Know Nothings

It is ironic to imagine that a party named the "know nothings" that supported such fervent racism towards immigrants could become such a dominate force in politics in the 1850's. You could easily compare this hatred of immigrants who "increase our taxes, eat our bread, and encumber our streets" with the hatred of Mexican immigrants in todays society. Are the so called militia men who stand at the boarder armed with riffles any better than the malicious party of "know nothings" from the 1850's?