The "Know Nothings"

The "Know Nothings," by Rev. Thomas E. Bond From the book The Wide-Awake Gift: A Know Nothing Token for 1855. New York: J.C. Derby, 1855; pp. 54-63. Explanation and apologetic for the nativist "Know Nothing" movement by a long time Baltimore clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal church. Framing his argument to work around the constitutional prohibition of religious tests, Bond argues that the "Know Nothings" are not for banning Catholics from public office per se, but rather for the prohibition of foreigners from holding office — the impact of which would inevitably fall most heavily on the Catholic church. Bond characterizes the Roman Catholic church as itself a "secret society, directed by its hierarchy — absolutely controlled by its priesthood to a degree which has never been exercised by the leaders of any political party in this or any other country." (pg. 55) The secrecy of the confessional is held out as the instrument of individual control. (pg. 55) "Roman" ascendency has historically everywhere "crushed out every semblance of religious and civil liberty," Bond charges. (pg. 58) "We conclude, therefore, that if secret party associations are an evil, yet the organization of the "Know Nothings" is a necessary one — necessary to the salvation of the country from the despotic rule of the Romish hierarchy — to the preservation of our civil and religious freedom, and hence should be not only tolerated, but encouraged." (pg. 62) The battle over use of the bible as a state-sanctioned school book (nativist Protestants for, immigrant Catholics against) is portrayed as one of the great areas of conflict of the "Know Nothing" movement. (pg. 63) Bond is also the author of Methodism: Not a Human Contrivance, but a Providential Arrangement (1839) and The Economy of Methodism Illustrated and Defended (1852). Bond moved to New York City during his final years, where he was the senior editor of the New York Christian Advocate until the time of his death in 1856 at age 76. Published in USA prior to 1923, public domain. Scanned by the Google Books project. Additional digital editing by Tim Davenport ("Carrite") for Archive.org. Uploaded to Archive.org in July 2017.