The native American., 1837-09-02
For the Native American
"THIS IS MY OWN NATIVE LAND.''

There is no individuality of national character in
this country Our customs. manners, and language
almost diversified as there are nations on the
face Of the globe. foreigner unconsciousy placed
upon our shores, and permitted to travel through the
country would be at loss to determine to what na-
tion we belonged. Such is not the case with nny other
country. All other countries have their distinctive
properties by which they recognized, and the
citizens pride themselves npon the nationality Of char
acer which procaims their origin as they ar-
and heard. The reason, why we possess no char
actelistlc traits as nation, is very obvious. Our
country is overrun BY nations Of other countries who
being suffered after brief residence among us en-
Joy all the rights Of citizenship, condescendingy take
the country into their custody. and endeavor
form morals and manners to the lessons they have
learnt under the old corrupt, and despotic governments
of Europe. Our country, comparatively speaking, be-
ing y0nng country, the foreigners among infer,
that we must necessarily be an igaorant pcope, and
good kind souls although Mey horc .frsuiea he hnqd
oteir nafinfp 10 seek sheer pnde The government of
our creatiom, they moa&tly i,nteer 10 fearh rs The no
furc of onr ocn poliHcal institutions, and by way OF
illustrating their doctrines appropriate to themselves
every office of emoiunent thew can seize npon in or
der that we may behold practical exempliication
ofthe principles lnv would incnloata They institute
disaavantageans (not to say odiousl comparisons be-
tween The old and new country they are pleased tn
designate their aave and adopted countries. in their
opinion there IS nothing in the equal to what is
be found in the old country, and we never in their es-
timaton will attain real civilization until rival the
old country They teach to behave that out litera-
treIs not worth cutvating that the arts and sciences
can never flourish among ns that taste is barbar-
ons, and our judgment ridculorslv faacions In a
Word that we are nothing that should be- and that
we nepe can be my thing, unless borroy erery thing
from abroaa Is il then strange, when such opinions
are constantly poured into the ears of onr young men,
that they should tain exalted notions Of every
thing that is foreign, and consider all things If domes-
tic origin as perfectly vaneeSs. Our children laugh
at MS when we talk to them Of American literature
they cnntemptnousy throw aside an American book
as unworthy of perusa they affect to sneer at the
bare mention Of the progress Of The arts and sciences
in the United States; and what is worse than all they
scott at our morals an heing pnriancal, and they sim
pcity Of our manners scarcely more refined than
awkwardness of the untntored savage They enthnsi-
astcally exto foreign books foreign customs. morals,
and manners; and there is nothing foreign bnt pos
sessrs fascination for them This deeprooted evil
only be extirpaed by cherishng the principles Of
the Naive American Association We must in
fuse spirit Of nationality among native citizens.
il we wish to hand down 10 posteritv the free institu-
tions receive from fathers. We must learn to
lean on onr o,on resources; to rely energy
and intelligence; to feel that we are separate and
peculiarly favored people; and above all. to knop and
assert that this country is the land of our nativity, our
nhertancn purchased by the blood Of onr ancestors,
and that 10 The natire citizens alone, is confded its I-
ture destiny.
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