Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-26
THE KNOWNOTHINGS.
REVIVAL OF THIS UNAMERICAN OR
GAkIZATION IN ILLINOIS,

| The Republican Leaders and Candid ates
Pushing 1t In the Hope of Renping q
| Political Benefit-Its Aims and Obi cts
Clearly Shown Up.
The desperate condition of the Repub-
| Gcan party in Illinois. is shown by its
| action in fostering the numerous Know
nothing organizations that have recent
| ly sprung into existence. In Chicago
| this organization numbers several thous-
| and members, and in the other cities of
| the state societies opposed to foreign
born and Catholic citizens holding office
or voting are being organized. The
Republican party leaders, and most of
their candidates are behind this move
| ment, and some of them are said to be
| members of the organization. 1t works
| under various names and titles but all
have the same general object in view.
The order is founded on the principles
of the old Knownothing society which
fiourished more than a generation ago,
and its objects may be best explained by
the following extract from the constitu-
ton of that society.
1.-The object of this organization shall
be to protect every American citizen in
the legal and proper exercise of all his
civil and religious rights and privileges ;
to resist the insidious policy of the
church of Rome, and all other foreign
influences against our republican insti-
buttons in all lawful ways to place in
all offices of honor, trust, or profit, in
the gift of the people, or by appoint
ment, none but native born Protestant
citizens, and to protect, preserve and up
hold the union of these states and the
constitution of the same.
"a person to become a member of any
subordinate council must be 81 years of
age; he must believe in the existence of
a supreme being as the creator and pre-
server of the universe. He must be a
native born citizen Protestant, either
born of Protestant parents or reared I'M
der Protestant influences, and not united
in marriage with a Roman Catholic;
provided, nevertheless, that in this
last respect, the state, district,
or territorial councils shall be author
lied to so construct their respective con-
situations as shall best promote the in
terests of the American cause in their
several Jurisdictions; and provided,
moreover, that no member who may
have Roman Catholic wife shall be ELI
gibie to office in this order; and pro-
vided, further, should any state, dis
trict or territorial council prefer the
words, Roman Catholic, as a disqualifi-
cation to membership, in place of Pro
testant' as qualification, they may so
consider this constitution and govern
their action accordingly"
1t seems strange that at this day
great party should take sdch desperate
chances as the Republican party is do
ing ty endorsing such sentiments, in the
bare hope of holding the reins of gov
eminent for another term. Defeat on
old lines would be more honorable to
the party as a whole and to its individ-
ual members.
In some localities a few Democrats
were at first deluded into joining the Or
ganization, but the bulk of the member
ship has been drawn from the Republi-
can party. Democrats, discovering its
objects, are leaving it, and new converts
among Democrats are very rare. While
calling itself American it is most I'M
American in its objects, and is conse-
quently undemocratic and dangerous.