The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-25
From the Concord N. II. Patriot.
Rights of Naturalized Citizens,

dollar.
From the Concord N. II. Patriot.
Rights Of Naturalized Citizens.
REGENTS events in England and Ireland,
growing out of the Fenian movement, have
naturally excited our Irish citizens. and
have brought into discussion the old ques-
ton of the rights of naturalized citizens
AS in every case where there is supposed TO
be a chance to make political capital, the
radical leaders seem to have jumped on to
this hobby, and are attempting to ride it. A
great public meeting was held at Mauehes-
ter, last week, to give expression to the pub
lie feeling upon the subject; and Hartman,
j. II. Ella, and other prominent radicals,
made speeches; and Gov. Smyth, Senator
Patterson and A. F. Stevens wrote letters
all in earnest defence of the rights of natu-
| ralized citizens as In all time defined and
| defended By the democratic party!
We suppose there is not an intelligent
| foreign born citizen in the country who has
not general knowledge of the positio of
| parties upon this subject, from the founda
ton OF the government to the present time.
From the beginning the democracy have
been right and consistent upon the subject
always repudiating the doctrine of perpet
ual allegiance once a citizen always
citizen ~ so persistently adhered to BY Eu
| ropean governments. Jefferson, Madison,
| Jackson and Pierce, as Presidents, boldly
affirmed and defended the American doe
trine that naturalized citizen is entitled to
all the privileges, rights and immunities
| which appertair to the native.
This doctrine has, from the beginning,
been strenuously opposed by the radicals
and their political progenitors. From the
time of the "Alien and Sedition Laws" I'M
der John Adams, through the war of 1912,
TO the days of know nothingism. they have
never failed to take the side of the oppres-
sor have never failed to throw every pos.
sible obstacle in the way of the enjoyment
of their rights by naturalized citizens; and
they have never failed to denounce and vii
lily the democracy for their admitted fidelity
in this regard.
The doctrine of the democracy upon the
rights of American citizenship NATIVE and
foreign alike) was thus admirably stated by
Gen. Pierce in his Inaugural address:
The rights which belong to us as nation
are not alone TO be regarded, but those which
pertain to every citizen in his individual cana
city at home and abroad, must be sacredly main
tanned So long as he can discern every star in
its place upon that ensign, without wealth to
purchase for him preferment, or title to secure
for him place, it will be his privilege and must
be his acknowledged right, to stand even in the
presence OF princes. with a proud consciousness
that he is himself one of nation of sovereipns
ard that he cannot, on legitimate pursuit wander
so far from home, that the agent whom he shall
leave behind in the place which l now occupy,
Will not see that no rude hand of power or tyran-
zeal passion is laid upon him with impunitv-
tie must realize that upon every sea, on every
soil where our enterprise may rightfully seek the
protection of our flag American citizenship IL
an Inyloiahle panoply for the security of Ameri-
can rights.
Here was the theory the profession; and
before six months had passed, an occasion
occurred for its application. And the result
proved, not only the sincerity of the profess
sion, but that the doctrine was designed to
cover the case of naturalized citizens. Mar
tin hosta, an Austrian subject, came to this
country and declared his intention to become
citizen. Having lived here two years, he
visited Turkey, and was there seized by Aus
TRAN officials and taken on board a ship with
the avowed purpose of carrying him to Aus
tria. By the prompt and decided action Of
Commodore Ingraham, who happened there
with a vessel of war, Kosta was released and
returned to this country. The Emperor of
Austria made a grave complaint to our gov
eminent of the conduct of our officers;
claimed Kosta as his subject, and demanded
his surrender, disavowal of the acts of our
officers, and satisfaction for the alleged out
rage. President Pierce. in his first annual
message. after detailing the facts, thus states
the result:
"After a careful consideration of the case,
came to the conclusion that Kosta was seized
without legal authority at Smyrna that he was
wrongfully detained board of the Austrian
brig-of-war: that, at the time of his SEIZURE he
was clothed with the nationality of the United
States and that the acts of our officers under the
circumstances of the case, were justfable, and
their conduct has been fully approved by me,
and compliance with the several demands of
the Emperor of Austria has been declined.
This was approved by the country, and we
here have the theory and practice of the
democratic party on this great subject.
Oppressive Taxation.
From all points of the compass we hear
loud complaints obout the oppressiveness of
taxation. In every direction public meet.
ings are held to bewail the enormity of the
evil, or to devise measures of prevention.
Iaxes-United States, state, county, munic-
ipal-taxes to pay the expenses of the gen
eral government, to carry on the state gov.
ernment taxes for fees, for stamps, for roads,
for bridges, for streets, for schooIs-taxes.
whose name is legion-stand at every mans
elbow, every hour in the day, crying, with
unceasing importantly, "Give, give p The
head of family would add this or that i'm.
provement to his lot, or this or that com.
fort to his home but the moment he sits
down to mediate in sober earnestness about
these matters, taxation, like Banquo's bloody
ghost' stalks in to push him from his chair.
FROM = Dan to Berrsheba, the people are 90
ing wAa over this paramount question of
taxes.-Chicago Republican.
When it is borne in mind that the above
is taken from leading editorial in A lead.
ing radical Journal paper owned by ia
cob Bum, a heavy bondholder and extern
sive banker-it will not be said, even by our
radical friends, that all the complaints of op-