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Show I AMERICAN "KNOW NOTHING" PARTY. Tlicro is a considerable degreo of similarity notlceablo In the "American" "Ameri-can" party of Utah today, when compared com-pared with Its predecessor, the American Amer-ican or "Know Nothing" party, organized organ-ized In 1853. Quoting from Rufus Dlanchard's niso and Pall of Political Politi-cal Parties: "Instead of threo political politi-cal parties, as In the last administration, administra-tion, thero were four the fourth being the American party, sometimes designated desig-nated as 'Know Nothings.' They represented rep-resented a policy hitherto not considered consid-ered by any other party, the fundamental funda-mental prlnclplo of which was a religious relig-ious resolution to 'purge-' the government govern-ment from Itoman Catholic lnlucnce, on tho ground that It had allied Itself with tho Democratic party, and by virtue vir-tue of this alliance, all of our large cities aro officered by Irish Catholics." "Pending tho transitory state of politics pol-itics which prevailed during tho next few years of slavery and anti-slavery agitation, tho Americans elected a few members to tho House, and somo or theso ambitious politicians began to snread their sails to tho breezes under I tho Impression that they were to rise abovo all other parties." "Free soil and a policy by which slavery could at least bo subordinated to a wholesome restraint, was demanded de-manded by tho North, and to bring such a salutory moasuro Into practical working order, all parties except the extreme strict-construction Democrats and tho Americans, united under tho name of Republicans. Even with tho united strength of all of these, the contest was doubtful, for tho South was unanimous and It was morally certain cer-tain that somo of tho Northern States were not yet roady to tako 'the fatal stop,' which might Involvo a civil war In this emergency, tho 'Know Nothing' party, under the hopeful Incentive that their Issuo would neutralize tho main one, or bridge over tho 'evanescent' wavo of excitement, assembled In Philadelphia In convention, February 22, 18GG, to nominate candidates for president and vice-president. Probably Proba-bly no largo body of men have ever before or since been congregated with such versatile lights and shades, In a political sense. Thero were friends o' slavery in tho convention, who put their shoulders to the wheel, to give tho now political faith a momentum, under tho impression that It would divide di-vide tho Republican strength." Tho points of similarity In tho two American parties nre very plain. Their designation as "Know Nothings," their resolution to "purge" the government of church Influence, though Instead ol being a fundamental principle, as In tho case of the original party, this l only an Insignificant sldo Issuo with out "American" party; spreading their sails to tho breeze under the impression impres-sion that they aro to rlso abovo other parties; "such versatile lights and shades," friends of opposlto hellers putting their shoulders to the wheel to give the now faith momentum, In tho hope that It will divide the Republican strength," etc., etc. Threo days after tho nomination of tho Immortal Lincoln, or on tho 19th of May, 18(50, laying aside all protenso of following tho "fundamental principle" princi-ple" upon which they organized, and with the avowed determination or dividing tho Republican strength, they placed In nomination candidates for president and vice-president; again tho antl-Republlcnn and generally destructive de-structive policies of tho two parties are comparable. Still another comparison com-parison may bo shown In n fow days, viz.: The old original American party went out of existence at tho end of their second campaign. They do say that "history repeats Itself," but wo hope that It will bo more than another . forty-flvo years boforo this doso Is repeated. |