Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-12-03
FOREIGN 1sFLuEycE.

conquest OF our country, but there Is (says
the Boston Courler) danger to our institu-
tons from alien influences exerted in amore
formidable though less noticeable and alarm
ing shape. The true and unsophisticated
doctrines of American republicanisnl, as
they were. established by our ancestors,
defended by the men Of '76, and carried
out practically in the administration Of our
Government by the soundest American
statesmen, will be ever, SO long as they re-
main unshaken, the firm bulwarks of iiber-
ty, law, and social order. 1t is from wild
political fancies and crude theories, which
spring from other and foreign resources,
that the clear sighted observer foresees the
great peril which menaces' the fabric of
American liberty. Our attention has been
recently drawn to this topic by programme
of operations which has been put forth py a
society of Germans in Richmond, (Va.) in
the following language:
Reforms in the la,cs Of The General Gov-
ernment, as we'll as in those Of the States.
We demand: l. Universal suffrage. 2.
The election of all officers by the people.
8. The abolition of the Presidency. 4. The
abolition of Senates, so that the Legislatures
shall consist of only one branch. 5. The
right of the people to recall their Represen-
tatives cashier them) at their pleasure. g.
The right of the people to change the Con-
stitution when they like. 7. All lawsuits
to be conducted without expense. 8. A de-
partment of the Government to be set up
for the purpose of protecting immigration.
9. A reduced term for acquiring citizenship.
Reform in the foreign relations Of The
Government. r-
/. Abolition Of neutrality. 2. Interven'
ton in favor of every people struggling for
liberty. "
Reforms in what relates TO religions.
/. A more perfect development of the
principle of personal freedom and liberty of
conscience; consequently. Abolition of
laws for the observance of the Sabbath. b..
Abolition of prayers in Congress. c. Aboli-
ton of oath upon the Bible. d. Repeal Of
all the laws enacting religious test before
taking an Office. aw
2. Taxation of church property. 8. A
prohibition Of interpretations of all church
property in the name of ecclesiastics.
Reform in The social condition.
1. Abolition of land monopoly. Q. Ad
valorem taxation of property. 2. Amelio-
ration of the condition of the working class.
a. BY lcssening the time of work to eight
hours for grown persons, and to five Tor
children. B. BY incorporation of mechan-
ics' associations and protective societies.
c., By granting preference to mechanics
before all other creditors. d. By establish
ing an asylum for superannuated mechan-
les without means at the public expense.
4. Education of poor children by the
State. S. Taking possession of the rail
roads by the State. 6. The promotion OF
education. a. By the introduction of free
schools, with the power Of enforcing the
parents to send their children to school, and
prohibition of all clerical influence. b. By
instruction in the German language, c. BY
establishing German University,
I. The supporting of the slave-emanci-
patton exertions of Cassius M. Clay by
Congressional laws. 8. Abolition of the
Christian system of punishment, and in
PRODUCTION of the human amelioration sys-
tenn. 8. Abolishion of capital punishment
Here we see regular "bill for giving
everything to every body" No President
no Senate no Representatives. no Consti'
tuition, no neutrality, no Sabbath, no prayer,
no oaths, no owning of land, no "Christlan"
punishment, which probably means no pun
ishment at all, SC. In substance, no Gov
ernment at all, but a helter-skelter mob-rule
at home and eternal war abroad. This tls-
sue of extravaganza is announced as COM
prising 'the fundamental principles OF re-
FORM" in the name of "the Social Demo
cratic Society,""
Such wild hullucinatons may excite on,
ly smile from ordinary Observers, who
see in them nothing more than the momen'
tary whims of knot of pedantic visiona-
ries, without any practical import, Tins
matter is, however, of much graver char
acter, and is one which demands the serious
attention of all American Statesmen.-Bos-
ton Courier. 5