The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-02-24
o be received with open arms The scenes

TO be received with open arms. The scenes
that took place in South Carolina whose
chivalric children he had led to triumph be.
fore the city Of Mexico, recalled the days
when Lafayette was hailed by grateful
country as the bcncfactor Of nation. The
applause of the people--the cloquence Of the
orotor--thc inspiration of the poct--thc
smiles of the fair daughters Of the Palmetto
Statc--contributc to make his sojourn in
that quarter of the Union one constant ova.
ton. Cities Wed TO do him honor and the
story ofhis noble bearing, his modest merits,
and his constant courage in the face of peril,
suggested comparisons between the Irish
man, Montgomery, who fell for his country
before Quebec, and the Irshman's son who
plucked immortal renown from Eugland's
soldicry on the field ofNcw Orleans.
Illinois, like a proud, fond mother, had
followed her adopted child through all the
vicisstudcs OF war and when others ap-
plauded she responded by crOwning his ca
reer with .an election to the Senate Of tho
United States, there to sit among the nobest
Of the land. But the soldier was not mere
soldier. lie soon proved himself 10 be equal
to his new position; and after series Of
years full Of no nor and of distinction, he
may be said to have won all hearts by his
personal qualities, his intellectual resources,
and the dircctncss OF those patriotic instincts
which have guided him from the beginning.
II is by no means a gratifying spectacle to
see such man now prOscribed for the coun.
try Of his birth We never objected TO this
when he fought against Catholic Mexico.
The, native americans whom he led in tri-
umph did not fall to follow him because he
he was an Irishman. The public voic. was
not less ardent in his praise because he was
a naturalized citizen; for the people remem-
bered that he had been twice naturalzed.--
once by the laws Of his chosen country, and
again in the fire and the blood Of that coun-
try's foes II remains TO use Of this day TO
witness the disfranchiscmcnt of a man who
had offered his life and shed his blood in the
cause of the republic. Here was case that
occurred within almost universal recollection.
II is fashionable TO .t0rge the past in these
days of blatant and ,ampan fautcism, and
It is no new thing to hear the men Of the
revolution ignored; but this was Il service
Of yesterday. This intrepid citizen still sui-
icis from his wounds received in our behalf
And yet as If to complete an act Of national
shame a secret party led by the enemies of
the Union, and stimulated by migrate prej-i
ueices and FASHIONS, iniicts another wound
upon that prompt and fearless spirit whose
name a few years ago was the snbject OF a
nations gratitude We have often said that
the creed Of this new act Of bigots and intol.l
Grants was an iucXorablc and unspearing
creed. 1t makes no exceptions in its deyasr
tatng and dcmoizing career. The lowest
ARE exalted in spite Of their ignorance and
basencss if they can show that they are nok
the immediate descendant, of a Foreigner.
the highest struck down because they are so
descended. Happy for as that th,re are nd
more victims like Shiclds Happy for us
and happy for our fame, that those heroes
who fought for our country in the fields d
the long gone past, are gathered TO thcix
fathers, and sleep that sleep that knows nd
waking =,