The American patriot., 1855-06-30

The especial Commlttee man VINO mas 700
much discretion to attack the Native American
Platform upon its impregnabfe position, has
contented himself with objecting to its ortho-
doxy on the ground that it never has received
the endorsement of our party in its national
The opportune action Of the Phila-
delphia Convention has removed this objection
and with this number we present to the read
ing public the acknowledged platform Of our
party, clothed with all the authority necessa-
ry to constitute it the avowed code Of faith OF
the National Native American Party. Thus
we have taken another long stride towards
more perfect organization.
Che political views contained in this plat
form are the cardinal principles Of our party
faith. They rest for their popularity upon
their own inherent truth, they shrink not from
investigation and it shall ever be our greatest
glory to maintain and advocate them. Like
all other new doctrines, those Of Native Amer
icanism, in their infancy were not properly d.
gested, work which time and patience alone
could accomplish. From the birth Of the par
ty there was some little discrepancy Of opin ion
among the members on minor points Of its doc
trines, but on all the great principles the par
ty was united as one man. The pruning knife
has had its work to do. There were some
we'll founded objections to our Order, particu-
ly to its machinery, and we have looked for
ward not in vain to removal Of these objec-
tionable features Of the party. This digesting
and pruning has been done by the action Of
the party stself We have just cause to be
jealous Of the teachings Of those whose busi-
ness it is to raise objections to Native Ameri-
canism, and whose chief delight would be in
the overthrow of our party right or wrong.
The pruning knife has done its duty. The
three prominent objections to our organization,
the objection to our secrecy, the objection to
our alleged prescription of the Roman Cath
olics, and the alleged fusion Of our order
with the abolition party, all have been ami
hilated by the platform of the Philadelphia
Convention.
we have ever objected; it intimated distrust
of the party MEMBERS which was anything but
creditable to their firmness Of purpose or to
their intelligence. The life and existence of
the party, while in its infancy, was pro-
tected by that secrecy which was thrown
around it, and to this may be credited to con-
siderable extent its unparalleled growth. Nee
essary as the secret element was to give the
Order an establishment this has now become
not only useless, but calling and oppressive,
and weighs like q mighty incubus about our
party progression. The full grown man be-
came restless under the restraints of the swad-
ding clothes Of the infant and it was necessary
to cast them off. The last clause of the plat
form has done away with the contemplate
mummery which, fruitful only of well founded
objections to the Order, was of no earthly help
to our success. We rejoice at this change.
Our chief objection to this secret element, one
which has never been mentioned by the oppo-
sition, is not that we fear the action Of Native
American citizens, acting either publicly or in
private; they have too much at stake to injure
their government but it is the precedent set
which we consider very pernicious one. Ii.
cense is thus given to foreigners in our midst
to establish similar associations, the existence
of which is revolving to the feelings of every
native born citizen. With no guide but pas
sion, and stimulated by a misguided zeal to
protect themselves, what evil consequences
might not follow from their mistaken prejudi-
cou and ust;c;om
Such associations have been established in
many States and are now fourishing extern
sively. In Ohio, alone, one man boasted that
he had established about fifteen hundred of
German "Sag NIGHTS" As to the Catholic
question, the Convention seems to have made
no change in the preconceived idea. We will
state what we understand to be the doctrine of
the new party on this point by giving our own
views on the subject.
The freedom of conscience and the right to
worship God in any manner pleasing to the
worshipper, is the right Of all living under the
protection Of our government. While we
would not hesitate to denounce in unmeasured
terms, the least infraction of this right, and
while we will use our exertions as citizens to
preserve to each and every one the enjoyment
IF these privileges, yet, we confess that no
nducement could prevail upon us to vote for
nan for any Office who acknowledges any au-
thority, civil, ecclesiastical, or "hgher law" as
being superior to that Of the constitution of
The United States. Our information teaches
IS that there are two branches of the Catholic
,hurch, theJesuits and the independent Cath
'lics The former belong, soul and body, to
he Pope; and the liberal or Independent Cath
,lics are those who believe in the ritual of the