Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-20
.ANERICASS RULE AMERICA.

firm, work on-keep tho ball i'll no'l"r' al" we '"""
diss;nst, the mad schemes OF the tnSionlsts ana pun
them down forever.
-.
"AMERICANS RULE AMERICA.
The Know-Noihing party shrinks inSloriously from
81, ouen md manly defence Of its absurd and mtole'
rant creed, and attempts 10 impose upon the popular
intelligence by msaninsless formulas ana a" '"p'"N'
d,u apnesls TO the ignorance and prejudice of un-
thinking persons. II was always 90 VIII 'he ""S
marty. And herein is found a chief cause OF its repu,
dia:ion By the people. There was nothing III lis prin'
ciplrs 10 couciliate popular sympathy or confidence
On the contrary, al assumption of the helpless igno'
rance and incompetence Of the masses 10y ut the
foundation Of it'd organization and constituted a con
d;tiou of its success. No party can prevail in this
country which p-csuInes Oh the Intellectual degrade,
ton of the people. The Wing organization involved
tli. fatal principle, and hence its disastrous over
throw. know.N othingism implies oven a more con-
temptuous disregard Of the popular intelligence. 1t
docs not communicate the object OF its organization
to tho people. 1t shrinks Sbashed from the public
eye, into the remote recesses Of impeEetrabic secrecy
1t discloses the mystery of its being only to such as
| ure bound to its fortunes by the strongest obligations
of submissive service. Meanwhile it thinks to de-
ccivo the people by hypocritcsl professions OF regard
for religion, aud fraudulent pretcnccs of patriotism
II Know othingism involved no other obnoxious
principle, this scornful defiance Of the people would
insure its defeat
The absurdity Of the allegation that the interests OF
the country are endangered BY the influence OF adopt
cd citizens, hos been exposed with signal effect. The
census disclosos tho fact that the foreign-born cltl-
Lsus constitute scarcely Il distinct and appreclablo
element of population. Official statistics show, that
the offices of government uro almost exclusively IN
the hands OF Natives. There is no meaning then in
the cry that A1.ricans should rmle america. Amcri.
cans no rule America, and that too with al intense
and exclusive nationality Of aim and feeling with
which we are often reproached by foreign writers.
We leave it to the candor of observing and reflect
ing mon, TO say whether our adopted citizens exhibit
! any want Of national feeling. On the contrary, Is
their conduct not distinguished by Il passionate re-
gard for American interests and American honor,
which is the consequence of their foreign birth and
experienced Why are they here! They have been
driven from their Fathcr.leud by the rod Of opprcs.
sion. They have been ~,ramp'ct in the dust, robbed
| OF their substance, aud degraded by every ~indisnity
aud outrage which Tyranny could intlict. They have
ESCAPED from the sway Of the Dcspot, and have He'd
to this refuge OF Freedom. They como from II land
OF sorrow and want, TO a land OF happiness and plch'
ty. They have exchanged degradation for indcpcn'
dence, servitudo for liberty. Think You, that
with the recollection of tho suffering and hard
ships from which they have escaped, an'
with a consciousness Of restored mtuaUod, re-
covered liberty, and n mind rcposiiS III perfect Aa'is.
factiou-tlink yon that the adopted citizens OF .i';'eF'
ica, enjoying all the comforts OF body ana eioN"'>'
TO tho condition Of intelligent Observation-Disclosures Son
thov cherish q love for the land OF their bondage
abnv. that they fccl for IN" country @A:'! 81 tender
Is son,Les ih-ir wounded split, and 50 generally sup
niles their wants. In the event of h cOutict between
the government which oppressed and ~plundcred them
and the government under whose bencticent rule they
thrive and rcjoics--think you they would betray any
sympathy for the enemy Of their adopted country
On the contrary, would not the natural impulses
uf patriotism DO strengthened by Il desire 10
uvenrc their wrongs on tho opprcssor would
,ha German desert 70 tho scrvic" m tho tyrnnt
whose in.xorablc conscriptiom drove han INT" exile!
Would the Irishman refuse TO fight against Britain
Queen, or the Republican cxil" from France aguins'
the periured ussu.sin of his country'o liberty His
tory, a. well as reason, may answer the INJURY
In the wars of the revolution and Of ISL, the vai''
of tho adopted sons OF America was conspicuous Oh
every battlefield.
We appreciate the blessing u health from H rec"I
lection of the pnin OF sickness. They only can ENJOY
the comforts OF n competent fortune who have on
lured the pangs OF poverty. In like manner none
but the tvrant's victim can understand the full sisniti
c.ncc of the sweet word LIBERTY. To us who wore
born and reared in this Republican country, freedom!
!, Il common. plucc convenience TO tho poor exile
from oppression i, is a luxury,--a rare and priceless
,ewel. He who has endured the upprcsSor's wron.
| aud proud mans c"ntunc!y," will tho more dcarl'
prize tho liberty OF this Republican country.
1t is then both logically absurd and HISTORICALLY I'M
lust to suspect our adopted citizcns OF want OF patriot
ism or of sympathy with foreign governments. y s'cr,
American spirit rules America. An intense ieelln
Of nationality animntcs tho adopted citizen. lilo
grateful 10 tho country Tor the generous protection t
it's equal laws. He is attached to its institutions ut
only from Il love Of liberty, but also from q hatred Il
oppression, of which he has No; simply. u s~peculatlv
conception, but Il sad and Illuminating experience
lie is truly an .AagRicAS CITiLkF.