CHAPTER XI

ANALYSIS   OF   POLITICAL   N.4TIVISM

In final comment upon that political nativism which strug¬
gled for recognition during the quarter century from 1835 to
i860 It is as unfair to speak with entire harshness as it is
difficult to speak with complete sympathy. As an issue that
failed of success and as a doctrine from which the American
democracy turned away. It stands condemned by Its own fail¬
ure. Yet, even as a rejected political issue it has an Import¬
ance In history as one of the great forces which have aided
in rounding out the Ideals of the nation. In looking back
upon nativism and its efforts, a curiously contradictory feature
suggests Itself From the modern standpoint its aims seem to
have been narrow, proscriptive and un-American, while In
their day thousands of earnest men deemed them to be most
thoroughly patriotic and truly American in character. The
explanation of this contradiction gives a reason for the study
of rejected Issues. The real work of nativism was to force
public opinion to a judgment upon certain propositions, and in
so doing to secure a decision as to whether or not the ideas
which it represented were entitled to be considered as "Amer¬
ican " in character. Political nativism was a curiously blun¬
dering effort to shape public opinion. It put forth views
which were neither soundly logical nor consonant with the
liberal tendencies of American society. For this reason,
largely, they did not succeed. There can be no question as to
the sincerity and patriotism of the men who forced nativism
into the field as a political Issue, They believed most fer¬
vently that the influences they opposed were undermining the
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