The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13


the sun, despite the dictum of the
preacher. but the anti-catholic and anti
foreigner movement which is now fore
ing itself upon the attention of a dis
pleased public in various parts of the
country is not one of them. Those
whose memory runs back forty years or
more, and those of a younger genera
ton who are ever specifically acquaint-
ed with the political history OF the
United States, are well aware, of course.
from what has been publicly made
known Of late regarding the A. p. A,
or the o. u. D., that this organization
is. in all essentials, almost an exact re-
production of the old native American
movement, which, under the popular
name of acknowledgment, troubled the
politicians a bit along in the early part
OF the sos, and in well-nigh every sec
ton OF the land provoked some ridicule
and scorn as well as aroused some mo-
mentary enthusiasm. In principles, pur
poses and methods the A. p. AS Of to-
day are the old knownothings galvan-
lied into temporary activity once more;
and those who wish to know the prOba-
bic, and, in fact, the practically inevita-
bic fate OF the latter organization may
find it in the recorded history of the rise
and fall Of the earlier.
From the very foundation of our gov
eminent opposition to aliens, more or
less complicated with dislike and fear
of catholics, has been at intervals a
feature of American politics. Even be-
fore the adoption Of the constitution the
spirit of nativism, as embodied in the
sentiment Americans must rule Ameri-
ca" had occasionally appeared. After
ward when war with England or France
was a prominent question in domestic
politics, the foreigners resident here, be-
ing mostly banished men who had
made themselves exiIes by hostility 10
the British government or friendliness
for the French, naturally allied them
selves with the democratic party be-
cause of its position on foreign relations
and as naturally the federalists be-
came something of an anti-alien party.
It was the spirit of nativism which
forced the passage OF the alien and sedi-
ton laws, and there was enough Of the
same feeling to put a distinctly anti
alien clause into the amendments pro-
posed by the Hartford convention. When
the era Of war politics had passed and
peace was restored the nati4ist feeling
disappeared as a prominent factor In
public affairs and though it was dor
mant rather than dead its manifesto
tions Of continued existence We're few
and unimportant from 1915 to 1895. In
the latter year there was a revival
Of nativism i'm New York City, where
a foreign population had naturally first
begun to attract attention The attempt
at a native organization ended in failure.
however, before the election for mayor
in that city in 1887, and probably would
not have been heard of again for some
time had not the democrats. after car
rying the city election in 1913. proceeded,
in parceling out the municipal offices, to
give the lions share TO the foreign-bOrn
citizens. The native-born element was
greatly irritated by that. and the result
was seen in the next mayoralty cleo
tion In 1874. when native American"
candidate was elected by 24.510 votes to
2053S for the democratic candidate and
5,297 for the whig.
Meanwhile the native movement had
begun to spread to other parts OF the
country, notably New Jersey and Phila-
delphia. II was not. however. till 1852
that II attained any real prominence as
a political factor. To be sure, II was
strong enough at the national election
Of 1874 TO put six native" representa-
tives into the Twenty-ninth congress,
four from New York and two from
Pennsylvania. but there was only one I'm
the Thirtieth. and thereafter for some
years, except for very small votes cast
occasionally I'm New York New Jersey
fHrrfrr a
from practical politics. But during those
years the opponents % aliens and OF
catholics were quietly forming a wide
spread secret organization that was des-
tined TO cut quite a figure I'm some sub
sequent elections and in the plans OF
politicians.
The formation and extension of a ma
tive American and anti-catholic organ
ization made no very difficult task in the
peculiar circumstances of that time Dis
trust OF Roman catholicism has been
till very lately at least. when better
sense and more liberality have come
more generally 10 prevail. a string that
could artfully be played upon with great
success in almost any Anglo-Saxon COM
munity. This feeling had al that par
ticular time been somewhat increased by
the public mission OF papal nuncio who
had come to this country TO adjust a
difficulty I'm regard 70 church property in
courtesy and kindness by the president,
but his visits excited tumults in Cincin-
natl, Baltimore and New York About
the same time the efforts Of Bishop
Hughes and the catholic clergy to ex-
clude the bible from the public schools
had further kindled the anti-cathOlic
feeling Of many people. Then. too the
ignorant foreign vote had begun to have
an important influence on elections, and
the result, especially In large cities. was
anything but pleasing TO lovers of hon
est and efficient government. at was
averted." says Rhodes, referring to
this period In his recently published
History Of the United States from the
Compromise OF $780, that drunken
aliens frequently had charge OF the polls;
that the intrigue and rowdyism which
characterized recent campaigns were the
work Of foreigners; that the network OF
Jesuitism had been cunningly spread
that such was the deep corruption among
politicians that availability In a presi-
Dental candidate had come TO mean the
man who could secure the foreign vote -
These were the evils and abuses which
irritated native-bOrn Americans and
protestants. For their remedy IL was
argued that a new party must be
formed. and it was believed that there
were enough sympathizers with the new
idea I'm both the democratic and the
whiR parties to make uD an Organiza-
ton OF large size which should be pa
triOtic and Christian in character" Then
was TO be made upon French inf
deity. German skepticism and socialism
and the papacy. Of which three alleged