The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-05
FOREIGN INFLUENCE.

cs These are the only principles they have openly
ed by these they 10 be judged That they are
leagued with wings eesoilers and sbolironists, on
grounds still dangerous the epose existence
OF the Union be evident from the result Of the late
elections in the different northern and States Bat
shall pass these for the present, and conne our
selves the subject presented by the caption OF this article
The avowed object Of the know-nothing organization Is
check the growth Of foreign influence in the United
States by withholding from emigran certain civil rights
and privileges which they bave hitherto enjoyed most e
pecaly the right of suffrage through which il is alleged
they exercise dangerous sway foreign and do
nestle policy With respect TO the Roman Catholics their
designs not perhaps obvious Great numbers OF
natveborn citizens whose fathers before
them and as such entitled to all the privileges enjoyed In
common with every other denomination of Christians in
the United States They cannot therefore be disfran
ehised without violation Of the fnndament tai principles
of equality in civil and religious rights, which this
is based The know nothing association seems
therefore, limit ITSELF least for the present the
total exclusion of Roman Catholics from all civil Offices
not by lawor this they do without gross viola
ton only of the spirit but the letter Of the consttu
onbut by secret compact eemented by oaths and by
attaining ascendency in the general and State
in another mode.
We shall not here discuss this question: object in the
present article being brief inquiry into the general sub
ect of foreign influence in this country, whence il pro-
ceeds, and in what form is likely to prove danger
GUS republican Institutions our future peace and
prosperity.
The history of every republic that existed either
in ancient modern times furnishes decisive evidence
that foreign Influence exerted from abroad in their inter-
nal affairs has been the great instrument Of their downfall
From various causes the enumeration Of which would
quirc much space for the columns of newspaper
pubcs always open this influence than any
other species Of government They invariably give rise TO
opposite parties whose struggles for ascendeny too
often engender deep-rooed, may say immortal
pahy and awaken not only the most absorbing interests
but the indignant passions of mankind In the pro-
gress of this rivalry apt to lose sight of
their country the social swallowed up in the selfish
principles that sautary equilibrium between the two
which is the basis of all civil government is totally de-
stroyed the zealots of party to think only of them
selves and the spirit Of patriotism is crushed by the
cussion of conflicting passions aud interests In this state
things either the weaker party nvoke foreign aid the
contemporary despos who in the consequences of free
institutions example dangerous to their repose perhaps
their permanently have invariably awaited themselves Of
the crisis stimulate these anpahies aggravate these
dissensions and finally, either by intrigue corruption,
to produce civil war; in which they either voluntarily
nterpose, called on umpires, and finally become
masters Such is the melancholy history of free govern
ments in oil ages and nations such the example and such
the warning presents to the contemplation Of the people
of the United States This the danger from foreign
influence which Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Jack
feared and against which they earnestly warned
their countrymen and not that spectre which knownoth
ing leaders have conured up connection with the polit
cal influence Of nauralized citizens
This process is gradually maturing only in the Uni
ted States but every State Of Central and South Ameri
ca in conformity with the settled policy rather the very
instincts of desposm In the former, the wings and the
democracy arryed against each other and their con-
fics becoming every day malignant and inveerae;
any rejecting person shut his eyes blind his
understanding the notorious historical fact that in every
struggle between the two parties there has always been
manifested decided sympathy the part of the British
and British press in behalf Of the edealist
called wings, freesoiiers aboIitioniss know
nohngs suits their purposes In every difficulty every
question of conflicting interests there has invariably been
what may be justly called an Anglo-American party and
an Ango-Amercan press srenuously advocating the in
Of Great Britain in opposition to those Of the United
States We have every day from the advent of
independence see it now; and predict with all the
confidence of absolute certainty that should any questions
of this kind in future that party and that press will
sustain it's wonted position with admirable consist
ency We shall not stop to inquire whether this mysterious
affinity between the British and Anglo American press
arises the part OF the latter from union of principle
union Of interests whether the purchased
voluntary instrument in propagatng and sustaining for
eign influence in the United States We do not pry into
their secrets; but everybody knows that white men, as
we'll as black, are sometimes purchased in the United
States Indeed all the world over and that very consci
entous persons though they may revolt buying negro
will not scruple sell themselves In saying this
mean reflection any of our neighbors. We merely
intend caution the worthy knownothngs who are par
exeellence the champions of American government by
Americans and apprehensive of being controlled by
emgrans and Catholics against this species Of foreign in
fuence They may rely that it far dangerous
than that of the Irish German cxcs the Bsh
op Of Rome Who instead Of setting up and pulling down
kings indebted at least for his temporal power
the protection Of an army of foreigners.
The knnw-nahinQs and their aiinies may If they look
sharp, this foreign influence exempihed
other ways OF the efficient Of their allies the
creation and the of this foreign influence The
movers abe,tors and sustainers of abolition