.. Blaine was in fellowship with
him, he replied: 'There can be no doubt
of it, and those of us who were active and
instrumental In building up that move
any misgivings as to where MIR. Blaine
stood. He was with us heart and soul.
and there must be at least fifty persons in
Portland who could, if they would, prove
what l say.
''Why, when reached Maine he was
among the first of the many people whom
l met. He was then young, bright and
ambitious for a seat in the legislature
and, as the record of his whole life proves.
L. As,n Al. 4
him. Our movement had swept Maine,
the other New England States, and we
believed would surely sweep the nation
That Mr.. Blaine then joined our order /
knew then, know now, and / make the
statement with all EN- phasis and wish to
give the words all the weight they will
bear.
''Uur lodges bad no sooner been estab-
lished and in good working order than the
rumOr got in circulation that the Catho-
lies were organizing and about to rise
against the government. To cOunteract
this and to be ready for any emergency
personally organized the Guards of
Liberty secret military order which
was to serve as an adjunct and protector
to the parent society. / was made COM
mander-in-chiet and had hundred and
fifty thousand men under NE scattered
through several States who were to
respond to my call at given signal. 1t
was our purpose to fight, if need be, to
MAINTAIN the supremacy of the native
element and drive Catholics and for
eigners from power. The order was COM
posed exclusively of young men, and that
Mr.. Blaine was one of the R1mber have
no sort OF doubt whatever.
"After lapse of thirty years or more.
and with all record PROBABLY lost. Mr..
Blaine evidently thinks he is safe in
denying all connection with these move
ments; but the memory of some men is
still good, and mine, unfortunately for
Mr.. Blaine, is so unimpared that am able
to state beyond peradventure or cavif that
he was a Know-NOtning then, and un.
doubtedly would be now had the move
ment continued to be popular.n
1t is perhaps scarcely necessary to add
that Col. JudsOn gave the writer the above
facts without hesitation, and in parting
reiterated his positive belief, founded on
personal knowledge, that james G.
Blaine was full-fedged "Knight" of
the dark-lantern order of thirty odd years
ago.