Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-08-20
xLIcrrox RIOTS.

ing article which we copy from the ST. Louis
Republican. Though the Investigations which
are being made are daily reducing i, nearer
to a demonstrated fact, that the foreign pop
ulation we're The aggrcssors in the riots at
Louissille. and that in truth the outbreak
had been premedi,ated and predetermined
by them, still the trogical occurrence is to
be much regretted, both on accoun, ofShs
disasters OF which it was the immediate
cause, and OF the bad fruits which il prom
ises for the future. The deluded foreign
born citizens who engage IN these riots are
perhaps, less guilty than the reckless and
unprinciples demagogees, who inssisa'e
them to such strocious as well as iooi'Sh
practices. For il is certainly foolish to sup
pose that the native born citizens who con-
sti,u,e the immense majority, will permit
their mos, valued rights to be interfered with
bv foreign minority, and il must also be
evident 10 the least rejecting, that all such
collisions must operate to the decided dis
advantage of the foreign born citizens. But
we viii coz what the Republican says on
the general subject
flour foreign population is to blame, il
is well enough for them to be apprised OF
the IA CT at once, that they could no. play a
better card into the hands OF the so-sty!ed
American party. That party aims TO DIS
franchise them upon The ground that they
canuo, comprehend and appreciate the spirit
OF our institutions; and certainly no other
act could more fully prove this position than
an attempt to Interfere, BY force, at the bal
lot box, for the purpose of depriving legal
voters of the right Of deposting their ball
lots. Americans hold this privilege as enc
Of the dearest among all their rights; they
lo,k upon ii as the palladium Of their hber-
", and sooner than be restricted in one iot
or title ofthe prerogative, they would sacri-
fee everything, personal as we'll as national.
In all the political luarrels in this country,
(and some of them have run high,) Ameri-
cans have universally yielded the privilege
OF voting as a right beyond dispute. How
ever much the candidates may have ranted
on the stump, aud with bitter denunciaiion
and inyeciive, stigma;ized their opponents
with disuniou proclivities and injurious mea-
spres; and however much their hearers or
followers may have sympa,hized in such
examinations and denominations. the ballot
box was always held sacred, and its silent
but mighty potency decided the questions in
volved.
II may very we'll be conceived that great
misunderstanding exists on this point in the
minds OF our foreign born citizens. They
can hardly comprehend this peculiar Ameri-
canism-,hat political parties, showing such
intense heat in canvass, should cool down
so easily after the election; that men should
labor industriously for weeks, spend their
means freely for the success of their differ
ent parties, stake large sums on the result,
appear at sword points and dispute violent
y-and then, when the contest is ended,
fuse again in all the kindnesses Of life, pay
their wsgers and join in hearty mirth at their
victory or defeat, and quietly begin their
movement for the next campaign, This
popularity has puzzled the minds OF the most
enlightened European statesmen, as well it
might; for it involves that principle of re-
pubiicanism BY which alone we are governed
the sovereignty OF opinion. We repeat
it, If this principle is not understood by our
foreign population, they lack one essential
and important element necessary TO fl them
for the duties they owe as citizens and
v5sers.
II. on the other hand, these riots have
their origin in incongruous feelings, eDgen-
dered by sectarian asersions or national dis
likes, and the American is disposed to cut
OFF foreigners from the rights guaranteed
them by the laws of the land, we have only
TO say the best hopes of despotisin in the
prostration of our institutions-the total
demolition OF this great temple oil civil and
religious liberty-are likely to be realized.
No such prescription of foreigner or
Catholic ought to be countenanced or toler-
ated at the polls. There is constitutional
method for repeating the naturalization laws,
and with these repealed the whole object of
the American party will be attained: but
until this is done, the foreign born citizen
has as much right to go to the polls as the
American. We shall not stop to argue the
necessity. the policy, OF the justice Of this
change in the naturalization laws; but with
ten votes TO one in the Union, the Amer-
can can certainly wait for the voice of the
country on this momentous subject, and
forego the dsgraceful exhibitions of hos,ili-
~ evinced In the outbreaks at Louisville,
and which are fast making the purity and
the liberty Of the bailot-box scandal all
over the land"