the american republic-第62章
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ional unity and integrity almost in spite of their government。 The General government either was not disposed or was afraid to take a decided stand against secession； till forced to do it by the people themselves。 No wise American can henceforth distrust American democracy。 The people may be trusted。 So much is settled。 But as the two extremes were equally democratic； as the secessionists acted in the name of popular sovereignty； and as the humanitarians 375 were not unwilling to allow separation； and would not and did not engage in the war against secession for the sake of the Union and the integrity of the national domain； the conviction becomes irresistible that it was not democracy in the sense of either of the extremes that made the war and came out of it victorious； and hence the real American democracy must differ from them both； and is neither a personal nor a humanitarian； but a territorial democracy。 The true idea of American democracy thus comes out； for the first time； freed from the two extreme democracies which have been identified with it； and henceforth enters into the understandings as well as the hearts of the people。 The war has enlightened patriotism； and what was sentiment or instinct becomes reasona well…defined； and clearly understood constitutional conviction。
In the several States themselves there are many things to prevent the socialistic tendency from becoming exclusive。 In the States that seceded socialism has never had a foothold； and will not gain it； for it is resisted by all the sentiments； convictions； and habits of the Southern people； and the Southern people will not be exterminated nor swamped by migrations either from the North or from Europe。 They are and 376 always will be an agricultural people； and an agricultural people are and always will be opposed to socialistic dreams； unless unwittingly held for a moment to favor it in pursuit of some special object in which they take a passionate interest。 The worst of all policies is that of hanging； exiling； or disfranchising the wealthy landholders of the South； in order to bring up the poor and depressed whites； shadowed forth in the Executive proclamation of the 29th of May； 1865。 Of course that policy will not be carried out； and if the negroes are enfranchised； they will always vote with the wealthy landholding class； and aid them in resisting all socialistic tendencies。 The humanitarians will fail for the want of a good social grievance against which they can declaim。
In the New England States the humanitarian tendency is strong as a speculation； but only in relation to objects at a distance。 It is aided much by the congregational constitution of their religion； yet it is weak at home； and is resisted practically by the territorial division of power。 New England means Massachusetts； and nowhere is the subdivision of the powers of government carried further； or the constitution of the territorial democracy more complete； than in that State。 Philanthropy sel… 377 dom works in private against private vices and evils： it is effective only against public grievances； and the farther they are from home and the less its right to interfere with them； the more in earnest and the more effective for evil does it become。 Its nature is to mind every one's business but its own。 But now that slavery is abolished； there is nowhere in the United States a social grievance of magnitude enough to enlist any considerable number of the people； even of Massachusetts； in a movement to redress it。 Negro enfranchisement is a question of which the humanitarians can make something and they will make the most of it； but as it is a question that each State will soon settle for itself； it will not serve their purpose of prolonged agitation。 They could not and never did carry away the nation； even on the question of slavery itself； and abolitionism had comparatively little direct influence in abolishing slavery； and the exclusion of negro suffrage can never be made to appear to the American people as any thing like so great a grievance as was slavery。
Besides； in all the States that did not secede； Catholics are a numerous and an important portion of the population。 Their increasing numbers； wealth； and education secure them； as much 378 as the majority may dislike their religion； a constantly increasing influence； and it is idle to leave them out in counting the future of the country。 They will； in a very few years； be the best and most thoroughly educated class of the American people； and； aside from their religion； or； rather； in consequence of their religion； the most learned； enlightened； and intelligent portion of the American population； and as much as they have disliked the abolitionists； they have； in the army and elsewhere； contributed their full share to the victory the nation has won。 The best things written on the controversy have been written by Catholics； and Catholics are better fitted by their religion to comprehend the real character of the American constitution than any other class of Americans； the moment they study it in the light of their own theology。 The American constitution is based on that of natural society； on the solidarity of the race； and the difference between natural society and the church or Christian society is； that the one is initial and the other teleological。 The law of both is the same； Catholics； as such； must resist both extremes； because each is exclusive； and whatever is exclusive or one…sided is uncatholic。 If they have been backward in their sympathy with 379 the government； it has been through their dislike of the puritanic spirit and the humanitarian or socialistic elements they detected in the Republican party； joined with a prejudice against political and social negro equality。 But their church everywhere opposes the socialistic movements of the age； all movements in behalf of barbarism； and they may always be counted on to resist the advance of the socialistic democracy。 If the country has had reason to complain of some of them in the late war； it will have； in the future； far stronger reason to be grateful； not to them； indeed； for the citizen owes his life to his country； but to their religion； which has been and is the grand protectress of modern society and civilization。
》From the origin of the government there has been a tendency to the extension of suffrage； and to exclude both birth and private property as bases of political rights or franchises。 This tendency has often been justified on the ground that the elective franchise is a natural right； which is not true； because the elective franchise is political power； and political power is always a civil trust； never a natural right； and the state judges for itself to whom it will or will not confide the trust； but there can be no doubt that it is a normal tendency； and in strict 380 accordance with the constitution of American civil society； which rests on the unity of the race； and public instead of private property。 All political distinctions founded on birth； race； or private wealth are anomalies in the American system； and are necessarily eliminated by its normal developments。 To contend that none but property…holders may vote； or none but persons of a particular race may be enfranchised； is unamerican and contrary； to the order of civilization the New World is developing。 The only qualification for the elective franchise the American system can logically insist on is that the elector belong to the territorial peoplethat is； be a natural…born or a naturalized citizen； be a major in full possession of his natural faculties； and unconvicted of any infamous offence。 The State is free to naturalize foreigners or not； and under such restrictions as it judges proper； but； having naturalized them； it must treat them as standing on the same footing with natural…born citizens。
The naturalization question is one of great national importance。 The migration of foreigner
