Morris tribune., 1883-01-20

Our nation is fast appro aching that
period of its existencs, when the per-
manency of its republican institutions
will be more fully tested than they
ever have been before.
The civil war, it Is true, tried the
loyalty of men, and the national tri-
umph over insurreetion and slavery
was grand success, insomuch as it
established the supremacy of the gov
ernment of the people over the issue
of national rights in contradistinction
to states rights upon the question of
slavery, and, also, settled, to some eX-
tent, that great question in relation to
other national issues.
In the contest refured to, the bitter
ness was principally confined to two
localities, which were Salidified, and
not divided 40 as To detract much from
the general strength of those localities.
But in the progress of our national af-
fairs, questions will arise and sepa-
rate interests will be developed which
will require great care in so arranging
as not to antagonize sectional feeling
to such an extent az ta he detrimental
to the saneTal good,
One great question will soon become
living national issue, and that is the
temperance question and much Bit
+or,,ss will ba oxhib;toI i'm oil Ioa.l;
ties when it becomes national issue,
which will be the case sooner or later.
Then states rights will again crop out,
which have been so universally dis
cussed, ana THAT issue will once more
become question for the people to
decide, for the people must ami will
decide all questions for themselves,
through their authorized agents.
Another cause of disquietude, which
is limited at by soma, is the great tide
| of immigration coming to our land.
We as nation, invite all with one
exception) to make this country their
home, and when they come here, all
their fixed habits and matured con-
victions are cast into the general rush
and whirl of ideas which go to make
| up the .um total of public opininn,
and should enough Of the foreign ele-
| ment of ideas prevail, we would ,se
our individuality and become absorbed
by those other influences.
Now, while we do not take the view
some do, that an int,ux OF foreign pop
| u!atlon will sOmetimeb detrimental
| to our progress as nation; yet, to
make us strong and with the cohesive
elements necessary to permanency, we
| believe such general laws should be
in force as would tend to gradually
change the habits Of any one making
this country y home, so as to conform
to the laws, habits and customs of the
American people, and make this land,
what it really was intended for, q
home for all who choose to come here,
and so governed as to become as per-
manent in its general good, as progress
sive in it's population.
And here, is where the wisdom of
proper self-government has ample
room for display. All should sink
their nationality at once, and forget,
in action, hut what they were born in
America, and are one of a great people.
All learn one language, and the GUS
toms and habits of one people; that
language, and those customs and hab-
it's to be American in its fullest sense.
Now, as we advance in population
and general improvements, this must
be done, or we shall become 80 un-
wieidy as to fall to pieces of our own
inert and ponderous weight. The CO.
hesive elements of practical self-gov-
eminent must be cultivated in their
highest sense, not the least of which
is the system of common school edu-
cation which is 80 universal, but
which some antagonize.
| When clannishness can be buried
out of sight and thought, and senti-
ment prevail to so conduct the affairs
Of communities and the general gov
ernment, as to lead to the election OF
the best men to positions Of trust and
honor, then we can hope for such a
condition of affairs as will lead to the
most successful and permanent growth
of the nation.