Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-06-22
Danger of Native Anlericanism.
From the \. Y. National Democrat

mayor Vi tnlIauclpHla III MS late lnauSuIal uu-
dress declared that he was determined to op-
point no aaturalj-ed or adopted citizen TO any
post Of trust This declaration viii be received
with feeling Of sorrow and disgust by all candid
and just minds in America. Such prescription
is violation the spirit of the Constitution OF
the United States, which knows no difference be-
tween the native and the adopted citizen, and
which extends to all the advantages of Il COM
mon freedom The word . citizen" is robbed
of halfits meaning, if those who have complied
with all the conditions which entitle them TO
wear it, arc to be prescribed and prosecuted on
account Of the locality of their birth. The insti-
tuition which prescribcs the conditions OF citizen
ship. knows no such rule. and any party which
attempts to enforce such rule, tramples the
rights of the 4mer1nan citizen under his feet
They outrage one Of the most sacred principles of
American freedom.
So far as the principle is concerned, the autho-
rites of Philadelphia or New York may as well
prescribe a man for being born in New Orleans,
as TO prescribe him for being born in Germany
or Ireland. The principle which would ostraclse
a man for being born in Germany or Ireland, if
carried fully out, would prove destructive of the
the general rights ofevery American citizen, for
it would reduce citizenship to the narrow limits
Especial and accidental localities. Indeed the
principle of what is called Native Americanism,
carried fully out, would leave 10 such thing as
American citizenship in existence; but we
should have only Philadelphia citizenship, New
York citizenship, etc, and war Of sections, ra-
ces and localities, would spring up, which would
reduce our happy and prosperous country to a
hell of strife and outrage.
But we need not go so far as to discuss the re-
suits of such principle for it is crushed in its
very inception by that sacred chapter of human
rights, the Constitution. And he is the worst
foe to our country's freedom, whether he was
born in New York, in Dublin, or IN Amsterdam,
who would seek the violate that sacred principle
embraced in the meaning of ''citizenship." The
war which an un-American bigotry wages upon
our adopted citizens, is as unnatural to our coun-
try as it is unjust to human rights. Is it a crime
that the Irishman or the German was not born
in this country? so, many ofthem have done
the best they could to alone for it by getting here
as soon after birth as possible. They have borne
their part OF our national work, and contributed
their share to our national wealth.
They have constructed our railroads and made
fruitful our Western lands. They have cOntri-
buted their full share to treasures os art and
learning, and whatever elevatcs and advances
our civilization. Danish every adopted citizen
from our country, and what profession IS there
what department of art, science l,a-niug. or
labor, which would not feel the shock Oar
colleges, our studies, our counting rooms, ou9
work shops, and public works, AL would
realize an instant shock which would cover with
amazement and shame the bygots who are try
ing to make capital and living out of n cru
sade against adopted citizens. 1t is astonish-
ing to what pitch of excitement this shallow
fury has risen. We almost wonder that the Ma
tive Americans do not blast Plymouth Rock to
pieces with gunpowder, and Danish the bones
of the Pilgrims and the knickerbockcrs from the
soil of our country.
We marvel that Robert 7. Conrad should not
tear the picture of William Penn from the wall
of the old State House in Philadelphia, and pull
every monument which reminds Native Anne
ricans'' of the beneficence of Girard. Pull down
and tear up everything not produced by hands
indigenous to the soil. Such an undertaking
would impart an enterprising and business air
to the streets of Philadelphia. And Robert T..
Conrad is just rash enough for that sort of un-
dertaking. Native Americans could not pos
sibly have better representative of their prin-
ciples. Rash, fiery, ambitious, without judy
ment, and without any particular restraints of
conscience, he is the very embodiment of that
principle which would violate the rights of Anne
rican citizenship, for a momcntary triumph Of
his party. 1t is at least comforting to believe
that not possibly can the ''old country" send US
more mischievous and dangerous citizens than
these. If our institutions suffer evil from
such restless and unprinciplod spirits, we need
apPrchcnd no danger from any other source.