Neither Charles Sumner nor Charles Allen ever tolerated the
Know Nothing movement or made any terms with it. Its proscriptiveness
and its secrecy were alike repugnant to their honest, brave
and liberty-loving souls. Sumner was advised, as the question
of his reelection was coming on in January, 1857, to keep
silent about Know Nothingism. He was told that the Slavery
question was enough for one man to deal with, and that if
he would only hold his peace all the parties would unite in
his reelection. He answered the advice with his brave challenge.
He went about the Commonwealth, denouncing the intolerant
and proscriptive doctrine of the Know Nothings. He told them:
"You have no real principle on which you can stand. You are
nothing but a party of Gardnerites."
Charles Allen addressed a little company, of which I was
one, in the City Hall at Worcester in the autumn of 1854,
when Know Nothingism was in the height of its strength. He
said:
"Perhaps I am speaking too boldly, but I learned to speak
boldly a long time ago. I will speak my sentiments in the
face of any organization; or, if it does not show its face,
though its secret mines are beneath my feet, and unseen hands
ready to apply the match, I will declare those sentiments
that a freeman is bound to utter.
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