Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-16
PcOaCriRflON,

4 OiiC Va VIC StiVi puJ'CtlouS "S""S' .'S
American party BY its opponents is, that it is an
ntoerant and proscriptive party. excluding men
from office because of their religious faith, or be-
cause they happened first to see the light in a
foreign country. 1t is untrue that the American
party proscribes men on account Of their religion.
They refuse to vote for Catholic. because, in
their opinion, the members of that particular
Church entertain sentiments utterly at war with
the genius of our free institutions, and bound
by obligations higher in their esteem than all 9th
ers, to despot more powerful and exacting than
any crowned head in the civilized or uncivilzed
world. Palsied be the arm that would lift itself
against the religious freedom of The Roman Cath
olic or any other Church but when TIE Roman
Catholics or any other denomination of Christians,
demand not only the privilege of worshippng God
according to the dictates Of their consciences. with
none to modest or make thom afraid, but claim
The right TO enter the political arena and fight the
political battles Of the country. this side or that
side as their priests or parsons may direct pasied
be the hand that ressts the honest efforts of hon.
est men to arrest the political progress Of such
sect. which aims directly at and will be satisfied
with nothing less than union of Church and
State.
In regard to the prescription of foreigners, it is
emphaically true that the members of the Amer
lean party cannot and will not vote for any but
burn Americans for office. AS general
rule this is the true doctrine, and if rigidly car
red out might sometimes operate severely upon
some very worthy men, who came to this coun
try IN their infancy, but have lived here all their
lives. If, however, men Of this class, who are
thoroughly American in all their feelings aud in
merican party will not be in their way. The ca
ses of Robert and William Guy. natives Of Ire
land, who came to this country when very young,
and have for many years acted as Justices Of the
Peace in this county, have been often referred to
in our hearing as illustrations of the eXlrene pro-
scrip,ion Of the Know Nothing party. We know
these gentlemen well, and without designing to
fa,ter, may be permitted 10 say that they are ex-
celent men and well qualified magistrates, against
whom no valid objection can be urged. Why
.hen, say the opponents Of the American party.
do Won prescribe them and exclude them office
If at all, for the sule and simple reason
that they were not born on American SOIL
But will the American party do this intoleFant
aud absurd thing? We answer, no. If Robert
and William Guj desire 10 retain their Office. we
feel M hesitation in asserting that the Know
Nothiugs will not say nay, and that they can get
as many Know Nothing votes as they desire, ii
such votes are necessary to their election. The
American party does not desire or design to i'm
pose disabilities upon such men as these, and we
venture to say will never oppose their election to
the Bench. On The contrary there are any num-
Der Of them who would gladly cast their votes for
them, and that without the violation Of any obi
cation they have assumed.
But whence comes all this deep sympathy for
such men as Robert and William Guy? fthese
two men were candidates for the most unimportani
political office. and the American party were to
play hands off would they get the vote ui one
single man of their condoiing, prescriptions hating
Democratic friends2 II they held any office OF
honor or enuument within the reach Of those who
are loudes in their dennncatuns Of Know Moth
ing prescription. how long would it be before their
heads were kicked from The pla form of the bloody
guillntine? Let Robt. and w. Guy answer these
questions and The public will doubtless be satisfied
that they appreciate fully the sympathy of their
Democratic friends. They are genuine, cid line
Clay Wings, and we much mistake their metal
if they do not groan inwardly when they see
themselves used even indirectly, to promote the
interests of the most proscrpive and intolerant
party that has ever in this country. Their
names have been used with some effect, and the
best way they can repair the damage is to ceme
forward on the 4ih Thursday in May and vote
not only Tor FlouInoy, but the American ticket
entire.