The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-12
Grening State goilrnal.
Not A BIT Afraid.

The New York Times, which Is warm
friend Of Italy, having declared that there
was not single prominent Democrat or
Republican in the country who could be
prevailed upon to address the proposed
Italian meeting in New York, so conf
pletely cowed were they all by the over
shsdowing influence of the Catholic church,
which it calls the Established Church of
our cities, and having mentioned by
name Gov. Hoffman, Schuyler Colfax, and
others, as among those who did not dare
beard the lion of Rome,-Mr. Colfax has
published the following letter:
WASHINGTON, January 6, 1871.
NM Dear Sir-It would afford me great
pleasure to accept the invitation of your
committee to attend the meeting next week
to celebrate the completion of Italian
unity, if it were within my power. But
public duties, devolved upon me by the
people, and which have prior claim on
my time, forbid my leaving the Capital,
while Congress is in session, except in the
rarest possible cases. While l recognize
to the fullest extent the considerations OF
propriety which restrain American citizens.
and especially those in official life, from
active interference with the affairs of other
lands, by illegal propagandism, improper
Intervention, &C., there is nothing in either
propriety or usage which prevents the
open expression of our joy when foreign
countries take step forward to assimilate
their institutions, in a greater or lesser de-
gree, with those of which we are SO justly
proud, and which, with Gods providence
blessing them, have achieved for us, as
nation, our wonderful historical progress
and development CAP, therefore, heartily
respond to those emphatic words of Victor
Emanuel to the Italian Parliament "Italy
is free and one. 1t now depends on us
cnly to render her great and happy"
We, who live here under the protection
of Constitution which unites so many
millions of people into one nation, which
forbids the establishment of any State
religion, and which guarantees the free ex-
ercise of all religious thought, can realize
the full import of tnose short but weighty
words of the Italian King-.free and one.
And he says truly, that it depends on her
people only, thus united and free, to rem
der their nation great and happy. I would
rejoice evermore if Italy had reached the
summit of true popular sovereignty which
our Republic has attained, for am one
of those who believe that Republic, with
wise men at their heads, are possible on
all continents, and in all parallels of lati-
tude She has, however, chosen her own
form Of government, and we cannot chal-
lenge her decision.
But may add that nothing is clearer
than, if she desires to be great and happy,
she must establish and maintain, as the
very cornerstone of united Italy, civil and
religious liberty; the equality OF all under
the law. by protecting 10 Courts and
Parliament the civil rights of the poorest
as energetically and faithfully as those of
the richest and most powerful, and as the
fitting adjunct of this great idea of civil
liberty, the right of all to worship God as
their individual conscience commands,
guaranteed alike to Jew and Gentle, to
Protestant and Catholic, to priest aud lay
man, to King and Pope. In this sign they
will conquer, for out of this new life of
civil and religious liberty will flow peace
and happiness, progress and prosperity,
with material and national development
and advancement, as surely as healthtul
streams flow from fountains of purity.
Respectfully yours,
SCHUYLER CoLFAx.
Theodore Roosevelt, Esq, Chairman Ex-
ecutive Committee.