The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-09-13

Vyt 1OfthlY VAplfaa'
BY WIN. H. MERRITT.
WEDNESDAY MORNING., SEPT. IL -
ONE or THE PLANKS IN THE KNOW
NOTHING PLATFORM.
The two principle planks in the Know Moth
ing Platform, as We understand it, are, pros
crption of Catholics as a religious class aud
the total abolition of the naturalization laws
We ropose TO submit few observations upon
the last named plank and the effect which such
principle engrafted upon the statutes Of this
country is likely 10 produce.
In the first place it pr, poses TO demolish the
main pillar Of our political edifice. To destroy
that grea, principle OF political freedom aud
natural justice which our Fathers tough, Tor
and Which has furnished the key 10 our unsx
amplsd prosperity os a nation. At the time OF
the Revolution, our country was made up prin
cpally Of foreigners and il achieved its indie
pendence by the aid Of foreign allies. G" into
whatever part Of the country you will and you
b-hold the monuments Of foreign industry and
physical endurance. The rapid strides which
our country has made in mammoth works OF
public enterprise, is due in avery great M, as
ure to the labor of foreigners Foreigners have
built our canals and railroads. improved our
harbors, lent life and vigor 10 our manufac,ur-
les, aided to develop our mines, titled our sill
and have contributed largely in every depart
men. Of enterprise to build up our country
Notwithstanding oil tina. they have done, the,
must be prescribed For whats Not for vi"
lating the laws. Not for being enemies to the
institutions Of the country. But for the crime
Of being born in foreign land and reared ander
the teachings Of the Catholic religion. war
Of determination 10 declared against them and
the constitution must be % remodelcd a. to
destroy the very essence IF our liberty and con
vert them from freemen, TO slaves. These
same individuals can preach day and night for
the unconditional freedom of the Blacks and
tie bessowal Of political power upon them,
while they ore go ger to enslave whites and tr
deprive them If the exercise of an honest re-
ligious faith. Well, suppose Catholics are put
down What nex,' Some other denomina.
ton will have 10 take their turn; and the result
will be, that the country is converted into thea
Ire for religious intolerance, bigo,ry, strife and
bloodshed.
But, what is to be the position Of foreigners
in this country, if this Know Nothinsisa be
cones anything like general? VIII they not
necessarily be forced 10 combine against their
enemies and resist them! Certainly they will
II 10 estimated that there are about seven mil
lions of foreigners in the United States. Count.
ing an able bodied man to every five persons, we
have an army Of nearly one and half millions Of
able bodied men, whose feelings are alenated
from the country aud who are ready at any
moment to arm themselves in defence Of their
rights, or in aid Of foreign powers who might
be At war with US. To some, this view of the
subjec. my seem ridiculous, but to us it looks
ration,l With such foe in our midst, ami
mated BY the most fierce and unrelenting pre-.
JUDGE which the human mind can conceive
the prejudice Of creed--we could not hope t.
successfully resist either Of the leading Esro-
pean despotisms, should they find cause for de.
ciaring war against US. Their very position
would render them irresistible, while the ca
credness of their cause would lend desperation
to their courage and nerve their hearts and
arms TO deeds Of unexampled valor.
Let us take one more view OF this subject
why is i. that we find in this organization, an
exception made in favor Of Englishmen? We
strongly suspect, because the getters up Of the
society and the leaders in this crusade against
the Catholic religion and The Irish in particular,
ere repu,ed TO be Of that stock. A large ma.
iority Of the journals devoted to this organize.
tion are said 10 be under the control Of this
class Of men. But one will say, why will they
70 for the Abolition OF all naturalization laws,
when they themselves would be excluded in
common with others from participating in the
benefits Of our government This question is
easily answered. Its because they constitute
that class Of foreigners, tho never become citi-
zens; who affect to'shink the institutions Of this
county far inferior 10 those Of Great Britain.
Therefore il 10 no hardship for them 10 come
under the ban Of such rule. They lose moth
ing BY the experiment, while they have o. .
chance in thousand, If not more, Of subvert
ing the institutions Of this country and throw
ing the government into the hands Of our an
Gent enemy and present hater, Great Britain
The time has arrived for the true friends Of
liberty to reflect upon the influences which
surround them and threaten the institutions of
this happy land.
We cannot be too watchfal of our position.