17, 1852: "A proposition to admit a Catholic as a teacher of a common school excites as much horror as a proposal for selling the Massachusetts state house to the College of Cardinals would cause.

Know Nothingism made its appearance in Massachusetts about the beginning of the period now under consideration. It gained in strength as Irish emigration continued; but other forces contributed in securing its success expecially the dissatisfaction with existing political parties (1). Nativist sentiment was strong in Boston, and as early as 1845, this new party elected its candidate as mayor (2). On June 16, 1847, the Know Nothing lodge of Boston held their celebration at Fort Hill, the center of the Irish population, for the avowed purpose of inciting them (3) to violence, and thus giving excuse for mob violence in retaliation. In 1852, Salem was carried by Know Nothings (4).

Thus Know Nothingism constantly grew in strength, and lodges of the Order of '76 were started through

(1). Haynes "Chapter from Local History of Know Nothingism; N.E.Mag., XV, p. 33; The Spy, Nov.15, 87; 1854.

(2). Desmond, Know Nothing Party, p. 136.

3

Winsor, Memorial History, fir,
History

p. 527.

4). Desmond, Know Nothing Party, p. 62.

out the state. A council, as these organizations

were called, might be established by a charter from the grand council, upon the petition of thirteen citizens. The members pledged themselves to use all their influnce in favor of native-born American citizens for all offices, and promised to vote for them to the exclusion of aliens---Roman Catholics in particular (1). On February 11, 1854, thirteen citizens of Worcester petitioned for a dispensation to found such a council. The population of that town was over one fourth foreign-born, and largely Irish. The historian Haynes made a close study of Know Nothingism in this place. He found that 106 men became charter members, and in December, 1854, the council contained 1,120, and the municipal election was carried by the Know Nothing ticket. A large majority of the members of this organnization were mill operatives or clerks, the bulk of these being either from the poll-tax-paying or small-property-holding classes-people with whom the Irish came into direct economic (1) The Spy, August 30, 1854.