The daily union., 1854-10-24
FALSE ISSUES.

FALSE ISSUES.
In the calm after such demonstrations have recently
been made against the democratic party in several OF the
States may good purpose to look over the field
and point several of the false issues raised by the
leaders of the opposing combinations for the purpose Of
misleading the public mind. Among these may be emu
merated the following
The religious issue is dangerous to all concerned
than any other and men deluded in regard to it by
camor which has not permitted them to trace it to its
inevitable sequel II it means any thing, il must mean
Church and State for there is real difference between
disfranchsng citizen by refusing to elect him to office
on account of his religious opinions and by enactng
law compelling him conform to the belief OF the prevail
ing secarian majority alternative to citizenship In
the one case we have Church and State as the result OF
party mandate popular peudice in the other we nave
it according satnte Of pains and penalties Now IT Is
quite clear to u.s. that Of all those who have been msed by
the cry against the Catholic creed few beyond those who
are merely bgos have been in favor of establishing
even indirectly the tyranny of Church and State IN this
republic No say that under guise OF being IN
ultra foe of single creed he should in this seek to initiate
foreign governments where religion ia part of the State
And yet under the false issue raised by the ntolerant
leaders, this result must assuredy happen if their schemes
are to prevail.
H. Under the general cry OF nOSliy " ioreSheIst
fatal and dshonorable distinction Is sought to be made
against those with whom have entered into solemn
and binding covenant The rights of our adopted citizens
aeequaly sacred with those of the natvsbon These rights
can be no more violated than the rights of property In
deed the bare idea of discussing the proprey Of annu
ling the franchises Of those whom have covenanted to
support and who in return have agreed to support the
United States government is abhorrent to every rule OF
right and of Hence the organization against adopt
ed cisizss any such purpose is monstrous 1t is like
repudiatng honest debtlike denying ones pighted
aith-ke act of overt violence to the constitution
No American would be deliberately guilty of such an act
after seeing it its true light false sse may divert
into doing wrong but reflection produces re-
form
Ill BY the accusation that the democratic party ore the
advocates of Catholic doctrines much mRshef has been
done The democracy have mission to perform; they
defend The weak against the encroachments OF the
strong If the Baptsts assaled tomorrow the de-
mocracy would defend them Would this make the de-
mocracy Bapiists? To vindcate State rights against
the aboltionis does make the democracy savehod
ers any more than defend the North against the attacks
of the South wond make the democracy Abotioniss The
moment the guarantees of the constitution and the laws to
States and to individuals sought to be nullied 1t IS
the duty OF the democracy TO stand f0f as tne cnaon
of the oppressed Is it not enough to bIg he blush OF
shame the cheek of American to the herNS That
results from devotion to principle made the bass OF
false camor? Roger Williams, Baptist and William
Penn Quaker tolerated all religions and protected all
the first the risk Of his life They, too assaied
for long period bnt time has consecrated their memo
ries throughout all lands and to every age.
w. false issue has also been raised the subject Of
gogues have sought to involve this question with the bgoty
that proscribes certain creed and the intolerance that
persecues adopted citizens These two issues stand
trey apart and distinct from the discussion the aa
uralizaton laws They both in the highest degree
monarchical and arstocrac One springs from the same
sn;r that drove the early reormers into the New World
the other the motive that enters into obligation
with the nte ton of fulfilling it. The discussion of
the naturalization laws, however quite another qnes-
ton and is legitimate cause for deberaton How far
any alteration in thes< Jaws is necessary if at ALL is
point we have not yet appk0sehed Our only object to
show that the subject is one that within the scope
of discussion and legislation nn we des sso, to expose
the miserable dogmas and preudices which ts Know
nothing leaders have sought to crown with success ny
clamoring against the naturalization laws If all these
false issues could be dsspated very little wonld remain
npon which to build such party as that which now
boasts of its power in several of the States OF the union
and which bids fair to regenerate of the most reck-
less politicians in our history