The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-07
kNOW-NOTHINGISM.
A NarrOw.Minded and GrOundless PreJu.
dice, Unworthy OF Americans.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: About
The New Know N othing ism. there is nothing
new. 1t is the same dark lantern, narrow
! minded ignorance that was rampant before
the Civil War and was routed 40 signally
by Gov. Henry A. Wise Of Virginia when he
ran for Governor just previous to tho war
on the Democratic ticket and attacked Know
Nothing ism as narrow minded. unjust. big
oted and un-American. The people believed
with him and overwhelmed the party so
signally that 1t was killed throughout the
country from that time on.
When tho war came on there was nothing
heard from Know N othingism. Tho American
of native birth. finding himself In the ranks
fighting for his life. with an lrishman on his
right hand and a German on bis left. and
Poles, Scandinavians, Italians and other
natonalitIes thick in the ranks. and all doing
manfully for God and their adopted country.
came out OF the fight with no more distrust
in his heart. He knew his oomradSs were
good Americans, no matter where they were
born.
How often have been told BY Southern
officers and soldiers whom We captured
that it was the horde Of foreigners" We had
in the North that overwhelmed them. In
80 and the beginning OF 81 the question
was asked, Where will the Irish and the Ger
mans be found II We come to war? Those
who saw the Sixty-ninth New York going
down Broadway in answer to the first call
in April. 81. through a mass Of hundreds OF
thousands of their friends, settled once for
all where they were going. As for the Ger
mans. all along the border-in Cincinnati. Louis
vile and St. Lous-re giments were raised.
even before war was actually declared. They
strengthened the hands of Gen. Frank Blair
and Gen. Lyon in st. Louis and saved Mis-
souri, to the Union. Nor were they alone.
l served during the siege Of yioksburg with
the Sixth. Seventh and Eighth Missouri.
re giments raised almost entirely in st. LOUIS
and at the very beginning Of the war One,
the s Ss sdnsss s sass ss
Ave per cent. irish or Of irish descent
After the March to the Sea l met Cen Ger
the North Carolina troops behind the stone
wall qt Marye's Heights. Fredericksburg. and
me be y
in front Of the stone wall wore the shamrock
it their caps. How many o! those. poor fell
read the n
forgetting that the class of foreigners Who
come here now. are better educated than
cans Who want to exclude them. for educs-
ton has advanced all over Europe.
WHO are these people seeking ,h home With
people Of Europe. used to hard work, and seek
ing IT. They are strong and healthy. people
people we need. They take the place OF tina
American. the lrishman and the Gerns1
who have moved on to n better place. And
they, too, will move on and upward until they
reach the top.
The present immigration laws are stringent
and many are turned away. For every bad
character that gets in there are hundred
worse already here among the native populs
ton: Those who fear The foreigners are the
weaklings. Robust American manhood
does not belong to such an American. II
il did he would welcome these beIatsd brothers,
who come as his own fathers came to seek a
home in this country.
What has been the chief factor in building
up this country? Immigration. Lot IL oome
We welcome every honest man and woman
who seeks honest. honorable work.
NEW YORK. Sept. 3. JOHN crane