The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-06
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D G, MARCH g. 1856.

presuming upon its prestige, is now suffering
itself to be ruled by old Wings, and the mean
est of them at that-a party in which true
Democrats are now step-childreD, because Fed
eralism now rules the household; but severe as
that struggle may be to you to decide upon
leaving the mere Democratic outer garment
that struggle is aggravated for every adopted
citizen, because the party to him has been, not
only the embodiment of his principles, it was
to him the buwark of his social and political
rights as a citizen and man. You, sir, and l.
know why the German vote has been cast, almost
as a unit, for the Democratic nominees; and
we know the influences which have drawn the
adopted citizens, in mass, to the Democratic
organization, or rather, let me say, the preju-
dices which have repealed them from the other
party.
This state of things was an unnatural one 1t
prevented-and in Republic this is of the
very first approximations influences which
make men, generally, become Democrats or
conservatives, according to natural, education
al, or social causes, from having their legiti-
mate effect upon the adopted citizen. This
have ever regretted because foresaw the i'll
consequences which would flow from such
state of politics. 1t has bred Know Nothing
ism, and it has embittered native prejudices.
1t has drawn upon unoffending inhabitants the
wrath of politicians.
had hoped that the great principles of Lib
erty, which shine out so cheeringly out of your
address and platform, would have induced you
to speak out without reserve, upon the Native
+ American question; and that, henceforth, false
Americanism would be dead, and that in it's
stead would rise pure and liberal Republican
ism, and that it would occupy such a position
as would permit the adopted citizen to adopt
or reject his political party, from the same gem
eral reasoning which influences the native cit
| izen.
have no threats to make, and shall not pre-
sumo to speak for the Germans of the United
States. Whether the old influences are to con-
tinue, which give such strength to the Demo
cratic party; or whether the adopted citizens
will, with generous confidence, overlook your
silence; and whether, trusting to the glorious
principles contained in the address, they will
say to themselves, "the warmth of truth, liber-
ty, and right, which animates every line, can
not come from the hearts of narrow nativists, -
is not for me to say. This / do know that
however dark the mind may be, one ray of
light, one great, honest principle, will, if thor
oughly adopted, regenerate it, by ultimately
driving out the bad principles which had pre-
vailed In 1t: and, in this sense am free to say
that the applause which / saw was sincere, with
which the principles of the address were cheer
ed by many who were we'll known to be mem.
bers of the " Order" has given me hope and
faith that the spirit of freedom, of liberality,
and of humanity, will, since it has entered their
hearts, work out their publication, and drive
out of them the unhealthy, illiberal fogs and
mists of Know Nothingism.
shall have to report upon the proceedings
of this Convention to my constituents. / shall
reflect long and well upon all have seen. /
al.
of my constituents; but of this you may be
assured, we will decide without prejudice, as
sober reason shall dictate.
You may ask me why do not offer an
amendment to the address or the resolutions.
l answer, because l am too proud to beg as
favor, what / claim as right. / want no res
olutions which spring from mere policy. !
would not now accept any Anti-Know Nothing
plank in your platform. We, adopted citizens,
do not want liberal paper resolutions we want
a hberality which is conviction and an honest
sentiment, and not one which emanates from
expediency. To now add anything to your
platform, after the remarks made by me, would
lay you open to the suspicious and doubts of
both the adopted and the native citizens.
In conclusion, let me say, that when l speak
of German citizens and German voters, l feel
always the misapprehension to which it lays
me- anu TIC NeruduS GENERALLY, open. 10
not misunderstood US. We are Germans by
birth, Americans by choice. We never shall
forget our native homes-we love, we venerate
them-hut we love, too, with equal tenderness,
the land of Washington, Jefferson, and Jack
son. Bitter prejudices force upon us the ne
cessity of speaking of ourselves as Germans.
The distinction was made by others, before it
was made by us; and we will hail, as au augury
of better days, the time when, socially and po-
litically, all will act upon the motto of "Liber-
ty, Equality, and Fraternity" Then, Native
Americans will see, in Germans love of his
fatherland and of his native language, no bar
to his being an American and to his being a
co-patriot. Then, too, the native German will
see in Native Americans only fellow-citizens,
with whom he differs only in the accident OF
birth, but with whom he agrees in loving and
promoting the welfare of a common country.