Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-03-19
For thu Delaware Republican.
THAT WORD sc AMERICAN.o

Nh. EDITOR Nearly every citizen of VIII
mingtOn undoubtedly knows there Is an order
in this city called the " American Mechanics"
1t was organized by some mechanics born in
this country, who wished TO unite themselves
together for the purpose of mutual assistance
IN time Of sickness and distress, and they gave
their body the appropriate name of American.
1t is beneficial to its members in many re-
speets, but does not claim to be political.
Each member pays into the treasury small
weekly stipend while enjoying health, from
which he is supported during sickness; and il
thrown out Of employment his brethren unite
III HIDING him another situation.
This order, founded for 50 honorable pur-
pose, has Il large number Of members in this
city, and is divided into different councils. One
Of these having felt greatly tho noed OF incor-
porltion, applied meeky and respectfully to
the Legislature ut its last session for tho act
but through tho wisdom or prejudice of that
body, the petition was disregarded and the pal
try favor refused. Now, why was this Ger
tainly there was Il reason. Societies, beneficial
and otherwise, We're incorporated during the
last session. Lodges of Masons and Odd Fell
lows composed Of Americans and foreigners;
the SacHgcrbunic, composed exclusively Of Ger
mans but the American mechanics w,GIIe eCIsed
| mechanics disguised themi Are the mechan-
les such diSgracetul class of citizens that they
0
| lhat could not have been the objection. Every
man who had seat in the Legislature must
| know that some of the most honorable, intoll-
| gent, wealthy, and useful men in the country
/ have been mechanics. The world owes as much
10 that class of citizens as tn any other and the
members of tho Legislature knew this to bo
| true.
Could il have been on account Of politics
that the act OF incorporation was refused
Members Of I'll political parties belong to she
/ order. What then was the objectionl Mr..
| Editor, could the word American have been the
| stumbling block, and they fear lest the MEM
bers Of that body were native born citizens and
loved their country, and forsooth opponents of
the Democratic party1 The former part of the
superstition is true, but the latter part is not.
We're tho American Mechanics r, fused the act
Of Incorporation on account of unfortunately
having pretiXed tho word American, for dar-
ing to love and make use of tho title Of their
country II this was the case, would il be
despicablo or not
The SGeagrrbunle society was Incorporated |;
the mechanics asked the same favor.
Tho former, composed of respectable Ger
mans, was entitled to, and it was right to give
them what they asked for. But the fact is a
deplorable one, that the honor, virtue, and con-
sistcncy OF the servants Of the people who met
ut Dover last winter, would not allow them to
grant the latter, who had the misfortune to bo,
" by chance" il not in principle by birth, ma
tive Americans. This was one of the greatest
insults ever offered to the American character
il Delaware, or any other State in the Union
We object not to legislation for strangers
when they are worthy OF it, hut ask some at
tentiOn to our own wants and necessities.
A MEMBER OF THE ORDER.