Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-02
TRUE AND HONEST SENTIMENT.

| We envy UOU tutl ldicut WHICH ChiuCtISCS YIN
shrewd politician, or the ready and artful poll.
teal writer. TO be eminent in either capa.
/ city, is virtually TO surrender all sincerity and
independence. This seems 4 strong assertion.
but we believe it true, without a single excep.
ton. No politician, as no political writer, can
lead what is called a perfectly consistent and
unwavering course, in accordance with the die
tates and interests of his party, without get
ting into error at times, and forced through the
pressure of things to advocate unwisc and hei.
nous principles. At such times, the m
tous question arises with the wiry politician or
s gacious editor, must this new principle which
has arisen to excite the minds of the people,
bearing upon its face so much of truth and
patriotism, be suffered to exist and to flourish
whilst its existence strikes at the very founda-
ton Of our political Interests, and if not de-
stroyed must sweep the nationality of our par.
ty from the land! Suffered to exist! No. A
second thought is not given to a subject by the
politician, be he an editor or otherwise, howev-
er pure and patriotic it may be, which comes
in conflict with the interests of party. The
party must survive, though the country be rent
with discord and threatened with destruction.
Hence, honor, truth, patriotism, independence.
and the country itself, must all be sacrificed
upon the shrine of party! Though a political
writer in an humble degree, we are far from
being a politician, or having the feelings, aims,
and temperament of one; and although be-
longing to a party, our allegiance does not car
~ US 80 far as to sacrifice our country rather
than see its disorganization and downfall.
But, if we may be allowed to judge, from
actions and expressions of recent occurrence.
this does not, unfortunately, seem to be the
prevailing sentiment throughout the land. For
instance, among many, editors and others, it
seems, from their ~rantings and rawlings, that it
was treason of the foulest kind for an Ameri-
cans to give utterance to American sentiments
something Of a disgrace even to speak of
our rights, our interests, our heritage, and our
destiny, as Americans-in face of the fact that
our country is becoming more Europeanized
every day, and consequently becoming more
and more under "foreign influence" every day
of its existence.
This outcry against Americans, for speaking
as Americans, and deprecating the political
evils that are arising in the land, through the
nature of our laws in connection with the i'm
mense immigration pouring in upon us, is
confined exclusively to Locofoco prints, while
the hearts Of half such editors, however, res
bel against the very principle they are advoca-
tiDg-they are forced to continue, however
forced to advocate foreign interests, because
foreigners hold the balance of power and as
the Democracy promise them office and infu.
ence, it is willingly thrown into its scales.
With such a powerful hacker, then, as the
universal Locofoco press, it is not to be won
dered at that riots and bloodshed occur. Let
but an editor speak out the true sentiments of
an American heart, and he will be certain to feel
the effects Of his temerity. We have felt it.
and all have felt it who have spoken as we have. |
1t affords us pleasure to take by the hand
the intelligent and unassumiug immigrant, who
TO our shoers to betterhis condition by |
pursueing steadily bis vocation, and acting as
good citizens in every respect. There are a
plenty of such men here in our midst-they |
are plenty every where in our country. Where
is the American who would not stand up in
protection Of such men as these! 1t is a far
class with which we have to contend
linen who come here for no definite purpose ;
but smelling the air Of liberty, they take full ad
of its invigorating virtues, and think
act as they please, and so long as those
acts are within tie pale of the law, they are at
liberty to do as they think proper, and to ex-
press themselves as they please. Surely, a
similar privilege will be granted to those who
born and reared upon American soil. II
Is all they ask.