Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-05-09
rl1u9toa9
= G -
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY o. 1916.
NATIVE AMERICANISM.

NATIVE AMERICANISM.
1t has always been difficult job 10 get
up a party on the strength of single idea,
however good that idea might be, and harder
yet TO keep such party in good health when
the precocious glow of its youth had passed
away. But harder than either will it ever
be found 10 give prolonged vitality to any
political movement bcgo,lon of unworthy
prejudice, and broushs forth in the midst of
heat and excitement. The arguments to
whiclIhc prospect of temporary advantage
lent seductive and convincing power, APP
pear, when subjected to calm and dspas-
sionate scrutiny, so utterly baseless and illu-
sorry that it seems strange that even the
binding influence Of passion and sefishness
should have succeeded in giving them the APP
pearance of truth. The wish being the faith
er TO the thought, men are too apt to open
their ears to any extenuation OF what seems
al the moment IA desirable course of action,
and 1t is left for the ultimate fruits of their
errors TO present argument on the other side.
Principles first proposed for guides of action,
when tie public mind is fully aroused and
clearly divided upon those which have as
sumed deterninate form after widespread
discussion. should always be looked upon
with dislrust, and kept, if possible, in the
back ground. Sound political doctrine is
not apt to be the growth of parlizan strife,
and least of all ought party to lend itself to
hasiy movements, when the time and occa-
sion preclude all possibility of properly
weighing their consequences.
1t will be recollec,ed that when, last year,
the fuel Of Native Americanism was added
to the already fierce fires of the Presidential
contest, and when few infatuated people.
supposng in the simplicity of their souls, that
ii was necessary 10 the preservation of the
Wing party to cleo, Mr.. Clay sought to eff
feet that object by using the prejudice existing
in the large cities against foreigners, to give
the votes Of New York and PENNSYLVANIA to
linn, we took an ca,ly occasion to record
our dissent from the adoption of such IA
course, and our unwillineness to favor the at
tempt 10 engralt that movement upon the
policy of the Wing party. We thought then.
aud we think now thk' IT required no oxtra-
ordinary sagacily TO discern the probable re-
suit of such "A course. had i, unfortunately
been adopted. We even went so far as to
give our humble opinion of the future fate
of Nativism, and it Is in no spirit of boastng
that we point TO the fulilmcnt, thus early, of
our prophecies. We were Of opinion that,
like bonfire of pine shavlngs. it would burn
with great flame and moderate hea, for a
little while, aud then die away, leaving not
even heap of ashes to mark its place. 1t
was based upon principles worthy of its pro-
gcni,orS, the discontinued varlclry" Of
Tammany Hall, and we knew that as fast as
its origin was known and appreciated, so
fast it would become IA stencil in the nosiris
Of the ration. II begun because the corrupt
leaders Of Locofocoism in the city govern
menl of New York, in order to conciatc
and secure the foreign vote, gave all the mi
nor Offices to foreigners, and thereby stirred
up the patriotic ire of The Mings, Slamms,
Washes, &c, who we're hungering and
thirsiing after the self.same places, and who
Immediately saw as with renovated vision,
the Nervousness of foreign oflice-h holding, and
could not feel that their dnly to their beloved
country was discharged, until they had or.
ganizcd party to exclude their late allies
from every Office of profit, at the very least
Locofocoism comes back to power in New
York with great triumph, and Nativsm is
dead or dying every where, unless it be in
Boston, and there it is not destined to a very
long life, as we opinc.
|. has had its day, it has elected Polk. il
has defeated Clay, ii has gone home TO die
and We wish it with all our heart profounc
and unbroken rest.