The native American., 1840-09-26
WHAT WE FIGHT AGAINST-FOREIGN
IGNORANCE.

The spectacle is so extraordinary, to our
mind, of the native citizens Of a country lea
guing with foreigners and aliens, to censure
native associations, and Nature herself, that
we are astonished and wounded at it.
We do not blame men for loving their
country; it is true to the divine instincts Of
nature-it is interviewer with all the fibres Of
the human heart-it is paramount to distance,
time and crcumstances-it is beyond the
reach Of politics and philosophy; butt is the
one, grand, and powerful emotion that colors
every thought and directs every action The
foreigners who come to this country are not
exceptions to these great rules. They still
love their native land, and link her doctrines
in domestic matters-in agriculture, com
merce, religion; and why not in politics, with
all their standards Of excellence; they bear
with them that love of country which makes
them love the songs of their distant Wales, and
fight for one another in foreign clmes. They
transport to this land all their feelings-their
language, and their duplicity they take an
oath Of allegiance to the Government of the
United States, but for what purpose Let us
pause and examine into the rationale Of this
important matter. Ere they leave their native
homes, they are ignorant of the political in
situations Of the United States, for even
among enlightened foreigners our institutions
are unknown; but these lower orders hear
vague rumors Of milk and honey and abun-
dance flowing along our fields. Those in
ducements enter into their calculations, form
the basis of emigration, and they take the
oath of allegiance because it meets them on
the threshold, and because it secures them in
those possessions which they cursed their
own country to gain. They take the oath of
allegiance as readily as they swear in politi-
cal times that they are residents and citizens,
when they cannot even read the words
g United States" in our language, and while
the spray of the sea is yet moist upon their
garments.
Ignorant Of our political doctrines ere they
leave home, (for we all know in what ignor-
ance the lower orders are kept in Europe,)
they arrive upon our shores, and never pause
to study their import and meaning. Grog
shops they set up at every corner, and getting
our whiskey with less risk than they obtain
ed the poteen Of their mountain distilleries,
they drive a profitable trade in the burning
curse-bloated themselves, they are the in
struments of bloating others. Unfit for all
the honorable purposes of social life, they
set up their signs of ruin, and they incapaci-
tate men from moving, by the deep sleep Of
intoxication. The height Of the ambition of
many is, TO raise sign, and fill decanters
with alcohol.
Viewing, then, these Immigrants in these
lights, unfit for freedom and society, we pro-
nounce them unfit people TO come to this
country, and we are. shocked to see their
cause espoused by natives. But the day Of
repentance will come sooner or later; all those
who held the doctrine of inviting foreigners
to this country, have bowed the knee to the
true native creed.
Thomas Jefferson himself, whose voice
was heard on every shore in Europe, begging
their population to pour inupon these States,
came to his senses afterwards. Kneeling be-
ore the bright principle Of outraged nature,