The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-04

ptow,se to have be the grsa.ss. political wroag ever
tpeate? sssrae act tbs price, Name a aor ss
members Ct the convention 10 endayor 70 effect gens
raj reform in the politics OF the STATE.
Impossibiiisy OF Uniting Religion with Pols-
ties In th1s country.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New YoKE, July ?, 1856.
Your striking editorial comments, published 10 tbs
HERALD on Eiday last, on the proscfiptve features
Of the Know No.bings, has induced me 10 Grave
Jonr attention to q still m,ie extended review Of
thai Order.
"Call it Burgundy" said Bonifaca Of his ale,
"srd it is worth guinea quart" There will BE-
sanizea, or disorgsnized, under the Know Noth.ngs
by calling IL American. That mama has sav0ry OF
Tia vintage Of Burgundy about it. which In thss,
times viii certainly enhance its value. IL makes NJ
difference thai it is the old Shg party which went
into liquidation in 1862 and nov seeks public favor
urder new nsne. 67nken inso disc,ed,t By the
weight Of its illibsrsl and restrictive poNy, and
thought ints contempt by is c1alitions with every
disturbing faction wnioa mas rissn TO the su:facs by
The aid Of disappointed political Traders there was
ceitsiEly necessity for new IA ne and forasl
bapti,m. Is was essy TO select one, and he rtgh;
to The broadcast range IN ding 80 is quite unqaes-
tionab]e.
The ideas commonly entertained Of Amsdeanis !
70 be suye were ve:y different from tbs. Vh.ch tao
new Order has assumed, to sasak ia o1n cnars,-
ter, aud to advertise its dss!gos ana purposes. A
low and cowardiy crusade assias, every 9a'son
resident amongst Us who happened t, BE- born in
snother country, and t. entsr.aia religious opinions
not quite In harmony with the Protestant sentiment
Of the States, Ia q species OF Amsric aaisn, surely
requiring explanations to render it S,ssltsbls 10
liberal minds. Oppression o! e7esy character, re
gious intolerance Of every hue, and tyranny Of
every grade, we hsd supposed sults we'll sul.ei 20
many Of the old Countries Of Europe, but We have
been led to the con ,lusion tas. while II was our
duty and our interss. alike to ala:gsy Of tbs
men Of those countries It was no par. Of our policy
to adopt their most oppressive administrative evils
Europe has suffered from her extreme political rule
from the exercise Of the Asaic principle In gov
errment-bnt, after all, her ssfsr.ngs have been
still greater on account Of tbs intolerance Of her
religious governors.
It ID preci ely to this later souece that We are H.
debted for large portion OF tbs emigrsnt producers
Who now Ill the great States ofthe West, and annu
ally send to the seabosrd the results Of their laboFA
The se results, ct this time, speak very plain Ian
eusse, which Is readily understood aud appreciated
when We reflect thst Of the produce which il yeary
forwarded from the plain Of Tire lake, the mos.
sburdant grain region in the United S.ases-nos
lees than ore third is tie produce Of this clas o.;
American citizens.
1t 10 unnecessary, then, to go bsyond the mere
question Ct INTEREST to Justify the liberal provisions
CT existing laws touching the reception and nasr
ralizstion OF Foreigners. To those who, with more
concern for the discharge Of jus. Obligations aad
With wish TO maintain the attn Of oar politics,
system, feel disposed 50 inquire mo thu ds,ncsi,
which the new Oder Ia, sdoJted bss.een tie
rat!ve ard the nasuralzsi citizen, il may be veil
10 Fay that there is no earthly difference 10 saer
political positions, and ca1 be none which il mo-.
fu, ded in Injustice sLd Oppression, and whic,, -
the tx,eut OF its practical exercise, Ii no. suover
sion OF both the lsT ard tle Constitution.
The Iative and adopted cilzsl exist upoa q
pain ard absolute eq1liity. TIE former is Ia Ia
fsiized to OR plan Of govssnns by the con
d!siops Ct bi.th and age; the last1r by tho coa
diiops Of age, residence, ard o3formity IL
other requirements OF lava lay mads by ths
legislative authority la ohedienc. 20 thu command ,i
the conesitut on 70 establish uniforms m es for ths
naturalization of foreign Fac existence Of such
q proehion In the organic la, t'e c3noliascs Of
CCpgItss there Sjth, and more than fifty years OF
rfacti Q under them, would not DULY zesm sufficient
70 sanciion the principle involved bat fully to jos
thy the policy Of libei aly wetcr they emb 0iY.
Now, is It either wise or humans, just OF nscss-
cary, that there should be fostersd il the dotted
ates iDtoersnt poltico. relis ious Organization
wbi,b NUT look 10 the reversal o! this policy aud
The revival Of ancient prejadcs ana prescriptions
for its suppprt and copt,Gff Ia Il Apser,sanisn
hat thus teackesY Are We sure tha; In bring &
o the support Of such party The hope: Of offl,s
az rewa ds for The uttersnce Of suco iihoeral sn.
American ideas, we are nos infictinr upon tbs chs
rscter CT che people Of the Un.ted States a bov
whose injurious effects will be fel. Ia long coming
ine?
Have we 80 Tar forgot en- tho very system Of
government which tho faith rs Of the republic pro-
posed snd eessblished-a system wsose foundations
we're isd 10 the absolute freedom Of tie citizen In
reference TO every conceivable shade of religious
btlief snd action as to deem IL necessary. tara
suddenly, snd in TIE midst of our Rreatsas pros,e-
ity under that syatem, to reverse the whsle Law OF
our political existence, and 20 enter Inc, crusade
egsinst cur neiehbors. which must cad Ia snixiog
ques.ions Of religion with recurring political dis
pu;ts and sgitati0ts2
Ihsre IA but che Ia Ia this matter, the operation
Of which, here or else where, las secured beneficial
results TO the human family, and taat 10, absolute
e, n Intervention with religious ,erns. II IL the
freedom Of the citizen 10 say ard TO do what he
plssep. !, is idle to assert that prescription OF TIE
man bns 10 rghtfn tendency to bring religion into
the arena OF politics.
T, Q state Is composed Of individaa's, aud IL Is
Individual action that moves the wheels OF Govsrn.
nent. The prescription Of the person then enters