“But they come sometimes five thousand in a week.”
“The more the better.”
“But would you make citizens of them? Would you allow them to vote?”
“Why not, if they have become naturalized according to law?”
“Do you think those wretches can ever feel what we do,—whose fathers fought and bled for liberty?”
“But, by granting the privilege of voting only to those that are born in the country, you necessarily make citizenship an hereditary distinction, contrary to the spirit of the American constitution.”
“But are not hereditary distinctions necessary to a certain degree of greatness? Look at the English, at their literature, their refinement, their manners; and compare them with ours!”
“I know very little about the English, and care less,” replied the tribune. “I do not think that the institutions of Europe would answer for this country. We are a young people. Our wants are few, and easily satisfied; and, as we had in the outset no other interests to protect but those of the masses, I do not see of what use hereditary privileges could be to us, except to make the proud prouder, and the rich more influential, than they already are, much to the dissatisfaction of our party; and, as for manners and refinement, I think we are doing very well, considering that our fashionable people have to import them from Europe. We are essentially an industrious people,” added he; “and nothing promotes industry so much as to let all men start fair and even, the foreigner himself not excepted. When there will be no more land to be disposed of to new settlers, then there will come the time for making laws for the preservation of property; at present our chief duty is to facilitate its acquisition.”
“And would you make no allowances for superior education and learning?’”
“To be sure I would; for such learning as may be applied to some useful purpose,—‘not for the fiddle-stick accomplishments of your capering young boys.’”