Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-07-25
Catholic Native Amaricanism.


O. A. BRowNsoN, the editor of the Catho-
lie Review in Boston, known to nearly all our
readers by reputation, has recently come out
boldly in defence of the doctrines sustained
by the Native Americans, except their hostil-
ity to the Catholic church. His positions are
also endorsed by the Boston Pilot, one of the
| first Catholic Journals in the country. The
fact is disclosed that the real Catholic church
wishes to cut itself loose from all Irish, Ger
man, and Italian radicals.
| We .allude to the subject, at present, merely
to give our readers some idea, of Brownson' IS
article, which is too lengthy to publish entire
His views are summed up, by the Ne,cork Mer-
cnry, as follows
l. Native Amercanism is in itself but the
| expressing of that spirit of nationality essen
| tial to every government.
| = 2. The exclusion of all foreigners from the
| right of suffrage would be desirable.
3. Native Americanism, as it exists in a par
| ty form in this country, is Objectionable be-
cause it aims its opposition at Only Catholic
foreigners.
| 4. Foreigners in this country are too Off
cious, intermeddling, rotous and factious.-
| They generally follow men and not principles
3. This country is essentially Anglo-Saxon.
and foreigners must have notice of the fact
| forthwith.
| 6. The Catholic Church and Catholic Press
| is the true conservative element in this coun-
! try, and the opposition waged against ii has
| been IN consequence of the disreputable con-
| duct of so many Of its foreigners.
! 1t is one of the most able and well written
articles that has ever appeared in his widely
known Review, and teaches that foreigners
ought to assimilate themselves to us, and that
| the predominant nationality of country will
brook no serious opposition. in its own home.
That the countryis not bound either in justice
or charity, to yield up it's nationality to them,
or to suffer the stream of its national life to be
directed from its original course. to accommo-
date their manners, tastes, or prejudces. That
the nation will never be pleased to find them
forgetting that they are its guests, by assum-
ing the airs of natural born citizens and ia
king the management of its affairs upon them
selves, or even by volunteering their advice
That the nation has the natural right to pre-
serve itself, and therefore to guard against any
influx of foreigners, which in its Judgment is
incompatible with the maintenance of its iden-
tity.
He concludes by defending the Catholic
church, as not included in the causes that have
produced the American feeling. Wemust not
forget that it is Catholic article, written
doubtless in view of the fact, that the German
element, so antagonistic to their church. is
increasing in power every day, that Don
they must look for aid, and that the only
place they can obtain it is in the conservative
American element of the country 1t is the
fear Of anti-catholic foreigners that induces
them, so suddenly, to take this high ground
in favor of Americanism, yet it is a fact that
cannot be disputed, that the protestant portion,
especially of the Irish emigration, is the most
enlightened, the best educated, and the least
bigoted, and consequently we have less to APP
prehend from them than from certain class
of Catholic foreigners, by which our country
has been inundated. While we desire to per-
secute no sect, and no people, either on ac-
count of their religion or their place of birth,
we yet most heartily endorse the sentiment.
that ''Americans should rule America ''-pla-
cling all foreigners, Catholics and Protestants
on the same footing. We believe that for our
American institutions we are .Sindebted to the
habits and customs of the American miud.''
and that by that mind alone, our nationality
can be preserved.