Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-10-12

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LITTLE BAND WAGON
JOURNEYS L.r. m Hz
Aersuep~uSn >pep~n~n~pen
(6 1928. Western Newspaper Unlonl
lathe "KnoLO NothingS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was
~ the first Presidential yeal
since 1856 when a religious ISSUE
promised to attract great attention
in a national campaign.
AS one looks back to that con
test of IA years ago, ii must seen
remarkable that the religious ISSUE
for the moment almost Overshhd
owed the issue of slavery extension
on which opinion by that time had
became intensified and had cryS
tallized in the formation of the Re
publican party.
The religious issue sprang out of
the formation of the American
party, OutgrOwth of the Order 0l
United Americans, whose members
stood strongly for native Amer.
icanism and prOfessed hostility to
the Roman Catholic church. The
order was Oath-bOund and secret.
and its members became popularity
known as the Know NOthingS he
cause of ignorance of even the ex
istence of such an association pro
fessed by all its members.
At the time when it was at the
height of its power, Horace Greeley
predicted it was destined ito run
its career rapidly, and vanish as
suddenly as it appeared. 1t may
last through the next Presidential
canvass; but hardly longer than
that. It would seem as de.
void of the elements of persistence
as an antichOlera or antipotatO- rot
party would be-"
Old Horace was right in his
prophecy, but while the American
party lasted it welded considerable
influence. 1t gained increments of
strength from the dying Wing party,
which was mOribund after the cleo.
ton of 1852.
The Wing party was marked for
death because it regarded the Com
promise of 1850 as definitely set
Ting the slavery question. That
position was not satisfying to a
large group Of Wings, Abolition
.sts and northern Democrats who
united in the new Republican
party.
The Wings hoped that the issue
Of native Americanism would, for
the time, swallow up the issue of
slavery, but it was a vain hope, for
both issues fiourished side by side
In the canvass in 1856.
The KnOw-NOthing party carried
forward its principles in a platform
that demanded denial of public of
flee to any but native-born Amer
icanss demanded the Requirement
of an American residence of >
years before naturalization coul,
he granted and attacked the Demo
Gratis Cor removing from office mem
bers of the American party.
The new party presented for tn,
Democrats challenge as definite
as that flung into their midst fou
years ago by the khan, with it,
somewhat similar tenets of faith
But on the issue of cOndemninl
secret orders with religious and 20
litical objects, there was no con
lest in the Democrat nationa
convention of 1856 at Cincinnati
such as enlivened the party gather
ing of 1924 at Madison Square gar
den. The platform of 1856 can't
out with a series of unOppOsed res
OlutiOns declaring that since "aI
adverse political and religious ties
has been secretly organized by
party claiming to be exclusively
American and it is proper that thu
American democracy should clear
ly define its relations thereto an(
declare its determined opposition t.
all secret political societies, by
whatever name they may be called
Resolved, that the foundation O.
the Union of states having beer
laid in, and its prosperity, expan
sion and pre-eminent example 0.
free government built upon entire
freedom in matters of religion.
and no respect of per
sons in regard to rank, or place Of
birth, no party can he Justly
leemed national, constitutional, o.
n accordance with American prin
.iples which bases its exclusive or
ganizatiOn upon religious opinions
md accidental birthplace. Ant
renee political crusade in the
century and in the
United States of America against
'athOlics and fOreign-bOrn is nei
her justified by the past history o.
future prospects of the country
Tor in unison with the spirit of tOl
ration and enlightened freedom
which peculiarly distinguishes the
american system of popular govern
nent."
This is the plank which Senator
)scar Underwood of Alabama
ought in vain to have reincludec
d the Democratic platform of 1924
This temporary political furry
of a century ago Dvei
'eligi0n and native Americanism
1as destined to be swallowed up in
he great maelstrOm of the cnntrO-
ersy over slavery and freedom.
hat already was beginning to pre-.
ent the threat of secession and
ivil war
It is now suggested, with good |
ason, that the golf courses of the
ton be closed for a few hours on
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