True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-15

aristocracies, nowhere are sons and daugh-
ters so educated to liberty, nowhere is
there country whose people have, by
birthright, 1.-THE of what our people have
to make them love the land which is their
country, and the spot which is their home.
Now, if all this be true, and it certainly
is, does it not furnish the most irrefutable
of all arguments to prove that these same
Americans, more deeply imbued than any
others can be with the spirit of their own
institutions, are more fitted than any Others
can be, to guide the destiny of that Amer
lea they know and love so well? Yes,
there is truth beyond the reach Of logic, in
patriotism. There is reality in the love
of ones native land that, though it admits
of no analysis, attests itself by all that
gives eloqucnce to history, and illustrates
itself by all that sheds the glory of hero
ism on action. This has inspired the
great exemplaries who have taught the
world lessons of immortal freedom, and
sustained the martyr-heroes who have seal
ed these teachings by lifelong sacrifice
and "a death triumph. 1t is an innate,
holy, inerradica D passion. Tt is natures
divine decree, nor is it in human power to
repeal that law which dates before all in
struction, which springs up without knowl-
edge, of whose beginning memory holds
no record, and whose empire over the hui
man mind is so universal that there scarcely
"Breathes man with soul so dead
Who never to himself has said
This is my own, my native land.
Whose soul hath not within him burned,
As home his footsteps he has turned
From wandering on some foreign strand"
Amid the perils that encompass our nations
pathway, shall not lay hold of this sacred
principle as safeguard of our liberties
Was it not the Father of our Country
himself who pointed us to it? He, it
was who left us these words of solemn
warning Against the insidious wiles Of
foreign influence, the jealousy Of free
people should be constantly awake. 1t is
one of the most baleful foes of Republi-
can Government Have we not found ii
SO? Have we not seen the sources of our
sovereignty corrupted by floods of foreign
paupers and convicts crowding our politi-
cal auction? At this very hour are not
two of Virginia's nearest sister States
Ohio and Pennsylvania -burdened, cursed
and desolated by Intemperance, because
the influence of their thousands of foreign.
ers-trained to habits of debauchery under
governments that seek thus to rob the peo-
| pie of the power to obtain or the inclina-
tion to enjoy liberty-was arraigned against
the will of majority of their native born
citizens and thus defeated law that might
have shed joy on hearts DOW hopeless, and
filed with plenty, homes now desolate
Such are its workings. Are influences
like these without danger? Standing az
our country does, heir of all the ages
foremost in the files of Time it becomes
her sons to be liberal, to be tolerant, bu
first of all to be true to their high trus
and guard with sleepless vigilance thu
matchless boon of their American birth
right.
But the American party, without askin!
any constitutional OF legal power, refused
by their own voluntary suffrage, to elevat
Roman Catholics to Office. This Mr.. Wis
pronounces not only 'bigotry,' 'intoler
ance,' persecution against the spirit 0
the Reformation and of Professionalism,
but with startled piety, he deprecates it a
opposed to the Faith, Hope and Chart
of the Gospel How specious mask
liberality! He points to our guarantee
) for religious liberty, for freedom of col
science. They are truly among the glorie
Of our system, but they belong not to thi
question / yield to none in hatred {
bigotry, intolerance, sectarianism. Fc
that reason I will never SO far endorse it q
to promote any man who claims his ow
creed as alone infallible,' and seeks I
thrust it upon all others, by the despotisl
of Church and State union. In the nan
of liberalism, and impelled by hatred
L intolerance we oppose all such. In doir
this are we too intolerant? Are we,
u Mr.. Wise says, fighting the devil vii
;, fire ? said the question of freedom
IL conscience belongs not to this issue. Is
d not true? Does the American party pr
pose any interference with the full, fr
u exercise of the Catholic in his worsh
whatever? None whatever. tt puar
" him in his faith, however false, it guara
II tees to him his rights as citizen, it {
ID cures to him the elective franchise, but
=, refuses to forget patriotism, and elevate
, T., Offices of trust those who are yet fetter
III to the thrones Of the old worlds despotis