The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-10-19
FOREIGN Association.


become citizens among It's, and
vaiter a short residence and sim,
ple formula of naturalization to
be entitle to all the rights, priv,
leges and franchises of the native
born. In response to this invita-.
ton, and attracted by tie splen.
did resources of our continent,
the freedom of our institutions
and the protection afforded by
our laws, there come to US citizens
from all parts of the earth. What
they ought to do, and what the
law ought to insist upon their do,
in Gust so far as is possible to
human nature) is to leave behind
them all the prejudices of their
native land, and forget that they
ever had been citizens of a nation.
ality other than the one chosen
and adapted by them for their
home and the homes of their de-
Scendants. We would not have
them forget the land of their
birth; that would be impossible.
We would not have them forget
the friends and relatives they
have left behind them; that
would be unataral. We would
not have them un1indful of the
region of their native land, if il
commands their conscience; but
we would have all national pride
subrogated to pride of their adj,
apted country. We would have
all the passions growing out OF
their patriotism left beyond the
sea. We would desire to have
none eff the bitterness growing
out of foreign wars; none of the
passions sprining from differences
of race or religion brought and
tranSplanted upon our soil. II
we could control the public opin.
ion of the United States we would
discourage all foreign associations
Except social and benevolentJ oil
ever kind whatever; we would al
low no banners to be borne in pro
cession except the flag of the
United States, or those fancifuI
devices belonging to some benev
olent association. We would
permit the formation, arming and
military drill of neither Irish, Ger
man, French or English regi-
ments. We wonld disSuade our
foreign fellow citizens from pre-
serving any distinctive national OF
CARNATIONS, but invite them all
TO unite with Americans in i'm
promising amusments of ouI
own celebrating American hoIi
days. We would have st. Pat
rick's Day forgotten and the 18th
of July no longer remembered
We would have the ScotehmaI
forget ST. Andrew, and the En
glishman st. George and the
Dragon. We should like to see
churches not confined to nation
ality, and schools should be alb
solutely free to all. lii our public
schools we are not quite sure that
we would trade at the public ex
pense any other than the English
learning the study of foreign Ian
guages, to be paid for as luxury
by those desiring them. In Il
word, it is our opinion that every.
thing should be done that has a
tendency to make our people no
mogeneous, and everything should
be avoided that is calculated to
prevent that result. Original
emigrdntS from their native land
will find it hard to forget theiI
love for their former homes. but
it seems TO us their descendants
born Oh tins soil should have all
their love and memory cluster
around what is to them a native
land. All religions observanceS
done in foreign tongue; all eccle.
siastical respects paid to foreign
authority; all instructions calcu
lated to keep alive foreign preju
diceS; all associations preserving
foreign manners should be allow
ed to fall into disuse. In politics
we wish we should never hear Of
the Irish or the German vote; Of
an English or French club; of q
Norwegian or Danish pOlitica
meeting. 1t is offensive to us
when we hear that the italian:
are going for Grant, or the Scan
dinavians all for Greeley. 1t i,
the policy of foreigners to divide
themselves into political partie,
as do the native born, and it i.
not less reprehensible to organic
within a State any particular for
elgn element for one political par
ty than it was for Americans tt
organize a Native-American part,
in opposition to all foreigners.
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