Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1863-12-15
Unity of Citizenship.

We have never regarded with favor the ef-
forts Of designing politicians to divide the
American people into sectional parties or
classes, distinct from each other, and actua-
ted by geographical or other prejudiccs. In
voting, it should never be asked where can
didatc was born, but whether ne was true
American citizen, devoted to the best inter-
ests of his country and to such principles as
we conceive will best promote the general
good. A just conception of citizenship em-
braces the unity CT the whole of our country,
native and adopted, sinking all local pride OF
birth or vanity Of race in the one grand idea
of American nationality. When patriotism,
disinterestedncSs, and the calm counsclS OF
sober reason prevail, this true position will
be occupied by the people of the United
States, and will be one Of the guiding prlnci-
pies of our Government. \ departure from
this principle was first brought about by the
party at whose door rests the responsibility
of the Southern rebellion. SectiOnalism was
unknown to the country until introduced by
leaders of the Democratic party. They were
the first to inquire into the nativity Of candi-
dates for office they were the first to single
out and appeal directly to naturalizcd citizens
as such for their support. This infamous
dcmagogism prevailed and won for time,
but its prevalence over patriotism was sad
event for the country. 1t Sowed the seeds OF
scctionalism, of class citizenship and discord
broadly over the land, arraying State against
State, and exciting antagOnlSm between ma
tive and naturaliZcd citizens. 1t sunk hon.
esty, capability and fitness, and made dcvo-
ton to negro slavery and sectional interests
the only passport to power. And when their
demagoguc arts failed, the leaders of the
party in question, as we have seen, were pre-
pared to plunge the country into civil war.
Their ambition and lust of power could not
tolerate a change and return to the pure
nationality of the carly days Of the
Republic. The glaring sins Of the Demo-
cratic party still survive in the Cop
pcrhcad party of to-day. American nation
ality is nothing to them; they are willing
to see it trampled under foot by rebel or
foreign foe. They are Northern men with
| Southern principles they are intense lovers
Of negro slavery they are, par excellence,
the only friends of the naturalized citizen.
Groycling i'll the narrow prcjudices Of section
| alism, they forget country devoted to their
infamous idol, slavery, they would see the
Union destroyed rather than it should perish;
and needless of the welfare Of the foreign
born citizen, they would drag him down to
perdition as their accomplice in the ruin Of
the country, by exciting prCjudices connected
with his nativity and arraying him Ill class
distinct from the natiye-born. The natural
lied citizens Of America owe an undivided
allegiance to their adopted mother, the Uni
ted States. Not to any one State'ln particu.
lar, not to any section of the country, but to
the whole Union. This is the meaning of
the obligation which they take when they
become American citizens. That party, then,
which tells them that they owe any debt Of
friendship Or gratitude to Massachusetts or
South Carolina, to New York or Virginia,
superior to their obligations and fealty to the
National Government of the United States,
is striving to deceive and mislead them, and
is no true friend. The political history OF
the country plainly shows that naturallzed
citizens are indebted for all the privileges they
enjoy, for all the favor and fostering friend
ship which have been extended to them in
their adopted home, not to any State OF sec
ton, but to that embodiment of the whole
Union, the General Government at Wash
ington. They, above all men, should be true
to the Union, for it has been and will remain
their best friend. The spirit which invokes
classification Of citizens, whether it is in
tended to apply to native or foreign-born, is
despicable. No matter where man may
have been born-whether in Ireland, Eng
land, Germany or France - he virtually
abandons and sinks the distinctive name of
his native nationality when he assumes that
Of an American citizen. Then, to all intents
and purposes, he is an American, and he
best fulflls his duties as such by becoming
homogeneous and thoroughly identified with
the natiye-born. Classi6cations which would
divide citizens into hostile factions because
of different birth-places have their origin IN
the baser passions of the human heart, and
no right thinking or patriotic man will en-
courage them, but win bestow his efforts in
the endeavor to promote unity and equality
in citizenship.-SierTa Democrat.