True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-18
WHY Do WE NEED AN AMERICAN
PARTY!

xAh1 /
In suggesting an answer to this ques-
ton, says the Brooklyn Evening Star,
We do not propose going over the entire
ground So often occupied by the advocates
of American principles. We shall direct
out attention mainly to those who cher
ished The doctrines Of our party, as foun-
ed in sound policy, and commencing them
selves to the judgment of earnest, patri.
otic men, believe, either that the ptacIi'
cal efficiency Of the party, as a separate
organization has ceased, for The present,
or that other and more important issues
are at stake, to which ours must be post
poned That large body Of our citizens
do thus believe we do not doubt; and it
is equally certain that many who were
once heartily with us, are now found in
the hostile ranks. But let us see il their
position is tenable one.
That the American party has already
achieved work Of great and lasting i'm.
porlance, we cannot deny. If it had me-
YER carried au election; if it had not ef-
fec,ed the preference Of native born
veran adopted citizen in a single instances
lift had done no more than call attention
10 this great subject, induced the people
to look at the evils that existed in their
midst, and given the Question of .Ameri,
canism vitality and force, its labors have
been of incalculable advantage. But il
has done more than this. 1t has given
form and expression to sentiment that
is gradually bu! surely permeating all the
better classes Of sociely-the sentiment
that, il our country is to maintain aposi
ton deservedly in the front ranks o
States, we must jealously preserve ou
nationality; and to that end commit th
control Of our public affairs only 10 thoS,
whu are with US in thought, action, edu
cation and birth. These are its indireC
fruits. Direct good has been accomplish
ed, in many instances--in a reformatio
in the character of public officers, and
the administration Of pubic business.
To suspend its efforts at this poin
when the work is but begun, and whe
the fields are ripe 10 the harvest, is
prove false to its trust. The corruption
against which we have commended are n
eradicated, they are simply brought TO
head. There probably never was tin
whom raw, uneducated aliens so impuder
" thrust themselves forward as caudidat
for Offices of trust and emolument; whit
foreign political influence was so rampa
when ambitious demagogues so true
led to foreigners, and when principl
were so shamelessly and completely sa
vi6ced to court an anti.American oonst
uency, as the present. Read the list
delegates to the Conventions Of the 4" D
mocratlc" party, consider the recent
ton of that delectable assemblage at S
raeuse, and see how completely that p
tyis in the hands of the emgrant pCpu
tion. Look at the social and moral e'
that flourish unchecked in our midst
mean those which are made the subj
Of Illegal tra6c, and the source OF unh
gain the resistance and violation Of
daily Witnessed, and daily unpunisht
consider who are the criminals, and
how. on account Of Eoyal,y to" Democ
.cy," and the electioneerins abilities Of
offenders, the law fails TO be admins
ed. Is il in the face of evils such as tn
chat we are told that the mission OF
American party is Tor the present fu'
sd3
II then the work Of the American
" 10 sill before it, how can it be n
~