The Lambertville record., 1873-06-18
nrnr1sG ursArIox.InD D1sr1ser1oss.


EEEPTNG UPNATION.IL5 5DIsTINCTIONS.
The men who framed our national govern
ment were able and far-sighted They saw
the danger Of having large foreign popula-
ton residing among us who had no interest
inthe government and ito sharei,fits manage
ment They therefore, wisely provided for
their incorporation into the body polite !;
and knowing also that they would naturally
bring with them many prejndices and IDEAS
inconsistent with the spifit'o tile newwerld
republic. these men placed safeguards around
the privileges Of citizenship, and required
period of time to elapse before the right OF
suffrage and Office could be enjoyed. 1t was
believed that in the time allowed they would
learn the true principles of free government,
imbibe its spirit, and throw Oft those old
world prejudices of nationality and caste and
custom which were SO antagonistic to liberty
and the best interests Of the nation. With
these provisions, our land was made the asy-
lum of all the world, and men down-troddcn
by royalty and class distinction, were freely
invited to make this country their home. 1t
was not expected that they would use their
privileges Of citizenship to undermine the
foundations of the temple Of liberty, or to at
tempt to thwaIt the wishes of those who
were nativc-born. It was hoped that the ac-
cording Of all rights to the foreign-born which
the natvc-born had, would serve to make the
nation homogeneous, and practically exemplify
the motto Of the nation ''E Pluribus Unum."
All these hopesand expectations were realiz-
ed during the lifetime of the g fathers" /; but
we regret to say that the past few years have
witnessed Il change in this regard. Men
fleeing from oppression in Europe haye scarce
ly learned to speak the English tongue in
broken manner before they have begun to rail
at the tyranny of some of our laws, and to
teach men trained to liberty what are the true
principles Of free government. The Sunday
laws are denounced a tyrannical the re-
srctive license laws unjust; and the recogni-
tion of religion in any way by the government
as an outrage on the rights Of man. These
men would have the Declaration of Indepen-
dcnce to read that ..all men are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights,
among which are lager bier, Sunday carousals
and skepticism." To further their schemes
of removing the landmarks that the nation
has set up, they sometime since organized q
society, having ramifeations throughout the
country, the members of which are bound to
support men of their own nationality for Office
III preference to others.
Another portion Of our foreign population
has shown disposition to attack our system
of free schools and to mould it to the views of
hierarchy of particular church. 1t has
acted in its Fenian operations as though its
members were refugees and not citizens of
this land, and has shown a disposition to CLAN
nishness that ill becomes American citizens.
Now it is announced that "a national conven-
ton of Irsh-born citizens is to be held in
!, Cleveland, Ohio, about the 18th of July next,
for Che purpose OF forming 4 league similar to
the German Union. Some of the leading
Irishmen of New York, Philadelphia and
other cities encourage the movement on the
ground that the Irish element in this country
has not the standing, politically or CONNER
cialy, to which their numbers and Importance
entitle them. They say the Germans exceed
them in almost every sphere, and that this is
due to their default of cohesion and harmony,
and to religious and political contention.
Irshmen, like the members of the German
Union, will he pledged to support one an
other in preference to persons of other ma.
tionalties, without distinction of sect OF par
ties'
Thus we see that there is an evil spirit
abroad in our land, tending to break up into
factions, citizenship which should be known
neither as German, nor Irish, nor by any other
foreign designation, but simply as American.
These rivallies of nationalities, If allowed
TO 30 on to their full extent, will prove an
evil Of no small magnitude, and a dangerous
Zoe to the permenancy of our free institutions.
How men who rail at the g Native American
prescription Of foreigners, can justify this at
tempted prescription of the native born,
we cannot see. They show their ignorance
of the spirit of the American people in maxi
ing the attempt and when they marshal their
forces for the trial. they will find their defeat
as overwhelming as their insolence is great i