Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-09-14


struggle, were engaged in initiating oul
example, and being unsuccessful, were drive,
from home and country, to seek an asylum
elsewhere
Many of that noble and generous. but up-
fortunate people, after they had failed in then
exertions to emancipate their bleeding coun-
try, relying upon the assurance given by the
congress of 1775 TO the Irish nation. that the
fertile regions of America would afford them
a safe asylum from oppression, !" resolved upon
making this country their residence Rufus
| King a high-toned federalist one of the par
/ ty of the ''well-born," and faithful repre-
sentative of their intolerance and bigotry
was, at that time, the American minister In
London, at the court of st. james. aud re-
sisted the emigration of these Irish patriots
: -ay'aher of them who were confined IN 6is-
NAL dungeons, and who had an offer of their
release ON condition of their going to Ameri-
ra, applied to Mr.. King to withdraw his op-
position TO their so doing. In answer to q
letter written him by one of the Irish state
prisoners, Mr.. King said:
i ought TO inform you that / really hare
no authority to give or refuse permission to
you or any other foreigner to go to the Unit
ed States the admission and residence of
strangers IN that country being a matter that
by late law, the alien law) ecclasicely be-
longs to tie pres dent 1t is true that the 90
vernment Oft this country, (England,) in the
course Of the last year, IN consequence Of zay
tntelJcreacc, gave me assurance that q pur-
ttc1liar description Of persons az Ireland. lrio.
1t lsaS understood, 1ycre going to the United
States, should not be allowed to proceed with
out Onr consent. This restraint would doubt
less be Withdrawn in favor of persons against
whose emigration / shouId not object. l am
sorry to make the remark, and shall stand in
need of your candor in doing so, that large
portion Of tie cnsjgraHts from LreIaad and es-
pecjalty az tie middle states, haze a.Taycd
themselves on tie side oftFc n1alcoatentS, Ci. e,
the democrats and adherents Of Mr. Jefer-
SOM If the opinions OF the emgrants are
likely to throw them into the class of malcon-
tents, they might become a disadvantage in
stead of benefit to our country"
This is the leaven that has leavened the
whole lump The democrats and their polite
al opponents have ever been at issue upon
this subject Of foreign emigration and the laws
Of naturalization. The one constituting as
fundamental principle of their political faith
the free and full extention of the rights and
blessings they enjoy to all the human family
that desired to partake Of them, who sought
our shores as refuge from oppression in their
native land. The other party dreadin- the
expansion of that spirit of liberty and that
hatred to titled dignitaries and various forms
OF oppression in monarchical governments,
that urge continually the tide OF emigration
from Europe, have always advocated such re-
strictions upon citizenship, and pursuad such
hostile policy to foreigners, that had they
continued in power, and been enabled to car
ry their views into effect, the new fourishing
and populoUs western states Of this Union,
would have still been territories, and our Da-
tional character degraded and disgraced, in.
stead Of having great name and power and
glory among the nations Of the earth.
The first naturalization law, passed in 1890,
only required residence Of two years to be-
come a-citizen. The act of 1885 extended
the time to FIVE years. But the federalists
discovering that when foreigners were natur-
allied they generally voted the republican
ticket, conceived the idea ofpunishing them
for their contumacy, and accordingly the time
of probation was still further extended by the
act June Is, 1898, to fourteen years, and a
declaration Of intention fee years before the
admission of the applicant Co the rights of ci-
tizenship 1t Is somewhat remarkable that
this act was passed on the II June, 1898,
the alien law on the 25th June, and the Sc
dition law on the l+th July, ofthe same year.
1t would seem as if the whole energies of fed
eralism were reused to one tremendous exert
ion to crush the spirit ofthe people, and des-
troy the liberties of the country All these
acts were repealed on Mr. JeffersOn's access
ion to the presidency, and the time Of resid-
ence necessary for a foreigner to become a
citizen brought back to FIVE years, at which 1t
has ever since remained.
Nearly every civilized nation has adopted
liberal naturalization laws, particularly where
they have been situated as we are with sparse
population, and extensive regions, millions OF
acres of uncultivuted lands. Ii is our policy
to draw the power and productive industry OF
other nations to ourselves. France, Holland,
Russia, and even England, have all IN turn
pursued this policy to great advantage, at dl-
fferent periods IN their history. In the time
of the Edwards, the Henrys and i'll the reign
of Elizabeth alien citizens and manufacture:
were invited to England and ndnaturalized with
out any previous residence, or even an oatl
Of allegiance.
But the miserable know-nothings of The
present day, have refined upon the cruelt,
and tyranny of the federalism of '98-for they
would repeal all naturalization laws, and pre-
vent foreigners from becoming citizens at all
They would also add religious to political IN
tolerance. They would not only enact law
by which those not born on American sol
would be shorn of all the attributes offreedom
but they would deprive native as well as tol
eign born of the blessed privilege of worship
ing God according to the dictates of their ow
, cionsciences The comparison is manifest
in favor of the black cockade federalism
'sthe reign of terror" in the time ofthe eld'
AdBms
The democracy respect all religions, al
f in the spirit of our institutions tolerate a