Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-29
TgF WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
MIR. ReId's Speech.


tho Court House, last evening. Were we to express
opr own candid opinion of the speech, we fear it
might be looked upon the result of prejudice, and
therefore forbear certain that the speech can possibly
do no harm save to the speakernure nothing but his
own reputation as of talent as well as con-
sistent politician or a good citizen
Mr.. Reid commenced by a deprecatory anuson to
his own abilities, which were humble, but insisted
internal improvement man-had been better Demo-
crat than Mr.. Winslow, because MIR. Winslow had
few the track in 1886 when he voted for Judge
White instead Of Mr. Van Buren,, whereas he, Mr..
Reid had gone the stripe all the tme Cup to the era
of K. N. ism, we suppose.) He went for American
Nationality-National Union--Protestant Civilization
Americans should rule America.
Here permit US to say that, in the repetition of
these caprap expressions, consisted the great point,
body, force and eloquence of Mr.. Reds speech, to
which he had recourse every time his yallerkver
literature sort of gave out, failed TO bring down
the canes, and the shingle. We have heard of Fed
eral Union before and had supposed that that was the
sort of Union which every man at the South recog-
nized--not a consolidated NaonalI Union, as Mr..
Reid and his colleagues seem to think.
Mr.. Reid spoke of the emigration to our shores,
bringing amongst hordcs of PAY lists and Felons--
always chasing Papists and Felons together-spoke
of mobs in the Northern cities, composed OF Papsts
and Feons, who, he sad prevented Professionals from
voting or worshipping God Unfortunately for Mr.
Reids flourish it so happens that the only churches
burned IN the United States "Papist" churches,
set fire TO by Mr.. Reds predecessors--the Ma
tyes" of 1874. Mr.. Reid said the platform wei
coined good men, after fashion, to sort OF citizen
ship--neither pig nor puppy sort of thing. Mr.. Reid
then spoke of unnaturalized citizens voting in the
territories, etc-went on to speak Of the gradual in
crease of emigration from 42 to '52-brought in
Washington's Farewell Address, where he warns his
counrymen against foreign influence Washing
ton then alIudngl to the influences of European
powers, especially with reference to the fer
ments of the French Revolution. 1t is known
to every student of history, that in the earlier
DAYS of the Republic there were such things
as English and French parties in our country sym
pahsers with the French revClutionists or the Eng
lish constitutional monarchists, and it was against
this influence, and not against the rights or priVie-
ges Of the true American citizen by adoption that
Washington or Jefferson wished to guard 1t was in
this view that Jefferson was almost inclined 10 wish
for an ocean of fire between this country and Europe
AS for that trumpery and often quoted or misquoted
affair of Washington's orders at Dorchester, to put
none but true Americans guard, refer read
ers to an article in days Journal, headed Wash-
ington not a Know Nothing" And how could Wash
ington have been a Know. Nothng-how could the
friend of Hamilton, whom he respected and appoint
ed to offce--the associate of Lafayette, whom he
IoVed-ahe debtor of Norris whose financial abili-
ties and sacrifices gave vigor to his operationshow
could this man have been Know-Nothing?
Mr. Reid next turned to the religious portion Of
his creed and gave goody portion of statistics from
the before mentioned yaler kver'' pamphlets, com
bined with Foxs Book OF Martyrs and other classical
performances which he don't understand, and we
don't and have means of verifying save in one Of
two points. Mr.. Reid had with him the Catholic
Almanac for 1855, and read from it, stated upor
its authority, certain statistics of the Roman Catho
lie Church-among the rest he putthe Catholic popu
lation down at four millions. Now we have take1
the trouble to get a copy of that same Catholic Al
manac, and turning to page 289, we find under tn
head Summary of Catholicity in the United States,
that instead of four millions, stated by Mr.. Rel
upon the authority of the Catholic Almanac, ths
work puts down the whole Catholic population
the United States and Territories at one mio
seven hundred and thirty five thousand Any perso
who doubts this can satisfy himself by referring
the almanac in question-as can also Mr.. Reid, who
we would respectfully advise to read the authorize
he relies upon, and not rely upon K. N. tracts whic
will save him from stating things so ridiculous val
ant from the fact. These Know-Nothng pamphle
and speeches are indeed Know-Nohing Affairs, al
no man having the slightest regard for his rep
tation, will state anything upon their authority.
Mr.. Reid spoke of the Sovereigns the Pope ha
deposed. Have Protestants deposed no Sovereigns
How came the Stewards to be driven from England
AS for persecution unfortunately there has BET
too much of that since the world began, and we fe
there always will be- since we find that spirit reviv
in our midst in the 10th century We fear tat
we seek among the nations of the old world for ST
cmens of any sort of civilization the "Protesta
civilization of England will not especially CONNIE
itself to the mind, stained the caleer of that natl
has been by treachery, bloodshed and rapine a
marked as it is by split of insolent interferer
with ourselves, which no other nation has attemut
Nor can Protesants claim exemption from the wef
nesses OF wickedness of their neighbours as the
tory of the penal laws in Ireland would fully pro
If enmities to be forgotten, if the mutt
wrongs of centuries, exaggerated and embelished
stump declaimers for political purposes ever to r,
kle in the minds of the people, we do trust that it
not be done under the honored title of - Protest.
Civilization or q American Nationality
Mr.. Reid certainly advanced a strange argum,
to show the dangerous tendency of Catholics
Could any one guess that argument? 1t had est,
lished very large number of schools and sem
ries
Mr. Reid again showed how little he knew of