St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-06-02
Massachusetts, rs Foreigners.


new in ectasics over the recent action oil
Massachusetts, in her relation to foreigners
Massachusetts in her sovereign capacity as
= state, and in conformity with one Of the
cardinal doctrines Of the Cincinnati plat
form has settled the domestic inst,tution''o of
citizenship in her own way and because
she has done so, the organs Of that party
most bitterly denounce her and charge her
action home upon the party which is there
in power. In thus amending her consti-
tuition, Massachusetts has done just what
she had right to do, but not what We
believe to have been her best policy. She
has established dangerous precedent for
other States to follow, and given. rise to a
spirit Of jealousy among foreigners which
will require years Of Cancellation to SUBJ
due. But we deny that to be Repsbi-
can measure. The Republican purity is no
more responsible fer what the people Of
Massachusetts may do than the Demo-
.rs:ic party for the crimes of the citizens
VI South Carolina. A large portion Of the
Democracy Of tho Southern States advo-
eate publicly the re-opcning Of the Afri-
can Slave Trade; but is the greet Demo-
cratic party responsible for it. We pre-
sumo there are but few Northern Demo-
crats who would justify such . measure,
aud still the cases We have instanccd are
precisely similar. 49,,
We ra;Ist estimate party by the tone
Of liz lrading s;eneralitics, and only by so
doing can VIC arrive at correct conclusions.
We are not the apologist Of the Repab-
Ac>a party, much less Of the Republicans
Of Massachusetts,. We have no sympathy
With any party whose political creed is b.
sed upon antipathies towards classes, Sec
lions, races or colors. Our doctrine is
Democratic equality in its most enlarged
and liberal sense, an equality which per-
neates the masses, elevating the dcpress-
ed, aud depressing the elevated, and bring
ing all to: social and political level:
The language, country, rank or religion
Of sn individual determine nothing &C.
cording to our estimate Of humanity
Whoever bears about him the image Of
his Creator and conforms to the rules and
regulations Of civilized society, whether
black or white, bond or free, native or for
eign born, We accept as entitled to all the
privileges and imrnunities which We Gu
joy. The rights Of citizenship unlike
those Of wealth or Of nobility are not do
graded By being too generally enjoyed.
The universal aspect Of our institutions
Is what gives this Republic its cnlighten-
cd prestige among the governments IF the
earth. Should We cease to tender to the
individual those general guarantees Of e.
quality for which we are rcputed abroad
which now yearly pcrsuadcs so many for
signcrs to their enjoyment we should soon
become the mcanest nation upon the globe.
We have no reason to envy the foreigner 4
home and an inheritance in our midst
So long as there is an acre Of public do
main uncultivated, improvements to be
made, cities to build, deserts to subdue
and domestic interests to develop and
maintain. So long as cultivation has
scarcely penetrated beyond the borders Of
national production and our future lies bu-
ried deep in the oblivion Of our u,ldeyolo-
ped resources, We may not wisely envy the
! lcsTcigncr who has sacrificed I'll for the no.