The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-14

ing June bUtht VIII lalI IIOfjVVUjVOV buol
l. of the expenditures. The secretary Of til
treasury, in March last, apprised congress {
the approaching Disaster
HOratiO Seymour on Kuow-Fot hin gism.
Twelve years ago, Horatio Seymour, tn
present democratic candidate for the pres
dency, was asked to go to Massachusetts an
assist the democracy there in throwing baol
the tide Of know nottingham and in securing
the repeal Of the proscriptiye provisions o
the Massachusetts constitution. He went
aud in an address to the people at Spring
field in that state he delivered one Of the
most eloquent and effective protests against
the creed of know.nothingism which ever
found its way into print. The following ex.
tract is taken from that address:
The know nothing idea that men will make
better citizens if deprived of political prvil.
eyes, is most undemocratic; that religious
sentiments should be prosecuted aud de
nounced, is most un.AmericRn; and that
homes should be denied the poor and oppres.
sed in our abundant unOCCupied public do
main, is most uncharitsble and unchris.
tan.
What is this emigration that is thus de.
nouuced? 1t is the victory Of our country
and its institutions. 1t is mighty achieve.
ment in our contest for superiority with the
old world. 1t is triumphof peace. It is q
glorious contrast with the devastatons Of
war. 1t annually brings three hundred thou
sand pilgrims and transplants them into
happy homes, making them prosperous, ant
our nation great, while, elsewhere war sac
ritiCes an equal number on the battle hel
aud by loathsOme disease. 1t is the mani
iestaton of the superior power of commerc
over mere martial strength. While grea
nations exhaust their energies, embarrss
their finances, and carry misery and desola
ton into the homes Of their people in trans
porting their armies to death and disease OF
distant shores few mechanics Of this cit
bring greater host across the broad Allan
tin, and never feel that it is more than al
easy and familiar transaction. Compare
with this great movement, the subject Of FL
+ ropean diplomacy are trivial. This is tb
J. great combat which is to telfupOn the dest
, MES of the nation, and the history of tn
6 world. No Alexander or Cesar in til
height Of their cOnquests, ever made sue
acquisitions Of power as immigration bring
to as.
But all those who are against the cause
their country in this contest, contend tina
q emigration brings with its Institutions, poS
: erty and crime. Trace these bands of stron
llmbed but poor foreigners until they paI
T., themselves upon the hitherto useless land q
= the west, and see how wealth is evolved b
their very contact with the soil. They wer
poor, aud the fertile land valueless, but cou
bIue these two kinds Of poverty and tn
J, wealth which alchemists dreamed Of, is tn
| magical result. Whence comes this might
} volume of prosperity which rolls over on
, land Whence the increase in the price {
D farms and broad and untitled lands whic
/ has given to so many of our citizens wealt
!. and prosperity? What gives employmer
to our cars and boats and ships transportin
armies of men, and retransporting the pr
duets of their labor? Stop foreign emigr
ton to this country, and thousands Of tho.
who iguorRntly denouuce the cause of ii
- wealth they enjoy, would find their abundal
.R prosperity wither and die away like Jonah
0. gourd.
~ There is danger that this source Of pro
perity and power will be diverted esewher
!" 1t does not flow to our lands because v
u, alone have fertile lands there are broad u
occupied plains not owned by us, ia Sou
America and Australia. Immigration see
n here religious and political freedom al
y equality. VIII it do 80 hereafter in view
| d, L
lR been perpetrated APPLY for the purposes
y governments who are adopting active mef
ures to turn elsewhere these living strea,
OF population. British naturalization la
Nc are being changed in favor Of the emiRrf
R to the Canadas. Continental government
under the preIext of protecting the healtl.
their subjects, impose ve1stious and emh
ND RAISING restraints upon our vessels engal
r., in their transportation. The diminish
! number of emigrants during the past y
! shows the result.
- Divert immigration from our country, g
ltV. you strike a deadly blow to its prosper
: Why are the farmers of the interior of
,rsl states able to send the fruits of their toll
,.r foreign markets. Mainly because the &C
r Of their transportation is lessened by i'm
grRUons. When we trace out all its inhu
the ces permeating every industrial purpose
that are amazed at the madness and folly t
pre-. seeks to divert it elsewhere, and ashamed
,;,d the bigotry and ignorance which prompts
;, effort. The charges of pauperism and or
- inaltty made against our foreign citiz
are unjust. Their violation of law wi
they are not familiar with our institute
INT and when placed under circumstances
ees great and novel temptations, are no IN
OF frequent than the commission of crimes
OIL those of American birth, when reno
ess from the conventional restraints of kind
and friends, in California, or on the sh,
Ara Il Il e L.