History is past Politics and Politics are present History.-Freeman History of the Know Nothing Party IN Maryland BY LAURENCE FREDERICK SCHMECKEBIER THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS, BALTIMORE PUBLISHED MONTHLY APRIL-MAY, 1899 PREFACE. This study of the Know Nothing party in Maryland was undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. B. C. Steiner, of the Johns Hopkins University. The success of the Know Nothing party in Maryland has never been really understood. Partisan bias and personal feeling have too often obscured the essential elements in the progress of the party. Removed as we are forty years from the heated politics of the time, it is possible to give that calm consideration which the subject requires. At the same time the interval is not too great to preclude the possibility of interviews with men who were contemporary with the events narrated. The work has involved searching the files of many faded and dusty newspapers. These have been the principal sources of information. The numerous pamphlets quoted have also greatly supplemented the information given by the newspapers. Use has also been made of other incidental authorities which the footnotes show in all important cases. By no means the least enjoyable part of the work has been the numerous interviews with "survivors" of the period. The uniform courtesy shown, and the willingness to help an historical student have been extremely gratifying. For valuable suggestions or information, the writer desires to express his thanks to Professor H. B. Adams and to Drs. Vincent, Steiner, Hollander and Ballagh, of the Johns Hopkins University; also to others who have assisted the writer by personal reminiscences of their experiences of this turbulent time in American politics. |