The daily union., 1855-09-18
From the Louisiana Cuurler
POPULAR DEIusIoN


POPULAR DELuSIoN
The experience Of the last year and half has added
much to the political knowledge of the American people
They have learned if they did know it before the
length To which a popular hobby can be ridden when
backed by demagogGes. They have how far astray
masses of may be led by prejudice and by passion
when neither restrained by patriotism guided by
son.
But the most absurd Of all preudces the most inbound
ed and the most illibera those which have, until
Gently, prevailed against all residents in America who
were no, born this side The Atlantic and "more parc
ulay such of them reared in the Catholic faith
We're to forget that there such things derna-
gogues and neendares were we permitted to believe that
our knownotng friends express always nothing but the
simple and honest feelings of their hearts, would be led
to think that all the powers OF the world had combined to-
geher for the subyerson of American Institutions and for
establishing the sway Of the Pope glorious coun
try
In the eyes Of the know-nothngs every foreigner,
whether rshman exiled for his opposition 10 the Brit
h rulea Frencnan who fought for republicansn, and
who fled to America because he had fought in vainor
Hungarian who had escaped the tyranny Of Austri-or
noble Pole wearing thesc he while lighting against
an oppressor for the constitutional freedom Of his
nowned and still interesting conntryor a2nanimous
young German in whese heart the love of independence
glows brightly it did i'll that OF Hamilton or War
renthat every foreigner without discrimination as to
preceuenl3, i5 10
heart oyerowng with love for the multiform mon
arcby under which he has suffered Europe they say has
oppressed aud starved them TO such degree that they
forced to leave but ha each Of them still loves the
land in which he starved and hates this soil where he
finds work and food and shelierhaie the land ia which
ho is placed political equality with the highestwhee
be may go and he istswhere churches are open
his family and schools to his childrenwhere land the
best in the world and cheapest invites him to become an
independent frechoder instead of being starving tenant
to pampered landord-and where, after reasonable
Time he may share in the work of his own government
or aspire to its honors il deserving.
All this seems very absurd but when knownohins inn
aginaton draws the conclusion from this airy and empty
allegation the acme of absurdy and inconsistency is
reached That conclusion is that all foreigners, united in
their hatred Of this country also united in a
design cooperate aud combine in overturning
it! United they must be- or their fears would have no
shadow of cause No matter what may be their difference
of religion language training and preudces Spanish and
Turks, Irish and llungarians, Poles and Frenchmen,
whether in the woods Of Maine the mountains of Pennsyl
vania the prares of Illinois, the hills of Texas, and
whether they have been year ten thirty
our SOIL all represented to be in conspiracy against the
native citizens be to abolish the present form OF
government and to subject themselves and all Others in
discriminatory to the absolute domination OF foreign
| power.
Attracted here by the freedom of our institutions the
erty glowing in their bosoms and hatred Of tyrants
fresh in their memory told that they all desire to
destroy those institutions and to substitute tyranny Of
the worst and most absolute kind. Taught at home to
look upon their European neghhors as enemies, we are
told that they have forgotten their early aversion to theil
hereditary foes but have failed to form any attachment
for The land of their adoption the land towards which
their longing eyes have been turned since early childhood
/ with mingled enthusiasm and reverence
But tell u.s. ye sapent votares of Sam, if they so love
their native land why do they not return when, as in
thousands Of instances, they have grown wealthy here
Why do they buy lands and build houses for themselves
and their families here instead Of sending them all beck to
The land in which they born2 Is that evidence Of
the superior estimation they put upon their native country
Tell u.s. too, where your exact arithmetic has marked the
limit of this foreign ant Does it extend to the third
only to the second generation, is the simple accident Of
birth on this side the Atlantic the magic test OF patriot
ism? What position do you assign those unfortunateE
whose cradle the emigrant ship and whose lullaby
i the of nd-ocean waves?