The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-11
q. Carresnandence Of lie Guardinn

= MoNrEREY, Mass, July 20, 1859
FRIEND Rich I'm common with your
self and western Republicans generally,
| was greatly disappointed at the adop-
ton, by the Republican State Of Massa.
chusetts, Of the DISTINGUISHING amend
ment to its Constitution For q time l
felt strongly indisposed to affiliate with
the party here. supposing that there was
an incompatible difference Of views be-,
tween them and me. But upon better
acquaintance, l have learned that it was
not their measure-that the Republican
party of Massachusetts is not response
BILE for it, except for suffering it by de-
fault. You remember it was carried by
minority vote. Yet, minority as it was,
it was made up of three very different ell
ements. Doubtless some Republicans,
perceiving no better way to prevent the
corrupt and fraudulent naturalization, at
wholesale, of newly-imported foreigners,
for election purposes-an abuse which
no one will deny calls for some efficient
remedy supported the amendment on
that ground. But these were a minority,
of the minority, and far from truly rep
resenting the sentiment Of the Party
Then there were good many Democrats,
who, doubtless, rejoiced in the opportu-
nifty to effect double purpose, viz: to
vote according to the feelings of their
hearts, and at the same time to throw the
odium OF that vote upon another party.
The Democratic Party do indeed some
times pay assiduous court to !" our adop-
ted citizens )" but it is chiefly to the ig-
norant and gullible Irish, whom they use
as their voting cattle, to whom they es-
pecially devote their attentions, and not
to the thinking and liberty loving Ger
mans. and the refugees from other op.
pressed nationalities Of continental Eu-
rope. Finally and principally, the /" dark.
lantern party" some vestiges of which
yet remain in Massachusetts-mo than
ever before entitled to the name, since all
the blinds of their lodges are close shut,
though the fire upon their affairs is not ex-
tinguished, and who being in voting
minority, everywhere. trust to fnesse for
the achievement of their purposes-to
them belongs whatever credit is due, to
this measure. 1t is theirs in spirit and
in fact. l believe tbs generally true
that whenever a party is got up on a par
ticularly unsound basis, or with especially
unworthy aims and purposes--in short,
one which is in any way pre-eminently
meant is sure to take to itself not IN
ly very good and respectable name, but
one to which, on the score Of appropriate
ness, it is least Of all entitled. At least
this is true Of the self-styled American
Party" The term American" is ma
tional, and no mere party has any right
to it. Least Of all a party which in the
very briefest of partizan lives, has con-
tinued to bring disgrace upon it, and ir-
reparable injury to the couatfy, by the
narrow bigotry and illiberalily of its
doctrines, its short-sighted policy, and
its deceptive and disingenuous arts and
appliances. To that party of mischief
makers, who /" know nothing" but evil,
belongs the just responsibility Of this
odious, unjust and impolitic measure
On this question, the great majority of
New England Republicans do not differ
materially from the Republicans of the
West. Yours, &C., '''..'
4a.ao s.rrsa E. G. B. 4