New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-10-18
THE TRIBUNE
For The Tribune


A Catholic and an Adopted Ciuzen myself,
have seen with deep concern the efforts that have
been made and that are still made TO operate on
the feelings and plejudices of Adopted Citizens
and of the Catholic population az Glass; villa
view TO sway by those dangerous motives .oei'
polit;cal action in the approaching Elections.
These efforts are only increasing In frequency
and intensity as the political cnsis approaches,
and respectfully ask the favor of space in the
copmns of The Tribune to present few eug-
oestions on the subject for the consideration OF
,bose 10 whom such fatal prominence il the
coming contest is sought to be assigned BY men
whom must designate false friends.
II requires but little reflection TO be convinced
that there is no position more unfavorable 70 the
permanent well being of any class of citizens in
free community than to stand, or even seem to
sand, banded together between contending po-
lical parties, alternately courted and fiattered,
illuminated and nsulted A special right or
privilege may sometimes DO secured by the &C
cidentai advantages which such a position will
afford. But to maintain it permanently, always
10 TO move and act together as that the separate
existence of the class can be seen and felt
habi.usly to be regarded as distinct body, with
peculiar feelings and special objects to consult
and provide for, is course Of conduct fraught
8 class may be in and among the community,
but i, notof il; and it will soon como to find
itself more frequently the object of hatred than
OF loye-more generally deprived of the just
measure ofits rights by the pressure Of public i'll
will than enriched with favors by the open hand
ofpubic liberality. And yet this position-un-
epvisble, Improbable and pernicious in every re-
spect-is the one which the great body of Adopted
Citizens nave long occupied, and which, it is pain
full to observe, designing men would still seek to
keep them in. From year to year their support
mas bsen solicited, not upon patriotic and Ameri-
car grounds, but upon motives of a narrower
character-upon mere considerations of advan-
tsge 10 themselves as citizens of foreign birth.
Tnsy have been addressed IN mode which i'm
pied that they were not Identified in interest
and ieellrg with the American People, but ex-
listed 90 distinct race, VINO should be approached
and melted TO action by motives wholly selfish
srd peraonal, if not absolutely alien to the spirit
Of American Republlcansm and with a weak
and mot unwise creouhty they have listened to
tbtss sordid appeals, ADD gone on pert'naciousy
yslr alter year and almost en- rrasse, 10 support
OF one political party. the party which had Pheo
them most unscrupulously and most dex,erouslJ
with these base arguments.
Adopted Citizens IL ask you. the great
body Ell YOU if this has not been the course which
has been pursued towards youl You have beer
appealed 10, not az other cluzens were upon the
general political questions of the time-upon tn.
Tariff, the Public Lands, the Currency, Interna
improvements, or any other topics of American Of
N4uona! interest. On, no! You were not sup
posed 10 be intelligent or patriotic enough tol
that-you were thought to know nothing, ano
understand nothing, and care for nothing, and &c
be incapable of Showing any thing, or under.
s,ancing any thing, or caring for any thing, un-
less il was something that would touch you as
Irishmen, or as Germans, French, or as
Swiss, or as Catholics, az tho case might be-
You were therefore approached by so-called De.
nocratc ectioneercrs-many of them, too, to
their shame be it said, connected with you by the
ties of country and Of creed-and you were told
that neither your religious nor your political
nights would be safe if the Wings were in power
that the Wings hated you as Irishmen, and
would prescribe you as Catholics. You were
tod that they were worse than Orangemen and
all the prejudices and animosities that had dis
graced and lacerated society in the land you had
len, were wickedly sought to be enkinoled here
between You and great and powerful body, per-
haPs majority Of the people amongst whom you
tame to make your new home. Were the men
VINO could thus make discord for you here on
grounds so entirely personal, and the i'll conse-
qacnces of which must fall SO peculiarly and OK
eaavely, and may say personally, upon you
we7e such men, repeat, sincerely solcitons for
sour welfare or had they not some base and IN
'eissted purpose of their own to serve? But you
9ll with the delusion that was contrlved for
YOU The Wings repelled the charges OF pro
scnpton and intolerance, and declared that the
nEhs Of every citizen were sacred with them
ihey sought your votes upon the same grounds
hai they sought those of all other citizens, but
you resisted theu,-their measures might be good
o. might be bad for the country, but you would
\ not look at thenl-the monomania had got
amongst you that they were opposed to the Irish,
'ao, looking no farther, you went against them,
Ssed from year to year in almost solid mass with
10 Loco Foco party, rallied at the Wings as Big
@sad aristoerats, and have spared no pans to
-~%A eAsaSASoN
aa reflect on these statements-,hey are true
and what have you gained by this course You
opposed tina, BY il you were fortifying and
sseslhening your position in your adopted
S0oaliy-bu. has it been so2 Are you more re-
.p'eise by the American people now than when
you aist began this course Do you held more
sevsied place socially or politically Haveyou
|. a0s influence Is there less hostility manifest
60 'asaids you or are your nights and Psly,ie-
: h. H. more secure or moro favoraby regarded I.
9 nea zee and feel that to each and every OF
!. asse interogssories painful negative must be
,s,.lned. You stand in avowed hostility to one
PITY. and though openly fattered you are secret
uisuastsd By the other, from whose IONS also
sprung that worst faction of the Republic
s..s se bond Of union IS hatred OF you, and whose
~ 10 ana brief career have been made hideoas By
= NC moral and physical calamities that have &C
!. ,"Pshied the advent of its mons;rous princi-
:. ss such Is your positon-insul,ed, baited and
NJ ,alsa as voc were never before assaied, and
~" sui stormisI prospect in future before you.