The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-05-28
The Massachusetts Acknowledgment
and Stampede Of the Republican Party.

and Stampede of the Republican Party.
1t is really enough to make horse !
LAUGH to witness the fright and trepidation |
OF the Republican papers and leaders IN |
the Northwest since the adoption OF the
constitutional amendment in Massachu-
sets compelling naturalized foreigners TO
reside TWO years in the State alter beeom-
ing citizens before they can vote, while
runaway negroes are allowed to vote with
out any such probation When this I'M
fortunate amendment was pending IN the
Massachusetts, legislature, our Western
Republicans begged and prayed their breth-
rem not to drive all the Germans and Nor
werians out of their ranks by adopting 1t,
But their prayers were as the idle wind
In Massachusetts, Republicanism is strong
enough to act out all its instincts, and ev-
cry member of the legislature voted as he
felt inclined There We're none but dem
ocratic votes against the amendment in
tie legislature, and it easily passed by the
Constitutional majority Of two-thirds. But
next it had to be submitted to the people
and again our Western republicans begged
and implored their brethren in Massachu-
sets 10 play the lypocritc, to vote, not as
thev felt, but TO save the party i'll the
Northwest. and TO kill the Odlous amend
rnent But again instinct was stronger
than policS and the amendment was car
RED at the polls by the usual republican
majority OF twenty or thirty thousand.
Thus the deed was done Republican,
ism III Massachusetts, had fixed a stigma
upon the misunderstanding him below
the negro: and at once there commenced
such q stampede of Germans and Norwe-
gians from the republican ranks as to
make the Trumbulls and Grimeses, aud
Loveiovs of the West turn pale. What
was to be done? Whether twas nobler to
let the Germans go to grass and keep the
thousands of Know Nothings i'll the West
who have Joined themselves to the repub
Leans. or try to call back the Germans by
offending the Know Notlings2 The lat
tarcourse appears to be preferred in most
localities. and accordingly we have TrUm
bull, Lovcjoy, Judd, Gov. Grimes, Wash
hurrc. and we know not how many moro
leading republicans busy writing letter:
discla.,ning that they were in favor of thu
famous Massachusetts, amendment.
Well, what Of it? Suppose Lovejoy
Massachusetts, amendment Are they tn
republican party? Does this opposition
Change the general feeling and a'.io,ps o
the republican party towards foreigners
Can they deny that III all New England, a
least. the republican party, with scarcel
al exception, approve and heartily endors
the Massachusetts, amendment? And
they do not in the Northwest why is it
Simply because here republicanism
sc, 200 weak-is yet dependent upon tn
aid of German and Norwegian votes, an
dare not act out It's instincts. In this cit.
doubtless, there is not a repn,h,;
would below 1'----
enrichment at a German meetin:
and were the issue presented at the poll
here, would vote against it; yet can Oh
Germans have forgotten that more tina
half Of the members Of this same republ
ca,i party Of Ottawa once belonged to IT,
know Nothing Lodges?
The difference between the Democrat
and Republicans on this question in refer
cnce TO foreigners lies simply in this tina
the Democrats have years ago engrafte'
IN their creed, as cardinal principle, t
deal kindly and literally towards foreign
ers and admit them to citizenship as earl
rs the present naturalization laws allow
To this there Is no dissent among them il
any quarter of the Union, whether vote
are 10 be made by it or lost 1t is wit
them principle. With the Republican
on the other hand il is q matter of eo72ei
et-H In Massachusetts, no votes are to b
Loot by expressing and degrading foreign
ers, and SO they adopt rroScriptive rcstri
tons; in the west such measures woul
lose them votes, and SO they oppose then
Let them get strong and independent i
the west, however, as they are in Mass
chusetts, and would foreigners fare bet,,
here than there?
Virginia Election.
The telegraph dispatches in YESTERDAY
Chicago paparS give q few rat,,r,s IF III