"16.  A  free  and  open  discussion  of  all  political  principles  em-
braced in  our  platform."

Although  no  specific  reference  was  made  to  the
Roman  Catholic  church,  horror  of  that  denomination
was  one  of  the  recognized  and  binding  articles  of  the
Know-Nothing  faith.  In  1855  the  national  council
had  adopted  a  platform  which  declared :

"8.  Resistance  to  the  aggressive  policy  and  corrupting  tendencies
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  in  our  country,  by  the  advancement  to
all  political  stations — executive,  legislative,  judicial,  or  diplomatic —
of  those  only  who  do  not  hold  civil  allegiance,  directly  or  indirectly,
to  any  foreign  power,  whether  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  and  who  are
Americans  by  birth,  education,  and  training — thus  fulfilling  the
maxim,  'Americans  only  shall  govern  America.'  "

This  plank,  like  the  other  declarations  of  the  Know-
Nothings,  was  not  without  the  plausibility  that  gener-
ally attaches  to  matured  deliverances  by  representa-
tive bodies.  The  trouble  with  the  Know-Nothings
was  not  that  they  lacked  engaging  words  with  which  to
present  their  ideas,  but  that  they  ignored  the  funda-
mental plan  of  popular  institutions.  Universal  suf-
frage for  loyal  citizens  had  become  as  solidly  and  last-
ingly established  as  the  country  itself;  and  universal
suffrage  meant  equal  opportunities  and  privileges  of
civil  influence  and  advancement  for  all,  or  it  meant
nothing.  The  imputation  of  disqualifying  allegiances
to  the  particular  classes  of  citizens  specified  by  the
Know-Nothings  was  mere  dogmatic  assertion,  and  was
not  intended  to  assume  any  other  character  for  conver-


168  POLITICAL  AND  GOVERNMENTAL  [1856

HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK

sion  into  public  action;  there  was  no  legalistic  question
or  proof  of  disloyalty  concerned  or  contemplated.
