Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-26
CLEARFIELD, Pa, MARCH 2s, 1856.
Nominees Of the Philadelphia Convention.
"FREEpoM OF SPEECH. -

"FREED0M OF SPEECH"
In an article under this caption, "our neigh
bor'' of the Republican makes use of the fol-
lowing language
ssThs great achievement of those eIgimitive
days was the guarantee of freedom Of speech
to ersry citizen. We would maintain that qua
rantee involate. Can our neighbor say as
much Would not he and his party deny to
the naturalized citizen, and to the citizen of a
certain religious belief, the right to hold of
fee 20
1t is singular way, of verify, that our
down-street ssneighbor'' has of ssmaintaining
inviolate" the guarantee of freedom of speech,
when in the very next paragraph to the one in
which he asks the above questions, he would
not have ministers speaking ssafter the i'm
pious manner of the three thousand New Eng
land clergymen in their remonstrance against
the passage. of the Kansas Nebraska bill 20
Is that esmaintaining that guarantee invio-
later II it is, We acknowledge our inability to
discern in what way
Americanism has been SO much discussed
within the two last years, that it was thought
no Misrepresentation of the principles upon
which it is based, could exist. But, it seems,
not, we will not say. have difficulty in arriving
at a correct understanding of the same. The
evil which would result from an exercise of
foreign influence in our governmental affairs,
attracted the attention of the statesmen of our
country long ago, and induced them to utter
their condemnation of it. Washington him
self set the example in this respect. The evil
tendencies of foreign influences caused the
greatapostIe of modern Democracy, General
jackson, to declare that owe must become
more Americanised.' "Pennsylrania's favor
te son." James Buchanan, was in the earlier
days of his career, impressed with the same
idea. and eontended, in speech delivered at
Lancaster On the 4th July, 1915, which we find
IN an exchange, that
ave ought TO use every honest exertion to
turH out of power those weak and wicked men
who have abandoned the political path marked
out for this country by Washington, and whose
wild and visionary theories have been at length
tested by experience and found wanting.
.dbore all, ace ought TO drire from shores for
eis,n Influence, and cherish e1ctgsiUsky .aneTicdn
feeling. Foreign infIn:ace has been IN erery age
the curse of Republics. Area
dy our Irfant Republic has felt her withering
influence. Already has she involved US in a
war. which had nearly cost US our existence.
Let as then learn irisdom from, experience, and
forever 6anish This fiend from our society,""
There is what James Buchanan, the choice
of the Democracy of this State for President,
said relative to foreign influence. AT the time
it was spoken, it was regarded as being ortho-
dox. Why is it not nowa Why is it that at
the present time, when our elections are being
controlled by foreign votes, the principle is
it not for the self-evident reason, that their
political success in great measure depends
upon securing the foreign voter That is the
correct solution of the problem. 1t was truly
said that ssmsn change, principles never -
In the few lines quoted at the beginning OF
this article, the question is asked whether the
American party would not s.deny to the natu-
ranzed citizen, and to the citizen OF certain
religious belief" which means Roman Cath
lie, ssthe right to hold ofice.'' What s.right''
has any foreign catholic to hold our offices
Where did he acquire it7 And by what au-
thority was he invested with it? Does blind
obedience to a foreign spiritual head, confer ii
npon iIim7 Does his adherence to the pecu-
liar dogmas, superstitions and prejudices OF
the Church of Rome, or even an abandoning OF
his adherence to a temporal prince of Europe
or any other section of the world, bestow up
on him such a ssright?'' Has he any right al
all to hold ofIice7 Certain privileges are gran
ted upon certain conditions; but to talk of the
right of foreigner to hold office, is an absur-
aity. The constitution forbids "naturalized
citizen'' from holding the Office of President
oethe United States, and, we believe, the same
rule applies to the Office of Vice President
Row dreadfully proscriptive the Constitution
and the American party are The Catholics
so far IS their religious privileges arc con
cerned are not prosecuted in the United States
nor does the American party wish to persecute
them. They hare their priests and churches
and are allowed the full enjoyment of these,
With their religion no party wishes to inter
fere. Politically they are distrusted, and fol
this they have themselves to blame. Their
subserviency to foreign priesthood and for
eign spiritual head, superinduced this distrust.
20 q free use of the balIot-box, after q COM
pliance with the requirements of. the. constitu-
tion and laws, no one presumed to object; but
when they were found, as a church, in obedi-
snce TO the instructions of their priests, who
arc bound, by solemn cath, to obey the Pope
q Rome, who is, and has always been opposed
20 liberal institutions and a free uss OF the BIZ