True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-04-05
From the American Monthly Magazine.
THE AMERICAN PLATFORM.

,lWE have heard much of the political
platforms of the hepresent day. Of late it has
been repeatedly charged that the platform
of the Americans is built and kept in Sc
cret. To show cohclusively how utterly
groundlcss this charge is, we submit in this
article a programme of American princi-
pies, which actually embraces everything
essential in the American platform.
None but americans to rule America;
The Union must be preserved; No foreign
interference in American affairs; lnviola-
biIity of national treaties; No Union of
Church and State; Personal morality in
dispensable to Office; An open Bible in all
public schools; Thorough reform of the
naturalization laws; A capitation tax to
exclude foreign paupers; No appointment
of foreigners on diplomatic posts; A just
tariff on imported luxuries; In all necessi-
ties free trade; Strict economy liz the gov
ernment.
This is the American platform. This is
the platform on which the Americans are
building up the hopes and destinies of
America. Never was there platform of
principles more sound or more glorious; and
never was there one reared in more event
full time than this. The we'll nigh mi
raculous progress of the United States, the
marshalling of the hosts of Europe in
arms, the startling revolutions in Asia, and
the steady march of civilization on the
continent Of Africa, all unite to hold forth
the nations of the earth in aspect of ex-
citement, agitation, and reform such as they
never presented before.
Well may we, as Americans, say, at such
time as this, at is good for us to be
here" .
0 America! happy now is the true Amer
lean that was born in thee The hour has
already come when Americans are made
proudly conscious that their country is po-
sessed of inherent elements of greatness
far superior to those of any other power on
the face of the globe.
The great question now arises, How is
this inherent superiority of America to be
maintained? We answer, By maintaining
America purely American. Yes; if We
would preserve the true greatness of Anne
rica unimpaired, for ourselves and for oul
children, we must preserve her as she
should be-Amcrican in every part--intac
and inyiolate. America must be kept Anne
rican in her elective franchise, in her con
stitution, in her Legislation, in her religion
in her agriculture, her commerce, her man
ufactures, and her internal improvements
in her social walks, her schools of learning
her public press; in her science, her lite
rature, and her art.
In such Americanism as this there is
there can be, nothing exclusive or illibera
nothing sectarian or unjust The Anne
ricanism we thus hold dearer than life
."conirmation strong as proofs of hol
writ to the judicious practice of the be
nevolent sentiment that America alway
has been, is now, and ever should be, tn
asylum of the oppressed. For well doe
the American know that the only sure wa
to continue America the refuge of tn
down-trodden of the nations is to continu
her free from the control of all the element
by which those nations have been trodde
down. This is self-eyidcnt.
Is America indeed to be the light Of tn
world? Then must she trim the lamp
her destiny with her own hands. Is Am,
rica to be the salt of the earth? The
must she hold foreyerpure the SAVIOR of he
birthright. She must not hide her AM
ricanism under a bushel, nor sell her inner
tance for mess of pottage. The sons
the men and the daughters of the wome
who first lit the vestal fame of liberty Q
these distant shores must be her chi
eounsellors in all her high places; and Il
cup whcrewith she pledges her faith to IL
world must be the cup of Jacob, and n
Of Esau. She must be living epistle
virtue, breathing, speaking Americanisr
known and read among all men, On q
her banners, on all her escutcheons, on .
her temples dedicated to freedom, educ
tion, and religion, clustering among Il
stars and rolling along the stripes of h
national ensign, must shine forth the de
laration, isNone but Americans shall ru
America
That sublime sentiment, already er
balmed in the blood Of American martyr
must be openly, boldly, and forever pr
claimed. II moves as steadily to the il
pulses Of the American heartas the need
moves to the pole. Let it go forth, the