Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-02

states. While do not claim to be a
leader in this movement. we do claim
to have acted Independently.
Again. early in December, 1853.
and at least three months before the
Know Nothings were heard Of, and
FIVE months before there was one in
this state. we published a series ola
ticles exposing the trucking OF both
parties, TO the Catholic church. We
predicted that American Protestants
would sooner or later rebuke those
who thus attempted to sell them to a
foreign politico-religious despot. but
We did not hope forse soon an uprising
Of the masses TO yindicate their reli-
gious and political rights. Though
not leader in this American move
msnt, we claim to have acted indepen-
IDENTIFY, and here too, we have cause Of
rejoicing to find the millions on our
side. No abstract question before the
people has half as many votaries as
the cause Of pure American protestant
ism and American politics, If it could
be disconnected from the unfortunate
entanglements that demagogues have
thrown around it. On the abstract
question, four fiths Of the entire Amer
lean population agree, even including
Americanized foreigners. That Amer
leans should govern America. is not
only self-evident, but it is PROPOSE
ton in which the. judgement is sus-
tanned, by the spontaneous emotions
Of patriotism. Every patriot reyolts
at the idea Of yielding his birthright to
foreigners, whether they take possess
sion by armed forces, or more insidl.
ousIy by transporting their men here
to take possession Of the ballot box in
the guise Of voters. AS we have of
ten said, so we say again, let not the
circumstance of place Of birth be q
test Of citizenship, but let the voter be
in heart an American. and let those
who love their country repudiate the
demagogues who would court the
vote of an un-Americanized foreign.
ers simply because he is such.
Again, when we saw that the Amer
lean movement had fallen into the
hands Of demagogues. who desired te
ride, on the popular wave, into Office
we fearlessly opposed them. From
the first. we have contended tha
the principle of American protestant.
ism--call it Know Nothingism if yor
prefer-is too sacred too dear to ev.
cry American protestant to be appro
priated by any party-by any set o
place-seekers. 1t belongs to the ma
ton, and as the property of all free
men, it win prevail. as soon as the
masses can shake off the incumbu'
that demagogues have put upon it,
1t will be remembered that, from th'
first, we have contended that Know
Nothings are not party. Some hav'
tried to make them such, but the,
have signally failed. The result Q
the late elections has shown this mos
conclusively. While the importan
idea Of American professionalism
deepening and widening-while tn
people. without regard toparty issues
on other questions, whether old o
new, are determining to rebuke thos
who would sell their country TO for
eigners, they have as signally rebuke'
those who have tried to make thi
feeling a stepping stone to power
In this independent course Of ours, W
find we have again been sustained b,
the people. How ii shall be in tn
future, we cannot tell. We onl,
promise to try 10 doyight. .
But we had no intention Of writin!
thus when we began. We merely in
tended tourge the friends of our pa
per to use their influence to circulate
it. more extensively. Our circulation
should be doubled-it could be by tn
, proper effort. We have but few sub
scribers who could not get another
and many who could get ten or NOR
: with little trouble. We gave, las
week. the reasons why we cannot pub
! lish at lower figure. 1t should salts
fy every reasonable man.
In extending our circulation we ID
7 Dor under peculiar difficulties. Pa
pers that are devoted to party interel
: find. in party aspirants. efiicientagent
, We published a few weeks ago a eli
: cular from late Post Master Genera
: urging post masters to act as agen
for party papers. We have no sue
) agents. On the other hand, we kno
several post-masters who have dor
I their best to stop the circulation
i our paper In this case we appeal
}. the patrons Of our paper. Will nc
, every subscriber do something?
you love our independence. thong
! you may not love our doctrines. he
$ to circulate our paper. We came
promise you an Office, nor even OF
| vote or influence in procuring an o
: fee. We viii not sell ourself to an,
body for all the subscribers in Il
J state. We win do this, however,
, w. ILL J.Iwct $40 Joilo~ fxr... 81