The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-12-01

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have sought to make capital out of the
statement that in New York certain
element of foreign-born citizens, Ital-
ians, we believe, have been accused Of
banding together for political acton.
Just what the nature OF this organiza-
ton may be, or what its purposes are,
we do not know, but whether really
political or social the smart Republican
editors do not care to find out. 1t is
enough for them to know that there arc
foreigners who have formed an associa-
ton, and they hasten to paint dreadful
pictures of the evil results of such
action.
The patriotism of the foreign-borD
citizen has been tested in this country.
Upon every battlefield where brave
men sleep the bones of the foreigner lie
commingled with those of tho native.
born. When the call to arms resounded
through the land, and the strong arm
and stout heart was needed to uphold
the National honor, the naturalized
citizen heard and answered the call
with as much promptness and as much
patriotism as the American, and valor-
Gus fields attest the heroism of
the common courage. We need
not recount the great names
with which American history is
emblazoned, where soldierly courage
and military pride contributed to swell
the theme of glory, nor need we re-
count the story of camp and field, where
men, forgetting the accident of birth,
We'd with each other in doing soldiers
duty. Common gratitude, and that
love of country which makes all nations
one in the common defense, should
teach us not to Judge hastily or forsake
unwisely the patience of men who have
borne themselves worthily in the hour
of trial. 1t ought to be the duty of those
claiming the birthright of Americans to
deal generously with the foreign-born
citizen, and ere pens are dipped in pref
udicc. and savage lessons read of polit-
cal rights and prejudices, it would be
much wiser to know and understand the
motives and causes which actuate men
in banding together. If the aim is par
tsan and political, a gathering together
of one class or nationality for distinctive
political purposes, it is, of course, an
error, and should be discourtenanced,
for we are all one here, but care should
be taken to be well informed touching
the fact lest men should be um;ustly ac-
cused and condemned without hear
ing. There is, unfortunately, a DISPOSE
ton manifest among Republican lead
ers to cast slurs upon foreign-born citi-
gems because in their manners and
customs they differ from us. and
because in the exercise of their privi-
leges as American citizens they some
times invade the supposed superior
rights of certain very Jealous and
touchy people. This invasion is not
calculated to damage the liberty which
anybody enjoys. nor interfere with the
ordinary rights and privileges of the
people. but because there is difference
in social customs, some very foolish
people imagine that no customs should
be tolerated here except such as are dis
tinctly fashioned after q certain model.
In country broad and open as this is
and made up of different races and ma
tionalities, the largest measure of per-
sonal freedom consistent with the pub
lie good must be allowed. and that man
is neither wise nor patriotic who seeks
to abridge any part of it simply because
of prejudice. While the foreign-born
citizen must sink his nationality in the
country OF his adoption, and become an
American citizen in all that pertains to
the duties of citizenship, we must not
expect him to wholly renounce the
social customs and manners which are
the result of birth and education. Yet
this latter most disturbs great many
good people, and the action in question
may be more an organization for social,
beneficial purposes than the evil specter
of secret political alliance.
1t is perhaps natural for adopted cit
liens to congrcgate together and act to-
gether in commercial as well rs polite
al life. This grows out of no hostility
to American institutions but Is more the
result of habit and training than any
thing else. For many years most Of the
foreign-born citizens in the West have
been the faithful allies of tho Republic
an party. They have stood by them In
every contest and helped them to win
many victories. So long as this was
the case their manners and customs
were rot found objectionable. They
could meet for talk and consultation on
the eve of campaign, and if they re-
solved to vote the Republican ticket mo-
body raised any clamor of the danger
of free institutions, but since they have
manifested q desire to make other al
liances and boldly announced their in
tention of voting against the Repub-
lican party, for reasons satisfactory to
them, murmurs of discomfort are heard,
and cases like the one in question hur-
riedIy seized upon to awaken prejudice
and foster spirit of native opposition.
The naturalized citizen has the same
rights here that an American has, no
more and no less. Whatever Americans
can do that naturalized citizens may
also do, and no man has the right to
prevent them. This common principle
should be better understood, and it is
time that it was generally recognized.
This country has nothing to fear from
its naturalized citizens, but it has much
to fear from the demagogues who
would use them for party ends. Wdsb-