Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-30
Prineiple. and Policy Of the American Par.

Principles and Policy Of the American Par.
ty..No. z.
The next topic which propose to discuss ID
the immigration to this country.--it growth, ex-
tent and character-and its relations to crime
pauperism, social and political order, and td
Southern institutions. - .4..f,...s..
If the enquiry we're propounded to any candid
man, whether, in bis opinion, there Is any great
nation in Europe, al the present time, which ID
capable of sustaining republican institutions, the
answer would necessarily be in the negative
England, the most enlightened and best educated
in the principles of liberty of all the countries Of
the old world. has made the experiment and
failed France, which boasts of its refinement
and civilization, and which has outstripped eve
nv other country in its progress in the arts and
sciences. has twice made the effort, and after
passing through the most appalling scenes Of an
archy and blood, has relapscd into .despotlsIn- -
Neither Russia, Prussia nor Austria, has ever
yentured on the hopeless attempt. The spas
modic commissions in Italy and Hungary, have
not been marked by single circumstance tend
ina to indicate that those who melted the people
TO insurrection had the faintest comprehension
of the principles of national freedom. And yet
Il Is from these countries that the immigrants
flock to our shores. As general rule too, l
NAV add that those who come, are not OF. the
better classes-not those who are educated and
prosperous in their own country,-but the igno-
rant. the starving and the depraved-thOse who
'leaye their country for their country's good. /"
That there are many exceptions, 1 am willing to
admit. but that the general remark is correct,
will not be denied by any who have. seen the
hordes of foreigners who are crowding to our
northwestern States, or who have visited our
lines of internal improvements and the out skirts
and alleys of our cities, or who have inspected
the criminal calendars of our courts. - di.0s t
Assuming their proportions to be true, the en-
auiry very naturally suggests ITSELF If these peo
ple-eyeii the best of thenl-are incapable OF
maintaining q free government at home, what adj
ditional qualifications do they acquire for the
falfllment of the high functions of citizen OF
republic. by being transported across the Attain
tica DO they change their nature,-their hab-
its--their prejudces, by change in their geo.
graphical position? Do they become wiser and
better men by a voyage across the Ocean! No
one will contend for proposition SO absurd upon
its face. How then caniwe expect immigrants,
forthwith to understand the theory and practical
operations of our complicated system of govern
ments, and to be prepared to participate inteli-
gently in their administration If the whole
population was of this character, all will admit
that our government could not stand many years.
Nay if one-haJfo Or one-third Of our people were
foreigners, of recent importations it must be
monifest, that the existence of our institutions
would be in imminent jeopardy. And If such
be the fact does it not follow that precisely as
you augment the proportion of the foreign to the
native population You augment the perils totree-
dom2 =, ~ ir,..saii.. &
Of all governments on earth ours requires the
largest amount of virtue and intelligence to sus-
tain it, Its very foundation is laid in the virtue.
intelligence and patriotism of the people. Let
them become corrupt, ignorant, or careless in
the discharge of their duties, and the govern
ment can no longer stand Ignorance may be
tolerated in subject because he has no part to
perform but to yield obedience. But where the
people are the sources of all power--where they
perform important functions in the administra-
ton of public affairs, if they are deficient either
in knowledge of their duties or in the integrity
necessary to faithful discharge of them, the
whole machinery must at once become deranged,
and the most disastrous consequences ensue.
Bearing these facts in mind, let us now turn
to the statistical tables, and see what has been
the extent of immigration to this country, since
1890, Che earliest date from which we have any
information to be relied onD to the beginning OF
the year 1865.
or IL. ~ k,..