American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-14
For the American Republican !

MESsRs. EDITORs-l notice that the Amer.
can ensign was not prominently displayed on
board the Great Britain when she entered the
port of New York, and the circumstance gives
rise to the question, "what is the reason! =
Permit me to suggest that americans must
learn TO respect themselves, their own litcra-
turc, science, and mechanical improvements,
laws and Institutions, aud own native born cltl-
lcns if they wish to be respected by foreign
nations, or the commanders of foreign vessels.
This Is intended as hasty response to the edl-
orial inquiry in the Republican and Argus en-
Titled National Courtcsy.n ST. AsAPH.
We did not notice the incident alluded to
above by our correspondent, because we found
in the New York Herald statement which
contradcted the alleged insult offered to our
country, by the neglect of the commander of
the Great Britain to hoist the American flag.
The Herald says
"At every mast were colors streaming; at the
gaf large union flag of England flew gaily
in the breeze first mast had the Austrian flag;
the second mast the Russian the third, the
Spanish; the fourth, the French tri-color; the
main, the union jack OF England; the foremost,
a blended flag Of England and America, the
stars of this country blended with the blue,
white and red Of the union of England, and at
the lower quartering the stripes"
We entirely agree with our correspondent, that
unless Americans respect themselves thev can
not, and ought not, to expect to have the re-
Spect of others But how can a truly Ameri-
can feeling be got up and maintained by our
citizens, whilst we freely permit foreign crim-
nails and 70 bn tronSnnrtnI n on
shores, to be manufactured in the course of
few years Frequently not one year, into voters
to control our elections, and to dictate the mea-
sures Of our government We deserve no re-
sPect whilst we thus permit our country to be
made the Botany Bay and great alms-house for
the population Of Europe. We have raised
our voices against the rapid increase of foreign
influence in this cOuntry-an influence which
can say to the native born OF long adopted citi-
zen, stand asidc-but parties are glad to en-
brace all material, which add to their strength;
and hence the man who has escaped the gal
lows in Europe, is no sooner landed upon our
shores, than he is embraced and flattered; and,
if not put into Office, is probably placed at the
head Of political committee to dictate to the
freemen of this country. If there be not virtue
and Independence enough in the people to cor
rect such abuses-if they possess no national
prIde-if citizenship be made so "dog cheap
that it can be obtained by those who know
nothing Of the nature of our institutions-our
government and our country must inevitably
fall into contempt. A proper spirit should be
aroused upon the subject; but this can hardly
be expected under the existing discipline Of
parties-the effort, however, is worth making,
even though it fail on the first attempt The
time will arrive, we believe, when regard to
self-preservation will compel our government
to make such changes in the naturalization
laws, as shall effectually arrest the evils which
we endure under the present system.-Ed i'm
Republican,.