from: http://www.users.cts.com/crash/b/baxley/nativist.html Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.users.cts.com/crash/b/baxley/nativist.html">NA TIVIST</A> ----- In December, 1843, the American Republican Association of Second Ward, Spring Garden, was formed in Philadelphia. In a few months, the Association spread to almost every ward within the city. The basic purpose of the Association was to fight the increasing influence of immigrants (especially the Irish) at the ballot box. Members of this organization were Protestants and most of the Irish were Roman Catholics. The City of Brotherly Love had seen religious rioting between Protestants and Catholics for several months. Irish Catholics living in the Third Ward of Philadelphia, Kensington, disrupted American Republican Association meetings in Kensington. Members of the Association were enraged that could not meet in Kensington because they felt it was their constitutional right to do so. In one attempt to meet in Kensington, shots were fired, and a 19-year-old, supporting the flag on the speaker�s platform to keep it from falling to the ground was killed. George Schiffler became a martyr for the Association and his picture appears on Native American ribbons. In retaliation, more than a quarter of a million dollars in property damage and violence against Catholics left the Protestants with blood on their hands also. By June, 1844, the Nativists had decided to display their numerical power and promote their ideas through a procession on the Fourth of July. There are many theories as why nativism develops at various times in a country�s history. Some have argued that fears of social displacement create animosity toward new immigrant groups. The large immigration of Irish Catholic immigrants was certainly looked upon as a threat by some Protestants. Two books greatly increased these fears. One was A Foreign Conspiracy Against the Liberties of the United States by Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph. Another was A Plea for the West by Lyman Beecher. The conspiracy theory presented by these two men showed a special concern for the developing western United States. In his book, Morse stated that Frederick Schlegel of Austria had declared that monarchy and Catholicism were inseparable and that the republicanism of the United States was the enemy of both. Morse argued that the Leopold Association, which gave funds to dioceses in Cinncinati and throughout the U.S. was formed to win the west for Catholicism and monarchy through a massive immigration of Catholic Irish into the west. Because the Association was centered in Vienna, Austria, rather than Rome, many Protestants believed the Association was a conspiracy between the monarchs of Europe and Catholicism to destroy republicanism in the U.S. Beecher made a plea for building public schools in the West before Jesuit instruction and massive immigration would conquer the West and eventually the United States with monarchical ideas. Nativists saw themselves as restitutionists and longed for a Golden Age when pure democracy was untainted by Old World ideas. The Nativists declared their parade a Second Declaration of Indpendence. John Hancock Lee, a nativist author, describes Nativist banners used in the July 4, 1844 parade in his book, the Origin and Progress of the American Party in Politics. This book was written in 1855, just as the Nativists were to field their first national party, the American Party (also known as the Know Nothing Party). As American Political Ribbons and Ribbon Badges shows, there were also plenty of ribbons used in the July 4 parade. Here are a few of Lee�s descriptions of these Nativists banners: �The banner of this delegation was borne in the carriage. On the top of it were the words �The Bible the basis of education, and the safeguard of Liberty.� Device, the figure of Liberty in a sitting position, with left arm resting on the American shield, horn of plenty at her feet, and the staff and cap of liberty behind her, an eagle flying in the middle ground, bearing aloft the Bible. In the distance a public school-house. On the reverse a full length portrait of Washington, and the inscription, �Seventeenth Ward American Republican Association. Organized August 13, 1843.� �West Cedar Ward.- Banner - A full length statue of Washington on a pedestal, with the Goddess of Liberty descending in a cloud, with the American flag floating overher head. On his left stood Minerva with the American shield in one hand and a spear in the other, the eagle soaring over the head of Washingt on, and above it the Holy Bible open; the whole encircled with a beautiful gold scroll-work on each side of the circle were American flags, battle-axes, cannons, drums, shells; the under label was the motto- �Virtue, Liberty, and Independence;� over the Bible trhe label was - �Right gives Might.� 54 men and 24 boys.� �Third Ward Banner, representing the Goddess of Liberty enveloped in the stars and stripes, instructing a youth from the open Bible, which stood upon a pedestal alongside of her. Above thism, with one claw grasping the edge of the Bible, was an eagle supporting a staff, from which floated a torn flagl. from the eagle�s beak appeared the motto, �Our flag must be protected.� On the panel of the pedestal were inscribed the names of those who fell in Kensignton. In the background a school-house. The reverse of the banner had a whole length figure of Washington; motto, �Beware of foreign influence.� 108 members. Boys carrying a miniature steaboat and flags.� Do any of these banners exist today? If so, they would certainly be museum pieces, or an unbelievable acquisition for any private collection. The procession took and hour and a quarter to pass. The parade ended with a reading of the Declaration of American Republicans of Philadelphia City and County, July 4, 1844. Washington�s Farewell Address was then read. The day ended with a fireworks display. There was enough Nativist political power to affect a major party in 1844. The Whigs� choice of Theodore Frelinghuysen of New Jersey as Henry Clay�s running mate in 1844 was probably an attempt to carry New York by appealing to Nativist voters. Commonly known as �The Christian Statesman,� Felinghuysen was a strong advocate of social reform and public education. A few Nativists later became prominent in the Republican Party. Though he claimed to have only attended one meeting, Ulysses S. Grant was probably a Nativist. Both of his running mates Schuler Colfax and Henry Willson were Navtivists. One thing that the Natvist ribbons and banners from the July 4, 1844 Procession illustrates is that politics in the middle of the 19th century was local and considered very important. The emotional involvement of political groups from entirely different religious and cultural backgrounds in such close proximity to one another led to association of Americans in special interest groups, something that Madison had warned against in the Federalist Papers. But when enough people felt that the political parties were not representing them in their government, they did not hesitate to associate themselves together as voting blocks to influence the major parties. The frustrations of these particular groups eventually erupted into gang violence from both that was embarassing to republican government. ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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