The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-09-07
THE AMERICAN SENTIMENT.

tfIVin tle " l. mlrrorI
Beneath the foam and nonsense which
have quite obscured to the superficial gaze
the vital truth that lies at the heart of the
American Increment, the student of the past
easily detects that Independent sentiment Of
nationality which animated our fathers, in
their resistance to foreign despotic rule, and
in their heroic struggle to sever the tie that
bound them to the mother country. 1t was
a sentiment bred on the soil, nurtured by the
hardships of the wilderness, and emboldened
by the success that had attended their efforts
to found an empire in a new world, against
obstacles and dangers before which less
hardy race would have fallen. And throug-
out the formative stages of the American
Republic, that sentiment was paramount in
every step taken to consolidate the Union.
and thus to derive substantial, common
benefit, from Revolution sustained against
such fearful odds, and anationality so hardly
won.
The spirit which actuated our fathers, is
identical with that which has ever since i'm.
PEELED the American people to guard their
rights and their liberties from foreign inter-
| ference. This spirit has increased with the
growth of the country-with the extension
Of the boundaries Of the Republic, until the
Atlantic joins hands with the Pacific, and
the American Eagle extends its protecting
aegis over people more prosperous and
wealthy, in all :he elements of national great
ness, than any upon which the sun ever
shonc. 1t is not therefore, a fanalicism of
modern times, which has led to that more
vigorous manifestation of the American SEN
tment which has of late grown into Il move.
ment of gigantic force but well considered
conviction Of the people that the welfare ola
continent, subdued by their ndomitabe ener.
gy and toll, should be entrusted, not TO the
Ignorant domination ola foreign rabbe, but
to the patriotism and intelligence of those
born on the soil, and chershing lively reco-
lections of the sacrifices by which their liber-
ties were secured.
1t is not religious bigotry-t Is not ia.
natical prejudice against the refugees from
Ireland, from Germany, or any other country
it is not the ism ofthat secret organization
rejoicing in the knck name of Know Moth.
ings-whch runs through this sentiment of
Nationality-Of Americanism 1t is n far
nobler, higher, and more pervading aspira
tion, which dates back to the foundation of
the Republic, and anterior to that, coursed
through the veins of the Pilgrim Fathers
when they crossed the blue waves to escape
religious persecution, and sought the New
World as home for themselves and their
posterity. Religious bigotry has afflicted all
ages and countries. 1t is inseparable from
the superstition which is inherent in the un-
enlightened mind. 1t is a perpetual attend.
ant of all religions, and is rather antagonistic
than peculiar to that pure and liberal chris
tianity, which pervades our Republican inst- |
tutions. 1t is allied to that finatcism which |
has given birth to so many monstrous sects |
in religion, and perverted the gospel from the
purpose of its founder, into an apology and |
support for every dsreputable ism that |
charatans have palmcd off upon our fallen
race.
1t entered strongly into Know Nofingism,
and much to do with the reaction in the pub
lie mind against that new party, whose musI.
room growth could not assimlate principle
so opposed to the catholicity of our institu-
ions. But the true American sentiment
bears no affinity to religious intolerance
Such relationship would rob it of its very
being, and make the fabric of national great
less it has reared, to crumble into the dust.
The sentiment Of which we speak is part of
,ur national life, and throbs in every pulsa-
ion of the American heart Washington
it in his Farewell Address
when he warned us against entanglng al
iances" with foreign powers, ard urged the
Importance of educating the masses, as a
qualification for freedom. Who could not
zee in the burning words of that last mani
este of the father of his country, n patriotic
warning not only against the evil influence
If foreign Governments, but the ignorant
nutitudes who would flock to our shores,
md claim the prerogatives of citizens of the
model Republic, without identifying them
selves with our people, or comprehendng the
simplest elements of our free institutions
Washington saw that our colonial tutelage
lad left us in the leading strings of foreign
influence. We were yet an infant nation,
ubject to all the emergencies of a struggling
While we had acquired poti-
al independence, we had not yet asserted
he supremacy of our commerce, our manu-
lectures. our mechanic arts, or anything else
peculiarly American.
~
Fortunately the exigencies ofour position,
nd tho necessity for subdung new conti-
ent to the uses of man, have stimulated the
INVENTIVE genius of the country; and in the
seful arts we have for outstripped the trans
tlantic nations. They have been glad to
ollow our lead in this high department OF
rt, and have learned to respect the genius OF
4