The Irish standard., 1893-08-26
CHARLES SUMNER,
A Memorable Speech Delivered in
Faneuil Hall, the Cradle Of
American Liberty,
in KNOW NOTHING TIMES
An Eloquent Voice From the Grave
in >Cond ation of Latter
Day BigOts.

Every lover or true llDerty WILL nnd II
the following words Of Charles Sumner
spoken thirty-nine years ago in the
Faneuil Hall, Boston, complete answer
to the new Know Nothings, the A. P. A.
and the Orangemen:
But the Inconsistency of this Know
Nothing party as the organ of our cause
is enhanced by the uncongenial secrecy
in which it had it's origin and yet shrouds
itself. For myself, let me say thaton the
floor of the Senate, ! have striven, by
vote and speech, in conjunction with my
distinguished friend, Mr.. Chase, for the
Limitation Of the secret sessions of that
body, under shelter Of which SO much OF
the business of the nation is transacted
and have there presented the example
of that ancient Roman, who bade his
his guests and all that they did might be
seen by the world, as fit model for
American institutions. What I have
urged there Iuow urge here. But the
special aims which this party proposes
seem to be in harmony with the darkness
in which it begins. Even if justi6able
on any grounds of public policy, they
should not be associated with our cause;
but / am unwilling to allude to- them
without expressing my frank dissent.
1t is proposed to attaint men for their
religion and also for their birth. If this
object can prevail, vain are the iumphs
of civil freedom on it's many hard-f 'ught
fields; vain is that religious liberation
which We all profess. The fires If Smith
field, the tortures Of the Inquisition, the
prescriptions of Non -Conformists may all
be revived 1t was mainly to escape
these outrages, dictated by a dominant
religious sect, that our country was early
settled, in one place by the Quakers, who
set at nought all forms; in another by
Puritans, who disowned Bishops; in an
other by Episcopalians, who take their
name from Bishops; and in yet another
by Catholics, who look to the Pope as
their Spiritual Father. Slowly among
the struggling sects was evolved the
great idea of the equality OF all men be-
fore the law without regard to religious
belief, nor can any party now organize a
prescription merely for religious belief,
without calling in question this unques-
tionable principle.
The Catholics are mostly foreigners
and on this account are condemned.
Let US see if there can be any reason in
this, and here indulge me with one word
on foreigners.
With the ancient Greeks foreigner
was barbarian. and with the ancient
Romans he was an enemy. In early mod
ern times the austerity of this judg-
ment was relaxed; but under the infu-
ence of feudaIism, the different sover-
we're kept in a condition of isolation,
from which they have been gradually
passing, until now, when the provinces
are merged into nations, and nations are
giving signs that they too will yet COM
mingle into one. In our country another
example is already displayed. From all
nations people commingle here. As in
ancient Corinth, by the accidental fusion
of all the metals accumulated in the
sacred temples, peculiar metal was
produced, better than any individual
metal, either gold or silver; so, perhaps,
in the arrangement Of Providence, by the
fusion of all races here, there may be a
better race than any Individual race,
even Saxon or Celt. Originally settled
from England, the Republic has been
strengthened and enriched by generous
contributions from Scotland, Ireland,
Switzerland, Sweden, France and Ger
many; and the cry is "Still they come. /"
At no time since the discovery of the
New World, has the army Of immigrants
pressed SO strongly in this direction.
Nearly half 9 million are annually landed
on our shores. The manner in which
they shall be received is one of the pro-
blems OF our national policy.
All will admit that any influence which
they may bring hostile to our inetitu-
tions, must be deprecated and opposed.
All will admit, too, that there must be
! some assurance Of their purpose to be-
come not merely consumers Of the fruits
Of our soil, but useful, loyal and perma-
nent members of our community, up
holders Of the general welfare. With
\ this simple explan ation, lam not disposed
"a place any check pom the Welcome to
Foreigners There alsl our broad lands,