The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-26
A GIOan From John Mitchell.
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There is no longer any doubt that the "Order is
gong to rule these United States for certain years.
In the curse Of hum N events and the progress of
the species, 1t has come round that the paltriest,
meanest, falsest and most ignorant (though far
from the most dangerously form Of popular deius!on
which has ever troubled nations now rises to as
cendancy wellpigh absolute the freest, wisest,
strongest and beat country upon earth.
We cal it paltry and mean, because it presetn5
tie spectacle Of great nation of five and twenty
millions thereabouts-a nation which is in actual
erjoy nent of unexampled freedom and happiness
achieved b, itself, pretending to fear some danger
to its liberties from handful Of people, not com.
bined in one mass or concentrated in one place;
people Sho have ss keen an appreciation and as high
relish Tor the liberty ana happiness Of the nation
as shy otter Misunderstanding higher and
IieLced elsewheie; and totally unable, even If so
disposed, TO make the least approach by one single
step, tow ardsAny alteration modification Of the
constitution and laws ur der which they were, until
now, too hsppy to live.
We cali it mean and psltry, too, because it in
yoivss br q b Of that covenant VIII CHI the fathers
ard founders of she Republic mace by implication
with all the peoples Of the earth-rlying upon
which, those who grow weary Of monar nical ins,i-
tu.ions aud intolersnt of oppression, have been
pou'rg over to America in myriads and millions, t.
their cwn great gain, certainly; but, also, with no
Geriment to America for many year.
Ard we call II psl!ry ard mean, because it is too
manifesily a mimicry Of Great Britain, ami hsr
shabby ard ierocious Protestantism.r The Know
nothing nov ment has followed hard upon the Ec-
cesas,ical Titles Bill. Tire Know Nothings have
ssjd within their hearts, Besold tie stand which
our Anglo Saxon kindred have made against Papal
aggression and the Jesuitg-s1all we not prove our
selves worthy Of our blood and racer" Thus, in q
servile and altogether provincial Spirit Americans
strive to emulate the nation which oppressed them,
which slrove to crush them, and which still hates
fears and despises them, and in the very point
wherein that nation is, least of all, worthy Of im
taton.
We call it ignorant, because II is based upon an
utter misunderstanding, lot only of the Catholic re-
ligion, ap ainst which il seems socially directed
but also Of the history the four daon, had the only
genuine nationality OF the American nation. Until
within the last few years, IL never entered into tn.
head of an American that there was anything in
the Catholic religion at all Incompatible with re.
publican institutions. Unit within lev years, n }
American called raturaiized citizen "foreigner"
or looked upon bis exercise Of his acquired rights
ard franchise as a "foreien influence
The nationality CT this land Is made up of those
foreign ir luences and its true pride and glory has
been that il can make room for them all and absorb
them into its own vigorous life. Those who decl,n
against the dangers and evils of g Jesuitism" have
not the least idea what Jesuit Is. T1ey who rave
agains. foreign ers do lot know what 1t is to be
foreigner in America. Moreover, the excessive ig-
noi ance Of this party is made manifest in the me-
thod they have adopted for counteracting those
Jesuits and tbisforeign influence.
They complain of naturaized citizens cherisoing
foreign predictions OF their adheriDg to priest
hood which has foreign head; aud by tle system
OF prescription which they announce, they make
sure that these formidable foreigners shall never
become American entirely, these pestilent Catho-
lies shall cling the closer TO their priests and their
religion, as men always do under persecution and
pIoscripton-as the Irish especially have ever done,
and as they sssuieoly ought to do. Ii there be,
indeed, anything alarming TO republican feeling Ia
e. pretensioDs Of the Catholic clergy, we have an
opportunity Of seeing svery dayas IL the reels
81 the lai,y st Buffalo and at Hartford .has the
split Of free rssi.uiors has penetrated She mind Of
tie Catholic as well as Of the Protestant ard that
whatever be the designs of Pope at Rome, or an
Archbishop at New York, the Cathjli; people,
generally, have part concern Ia those designs,
and are in fsct, far more deeply interested in resist
ing and def.aing them than all the Know Nothing
lodges in the lard.
But if it be possible to throw these Catholic peo-
Ole Rack In bird submission into the arms Of those
Jesuits, bishops and cardinal-legates, the Know
Nothrgs and their petty prosecutions arc the sgen
cies most likely to do so.
Lsstly, we call it false, because by far the greater
number Of those who join in the shabby movement,
and swell the ferocious outcry, are affecting an APP
principles and designs which they well know those
others fepudiate and abhor. Moreover, some Of the
most active and noisy leaders Of the No Nothinos
are foreigners; real foreigners not naturazed nor
intending to be; principally Eoglsh and northern
Irish, with sprinkling Of scotchmep, like that
thoroughgoing American, the editor of the HERALD;
and Hindoos like Ullman, the Calcutta Native
American candidate for Governor. la short, the
whole system, from mead 10 i0o, and from hears TO
ut.eImost extremities, is gross and vile impostare.
Yet ii answers for q" cry" There must be some
thing 10 the shape o. party name to rally the
voters wisbal. And, besides, II must be confessed
that hitherto owing to the nature and origin OF our
constitution, and the latitudinarisn views Of its
founder, Americans have been debarred from that
ancient al noble passime which his al Ways been
favoiitc eport In the other parts Of Christendom-
nsmeIy singing ont some one set OF Christians 10
hunt and worry ike wild beasts. For this sporting
purpose, win true sporssmanlike instinct, the
stronger set OF Christians have always selected tbs
weaker act; and, seeing that thers is Proies apt
majority here inclined to worry, and . Catholic
TO debsr the game. The fathers Of the republic
eoubtless overlooked this legti nate propensity
and omitnd TO make proper a-raueemspta for tue
exercise Of the mcst precious o. al church priv
lesss."