“…behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People . . . generously affording to All liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great governmental Machine.”
Dana Milbank, staff writer at the Washington Post, provides an easy-peasy comparison of religious tolerance, then and now.
To help evaluate today’s unkempt rabble-rousing, please take note of the following excerpts penned by George Washington:
I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you… If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and happy people.
The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation.
All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.
For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens...
…and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree,
and there shall be none to make him afraid.