, and members of the old
political organizations eagerly desired to learn what was carefully
concealed. Secretly-held lodges, with their paraphernalia, pass-
words, and degrees, grips, and signs, tickled the popular fancy,
and the new organization became fashionable. Men of all religions
and political creeds fraternized beneath the "stars and stripes,"
and solemnly pledged themselves to the support of "our country,
our whole country, and nothing but our country."

The leaders of this Know-Nothing movement, who in the delirium of
the hour were intrusted with dictatorial authority, were in no way
calculated to exercise a permanent, healthful control. They were
generally without education, without statesmanship, without knowledge
of public affairs, and, to speak plainly, without the abilities or
genius which might enable them to dispense with experience. Losing
sight of the cardinal principle of the American Order, that only
those identified with the Republic by birth or permanent residence
should manage its political affairs, these leaders fell back upon
a bigoted hostility to the Church of Rome, to which many of their
original members in Louisiana and elsewhere belonged. The result
was that the mighty organization had begun to decay before it
attained its growth, and that the old political leaders became
members that they might elbow the improvised chieftains from power
when the effervescence of the movement should subside. A number
of Abolitionists, headed by Henry Wilson and Anson Burlingame, of
Massachusetts, sought admission into the lodges, knelt at the
altars, pledged themselves by solemn oaths to support the "Order,"
and then used it with great success for the destruction of the Whig
party.

Another noted person who visited Washington early in the Administration
of Mr. Fillmore was William M. Tweed, of New York, who came as
foreman of the Americus Engine Company, Number Six, a volunteer
fire organization. Visiting the White House, the company was
ushered into the East Room, where President Fillmore soon appeared,
and Tweed, stepping out in front of his command, said: "These are
Big Six's boys, Mr. President!" He then walked along the line with
Mr. Fillmore, and introduced each member individually. As they
were leaving the room, a newspaper reporter asked Tweed why he had
not made a longer speech. "There was no necessity," replied the
future pillager of the city treasury of New York, "for the Company