Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-25
washington. D. c., Sept. 2s.-Aei-

Washington. D. c., Sept. 22.-AEl-
tation for o new political party n
The various attempts that are being
made to inject religious differences
into politics make It interesting to
look backward some ~ years and re-
view the events Of b similar move
ment In this country. A new party
flared up rocket like Chen, and, rock
et-like it came down. It was the
Know -nothing party, and the days Of
its brief existence Witnessed the
most intense political CONFEDERATION
the United States has ever known.
Know-nothinsism wal the direct
product of the Immigration problem.
During the 20 years from 1925 to
1845 more than a million foreigners
came to this country. That DOES not
seem a. startling number when it il
recalled that we have since added
considerably more than that mum
Der OF aliens~to our population ip q
single year, but it was sufficient in
those days to arouse an America for
Americana sentiment. &
This feeling was particularly strong
in New York, where most OF the for
eisners took up their reaidShce. An
organisation Of native Americans for
political purposes was formed and In
1874 it succeeded in electing James
| F1AEpGE IlAyOT VI wow u lily VII
a native American ticket.
Then came the great influx of Irish
az a result Of the future In ireland
and. in. the Ave years from 1S45 to
1850 the I'm immigration edualled that OF
the preceding 10 years. Most Of the
Irish Immigrants were Roman Cath
oncs. Native Amsricanisrn flarhed
UP hotter than ever and the fires
were famed by religious pretudices'
In Philadelphia two Catholic church,
es were. destroyed in riots . between
native and Irish, and in. Boston . a
convent was BURIED.
Immigration continued to increase
almost doubling during the five-year
period from 1850 to J856, but LONG
before that the Knp~-nothins party
broke into national politics. although
it was not then known by that name
In 1916 six native Americans were
! elected to congress on that issue
four from New York state and two
from Pennsylvania. Seven years la
ter the Know-nothing organization
as such. made ITS appearance.
Origin of Name.
1T was at first rather more of q Sc.
cret order than aHpolitica1 party, al
its members took a solemn oath not
to divulge its purpose or even It'll
name. TO all questions on these
points they always made the same
answer-'I don't know" Their rally;
ing cry was "Ameficans must rule
America!"m Relentless hostility to tthe
Catholic church and what was char.
acterized. d the church's encroac!1
Inc power n politics and a demand
that 81 years residence be required
before aliens could acquire citizen,
ship through naturalization were dis
closed as the main purposes OF tn,
now movement as it gathered head
way.
tn estate elections in Delaware ant
Mas1achusetts and polled q heav!
vote in New York. The following
year the principles aof the new part,
were embodied In the following prop
hmer1cans shall rule America: "a,
The perpetuaton OF the union \
these states: (3l No North. no South
no East, no West: "a The Unite,
States Of Americas they are-on,
.4and inseparable; lb) No sectarian in
4 terference III our legislation or Ii
1.-THE administration OF American law
(6) Hostility to the assumption Of tn,
A Pope, through the bishops, ct cetera
lin a republic sactified by Protestan
hlood; "a Thorough reform In tn,
naturalization laws: (8) Free, an,
liberal e educational Institutions for al
lsects and classes, with the Bible
Gods holy word. as q universal text
book 81. 80
That year there was ALSO forme,
an opposition society which wa
q known az the Observation-Disclosures. bu
It did not attain the proportions OF
Idistinct political party.
Governors ana Legislatures weri