The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
"As to attachments," says he, "arising from a similarity of religion,
they will appear still more groundless and ridiculous. America has no
predominant religion. There is not a religious society in Europe,
which is not to be found in America. If we wish to visit the churches
of England, or the meetings of the Lutherans, Methodists, Calvinists,
Presbyterians, Moravians, Menonists, Swinfielders, Dumplers, or Roman
Catholics, we shall find them all in America.
"What a motley, or rather how many different and opposite attachments,
will this jumble of religions make.
"Should there be any remains of this kind of national attachment, we
may conclude, that the Lutherans, Calvinists, Menonists, Swinfielders,
Dumplers, and Moravians, will be attached to Germany, the country from
whence they emigrated, and where their religions are best tolerated;
the Presbyterians and Puritans to Ireland, and the Roman Catholics to
France, Spain, and the Pope, and the small number of the Church of
England to Great Britain.
"Do we not daily see, Monarchies at war with Monarchies, Infidels with
Infidels, Christians with Christians, Catholics with Catholics, and
Dissenters with Dissenters? What stress then can be justly laid on an
attachment arising from a similarity of laws, government, or religion?
"It has also been asserted, that America will be led from motives of
interest, to give the preference in trade to this country, because we
can supply her with manufactures cheaper than she can raise them or
purchase them from others.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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