The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-12

ourselves
teTnnstioa 70 resist and countsract this influence Y
All lawful means within our power: snd We procsan
that should oppose with the same dstsrnin.tc'n
similar endeSvor bring It's members into political
ombnatioA for similar ends. Our object pracu.
eay TO assert and maintain in Al csses snthosv
by whatever name creed the latter may 90 hnown,
holding their union however slight 70 % e. csnseuas
to the one as il corruptng to the other therefore,
we make war to-day upon CEthohc organizations be-
cause find them in the political field We snouio,
the ssue spirit and with the same zeal make war 70.
morrow upon any other religious community we might
find In the same category
In avowng this purpose eann1. Sds nsrs
viii eyerywhere express ready assent, and that It
would be doing injustice TO the patriotism and intel
sgence of the native Catholic citizens Of the United
States as well as TO many of foreign birth long domes
cated aongst to suppose that they do not acknow
ledge as strongly as We do the intrinsic merit OF this
principle.
Action in obedience Of duty suggested by the
considerations we have now presented, the American
the political action the Catholic church In the United
States We resist 1t in lawful mode when we discuss the
merits Of its and our opinion
choose those who shall administer the public affairs Our
resistance isno less awful when in tho selection Of ndi
whose recognition Of civic duty in accordance
with the convictions of the country at large In the
exercise of these powers Of resistance We have been
charged with proscriptve spirit, and action has
been denounced violation Of the rights Of citizen
ship When IT be shown that the free citizen Of
which induce him to cast vote or to select pubic
functonary when 1t be maintained that he has no
right to express an opinion upon what he conceves TO
be impediment in the way OF the public
welfare when it be required of him 10 be
silent orpassve in the presence Of any public danger
action o. by combination with his fellow ctixens-then
may the American party be called to answer this charged
1t Ia sncient for 1t now to say course IT has
pursued il that which 1t believes to be the most efecta
q defence against abuse of no small magnitude in
it's beginning and full Of portentous mischief il its con-
II they who are aggrieved by this course desire
nothing more than equal rights and equal claim to
public confidence with all other members OF the
State, this object is OF easy attainment They have
only to descend to the common platform Of civic
duty. 1t is but necessary that they fal back into
the ranks of their citizens OF every other religious
denomination abandon all claim to privilege or exemp
ton which is not common to all renounce all attempts
to embody themselves as Catholics to influence public
policy proclaim undivided allegiance to the civil power
and exemplify 1t by practice in conformity with the
theory Of our government and its laws
contest Tor what they conceive to be the rights due to
the peculiar structure and poty Of their church, and
mpeed 6y THIS oonsasraSn sha ma IL y monTe
their separate identity In the mass Of citizens and to
insist upon exceptional privileges in the domestic ad
mnstration If they shall feel themselves justified in
concentrating their power election to
obtain acb owledgment Of their distinctive exist
% IL sns the Ss
cause they Catholics or deemed to be especially
favorable TO Catholics-n these objects thought
prised at the array which this must bring into
the field to oppose them, nor let them com
citizen will scarcely allow himself to be embroled in
such a contest but rather, We shoald hope, would
promptly nterpose to teach that large body foreigners
who constitute the preponderatng Of his church.
that the objects sought to be attained neither in
accord with the institutions of the country the
genius of the people that the pursuit must not only be
rutless, but will be repealed by the quickest and most
sensitive instinct that distinguishes the national charac
We disavow any interference, therefore, which may
be drawn from the free expression Of our opinion,
tina tine pson he prnnss do
trine Of that faith have concern We value too
highly the privileges of freemen to hold any man to &C
count for his lgous belief The Roman Catholic has
respect in full measure any other established
creed In the legitimate sphere Of its influence we will
defend and protect it to the utmost of our ability,
against all assault As cherish the foundations OF
political liberty not less do cherish the right Of
every man to worship God according to his own con-
victions of duty. We assert this peculiarly Amer
principle and pledge ourselves to its full and faith
full Observance, in all cases whatever.
We have now presented brief review Of the chief
questions which have led to the embodiment of the
American party They are suggestive OF the whole
scope of It's aims Whilst in the waning stage Of the old
political parties the country has been distracted by tue
teempg growth of created to nurture
many startling extravagances of popular opinion
relations of our government with the rest Of the world
and all Of them tending to the omenting of sectional
divisions the instructive sense Of the nation brought
the necessity for great American party. In oosdi-
to that call the party has already come forth,
and has entered upon the theatre Of its duty II
to silence the clamor of facssn to check the
of pernicous Innovations to rsbuke the busy nrgues
of selfish politicians Its great purpose is to recall the
government to its time honored and approved princi
pies Of administration, and to express the authentic
voice of the American people in favor Of thorough
American policy. We mean that henceforth, In the
face of all opposition, and all combinations, Ameri
shsl govern their country, and that every
in fha aphfh nuUht of VIII
the management OF the public affairs shall be in.
trusted. We desire TO see internal
improved, labor rewarded, genius fostered,
our agriculture, manufactures and commerce. guarded
and sustained by an intelligent American states.
manship.
We desire to see the children of our republic educated
in American sentiment and principle and fortified by
the wisdom of that sacred book from which
tors the inspiration OF the moral and religious Free
dom which they Infused into civil institutions.
We desire to the right of suffrage consecrated
IN the veneration of the people as the bulwark of
liberty and protected by Laws which shall forever
preserve it as the peculiar medium through which
none but genuine American opinions and sympat.ies
shall find expression in the functions Of government.
We desire to see the federal constitution faithfully
administered in strict accordance with the views OF its
founders, all usurpatons Of power checked, all en-
croachments upon the rights OF the States rebuked all
forced constructions discovered.
The American party feels the responsibility Of
the position il has assumed. 1t knows full well the
Keen opposition 1t has to encounter from the congo.
merate of all fragments and factions, OF the old Gillette
democratic and wing parties, with their alien allies,
names that were once haliowed and had meaning.
Errors ii may commit-inferior may attain eeva-
ton from its swelling ranks; such matters
yodablc in all great popular movements and revolu-
tons but they not its principles its high aims
and will be corrected. National in feeling, national in
name. anne riean in all things it claims as belonging to
its brotherhood and entitled TO all its rights and prvi
leges any aud every true hearted citizen matter to
what party he may have belonged no matter in what
pursuit he may be engaged, whether in subdung the
forest filling the earth, dwelling the mountains nling
up valleys, welding our commerce, toling amid the
DIN and hustle OF crowded Cities ssng the ocean Dig
cling in the mines, Selling the idle streams that flow
from mountain sides, and causing them TO leap
upon the water wheels and labor millions OF spinies
10 motion or amidst the dust and whrl of bright ma
chinery, he Is in Gods appointed vocation moulding
and fashonng the rude materials Of nature into forms
of strength usefulness and beauty. He has only to
feel In his heart that he approves and adopts
principles and that he is ready when the spangled
banner is unfurled, TO stand under 1t and by it, True,
IL IL but a piece of bunting, a painted rag-yet
what halowed associations cluster round 1T 1t