Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1884 — BLAINE’S KNOW-NOTHING RECORD. [ARTICLE]

BLAINE’S KNOW-NOTHING RECORD.

[From the Chicago Times.] In the Saturday’s issue of the Times, under the head, “Was He (Blaine) a Sham Know-Nothing?” a paragraph is copied from the Hennebec Journal of 1855, which, from its non-committal character, one might be led to suppose that Mr. Blaino was not the radical he has been represented to have been upon the question of native Americanism. He was, however, as can be shown from selections taken from the same paper in Augusta, as may be seen later. It would naturally be supposed that the Kennebec Journal conld be found, complete, on file in the State Library, the same as all the other newspapers published in the State, since the severance of Maine from Massachusetts. But such is not the case. Curiously enough, the very years most necessary to show the astute statesman's views upon Know-nothingism—the years 1854 and 1855—are missing, the librarian being unable to find them, so he said. But there is another tile iu the city which is accessible to those having business with the courts. Native Americanism was at a white heat in the State of Maine from ’54 to ’SO. Its adherents burnt a Catholic church at Bath, July 12, 1854, instigated by a Knownothing preacher. While the building was burning the misguided people paraded the streets, shouting, “No Popery!” Blaine’s paper said that ihis heinous act was caused by the driving of a wagon filled with Irishmen through the Protestant preachers’ meeting, which was sufficient provocation for the burning of the church. Another Catholic church was nearly destroyed at Lewiston the same year. The officiating priest, in attempting to enter the burning building to save some of the altar furniture, was nearly killed, by a fireman playing upon him with a large hose-pipe. At Ellsworth a highly educated aud dearly beloved priest, Father Papst, a Swiss, was tarred and feathered and ridden on a rail. Their platform was a remarkably characteristic document, some of its most salient points, published in Blaine’s paper, being as follows; The repeal of all naturalization laws! None but native Americans for office! War to the hilt on llomanism! Opposition first and last to the formation of military companies composed of foreigners! American Institutions and American tentlment! More stringent and effective emigration laws! The amplest protection to Protestant interests! Our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country. The Kennebec Journal indorsed this platform, and said in August, 1854: The Knownothings simply claim that Americans can and ought to govern America, and thus be able to protect this God-given right of religious toleration from the grasp of an intolerant foe, who, as they believe, is seeking by his pliant emissaries all over this country, and all countries, to concentrate in himself universal, political, and religious supremacy. Then will this corner-stone of our republican edifice be destroyed to give place to the corner-stone of a papal hierarchy, whose edifice shall be reared with the bones and cemented with the blood of Protestant Christianity. Again, a little later on, Blaine’s paper continues: No one who is acquainted with the history ot this country and other countries can deny that there is strong provocation for Americans to claim the right to govern America, and to put foreigners upon such a probation that they will have opportunity to become better acquainted with our institutions before they are received into full and active participation in its administration. Americans are put on probation for twentyone years, and have to undergo a constant trainiiig and education in ail the details pf the theory and practice of our republicanism before they are allowed to vote or hold office; and yet many foreigners are permitted to do the same in five years after they emerge from the darkness of European despotism. Is it at all surprising that in the light of these views we should require that strangers here should be longer educated and prepared before entering upon the high duties and noble functions which devolve upon American citizens? As Mr. Blaine was the editor of the Kennebec Journal, his partner being the business manager, and the concern being very small, both these articles are from Blaine’s pen without a shadow of doubt.

Family of Officeholders. Bliine has a large number of relatives holding offices under the United States Government and the State Government of Maine. A number fill life places. Blaine’s brother is a Major in the United States army. He was promoted to his present rank through the Maine statesman's influence. Blaine’s son. Walker Blaine, is Counsel for the United States in the French Claims Commission, a place paying well, and with little work. He was Assistant Secretary of State. He owes his place to the Blaine name. Blaine’s nephews, Augustus and Isaac A. Stanwood. hold first-class clerkships in the Custom House. Blaine’s wife’s relative, James A. Dodge, is a Special Inspector in the Custom House, connected with Agent Brackett’s office. A Blaine nephew named Stinson is an Internal Revenue Agent for this district. Blaine has two cousins in the army as officers, and any number of minor relatives in other departments of the Government.— New York Sun. It may be worth a passing note to call attention to the fact that Mr. Blaine has apparently abandoned the scheme which he concocted a year or two since for the disposition of the surplus moneys in the Treasury, by distributing the tax derived from whisky among the States. The scheme, when broached, met with such general disfavor that the candidate must have considered that it was not such a wonderful stroke of genius after all. —Detroit Free Press. As TO the prosperity of which Mr. Blaine and Gen. Logan talk so much, the trouble is that it is confined to a very few people. The masses know very little of it, and are not likely to, so long as the present protective system is adhered to. —Kansas City Star (Ind.).