The Irish standard., 1893-12-30
ITS RISE AND FALL.
The Native-American PartySsas q
Political Facter Fifty v
Years Ago.
THE REMARKABLE PARALLEL

THE REMARKABLE PARALLEL
Between Knownothingism OF That
Period and a. r Aism
of To-day.
There may be some new things under
the eun, despite the dictum OF the preach
or, but the anti Gal tholic and anti for
e1gner movement which is now forcing
itself upon the attention Of q displeased
public in various parts Of the country ID
not one of them. Those. whose. memory
runs back forty years or more, and those
of q younger generation who are even
superfcially acquainted with the political
history Of the United States, are, well
aware, OF course, from what has been
publicly made known Of late regarding
the A. P. A., or the u. O. D., that this
organization is, in all essentials, almost
an exact reproduction OF the old Native
American movement, which, under the
popular name of Know w.Nothingisn,
troubled the politicians bit along in the
early part of the '50'e, and in well-nigh
every section of the land provoked some
ridicule and scorn as we'll as aronssd
some momentary enthusiasm. In prin-
oiples, purposes and methods the A. r.
AS of to-day are the old Know Nothings
galvanized into temporary activity once
more.
From the very foundation of our gov
ernment opposition to aliens, more or less
complicated with dislike and fear of
Catholics, has been at intervals feature
OF American politics. Even before the
adoption of the constitution the spirit OF
nativism. as embodied in the sentiment
Americans must rule America had oc-
casionally appeared. Afterward, whom
war with England or France was prom
inent question in domestic politics, the
foreigners resident here, being most1y
banished men who had made themselves
exiles by hostility to the British govern
ment or friendliness for the French,
naturally allied themselves with the
Democratic party, because Of ite position
on foreign relations and as naturally the
Federalists became something OF an anti.
ellen party. 8ssf "
It was the spirit OF nativism which
forced the passage Of the Alien and Sedi-
tion laws, and there was enough Of the
same feeling to put 2 distinctly anti-alien
clause into the amendments proposed by
the Hartford convention. When the era
of war politics had passed and peace was
restored, the nativist feeling disappeared
as prominent factor IN public affairs,
and, though it was dormant rather than
dead, it's manifestations Of continued ex-
istence " ere few and unimportant from
1915 to. 1885. 5. \:
In the latter year there was notice
able revival of nativism in New York,
city, where foreign population had
naturally first begun to attract attention.
The attempt at native organiza alton
ended in failure, however, before the
electi on for mayor in that city in 1887,
and probably would not have been heard
Of again for some time had not the Dem
ocrats, after carrying the city election il.
1843, proceeded, in paroeling out the
municipal offices, to give the lions share
to foreign-born citizens. The native
born element was greatly irritated by
that, and the result was seen in the next
mayorality election in 1874, O. native
American" candidate was elected by
24,510 votes to 20538 for the Democratic
candidate and 1927 for the Wing.
Meanwhile the native movement had
begun to spread to other parts Of the
country, notably Now Jersey and Phil
adelphia. It was not, however, till 1852
thatit attained any real prominence as 9
political factor. j 5 81
s The organization was vast secret SO
oiety with. ramifications ii every state.
Secret lodges were instituted every whore,
with passwords and degrees, grips and
signs. The initiat on wassupposedt TO be
solemn and the oaths formidable. The
candidate for the first degrse was obliged,
on presenting himself, TO place his right
hand on the Bible and The GROSS and take
q solemn oath Of secrecy. Then, i he
could satisfy his inq uisitors that he was
q years of age, that be was born in the
United States, that he believed il God,
that neither himself, nor hisparsnta nor
his wife were Roman Cath hoics, and that
he had been r,ared under Protestant IN
auenoes, heSwas consid dered g proper ap-
plioant and was oonducted to ansinner
room, whefe, il the presence of the pre-
sidiDg officer wliitth withs hIs rig ght hand % The
Bible and the cross, and hin left eleyated
toward heaven. III sore not u vote for
= - 4, ,laan nnleas hes ~ q rptestlnt -
Aqesiiean orn q md q 81 81 fyor u