The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-05-20
tCommunicated.l ~.
THE NEW NATIVE AMERICAN PARTY.

| Editor Morning Star,
notice by the daily prints that there is al
organization in this city entitled, "The Nativ
American Association" Since and immedi
ately previons to the adjustment of our lat
political difficulties there was more thai
idle threats of the fol nation of such q society
and owing to the general disruption of parties
within this State, the idea of drawing q line o
national demarcation in politics has gainet
strength and popularity in circles which ar
not to be despised underrated. The drs
tangible evidence of this feeling WAS given ii
q notice published in the late New Orlean
r. publican, about two months ago, but though
| this excited only measurable interest at the
time, the sequel has disclosed a more formida
bic sentiment than was originally supposed.
am forcibly reminded of this fact by report
pu ublished in the New Orleans Times of las
Tuesday, wherein is given an account of 6
meeting which took place Tuesday evening al
Perfect Union" Hall, on Rampant street. Il
was "star chamber" meeting, which excluded
even the press, but the reporter AYERS that il
was largely attended and numbered on itt
rolls upwards of twelve hundred men-"promi
nent citizens of the 2od district" The r.
porter continues:
It's members are said to be exclusively
American born citizens, aud its object is q
union of these on precisely the same basis as
are the associations of adopted citizens from
other nations.
In the spirit of this explanation there is a
striking resem blance to the response given by
Mr.. Lucien Adams to "many prominent gen
tlemen of the second district" who addressed
him a short time ago soliciting his organizing &
powers in the formation of "Native American
Party" With incompatible grace Mr.. Adams
declined to form a political party on this ex
elusive principle, but expressed an amiable
readiness to organize a society on the same
basis as the "Hibernian and other associations
of this city"
Exactly the same spirit is manifested in the
object of the meeting which assembled at
"Perfect Union" Hall. Taking the Times ex-
planation literally, then, we may expect the
"native American association" to develop into
highly benevolent society we will see it on
the streets marked BY peculiar badges and in
sigma, and will witness it's good works in the
distribution of aims, in the succoring of the
sick and helpless, the burying of the dead,
and in the fosteripgo of the fires of nationalism
which might otherwise lessen in fervor for
want of concerted or organized afiliation and
action-"a oonsummation degoutly to be
wished"
1 do not think it is necessary to say that not
one of these objects is embraced within the
intent of the organization it is essentially
and exclusively political, and has nothing in
common with our Hibernian societies We
may well be honest on both sides and ad
NIT this fact -mbeciles and towards close
their eyes to the disagreesble; the thoughtful
and brave acknowledge and sternly confront
it. The pretsnse that the association is formed
on a principle correspondent with that of our
Hibernian societies is. therefore, a slauder. It
makes the injurious insinuation that the
Hibernisn societies are political in character,
and that the members are banded together
with view of advancing themselves to public
Office. The practices of our societies tell a
plain and unmistaksble truth in opposition to
these ideas, and those educated in the usages
and impartial reflection, admit that no people
have been more self denying in their aspira-
tons, where so much power was in their hands,
than the Irish. 1 have heard disappointed
place-seekers allege that as a part of the body
polite the Irish were not sufficiently true to
that is, that they did not selfshly
grasp everything within their reach as dis
tinct, and co-dependent people; but Ihave felt
no little pride that in questions affecting pub
lie measures and public offices here, they have
sunk their national individuality, and, while
just recognition for themselves
were equally magnanimous in concediDg pro.
portionate recognition to others.
The alleged similarity of principle between
the Hibernian societies and the new society is
therefore mere specious pretense, and signi-
6es warfare against the "foreigu-citizen" ele-
ment in this part of OUT adopted country.
OBSERVER
STRAWBERRY FEsTIvAL.-As our people have |
lrnh