BIGOTRY: WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT IS NOT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 82, 21 November 1874, Page 11

BIGOTRY : WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT IS NOT.

f+ At a gathering composed almost entirely- of Anglo-Americans, the sons of prominent citizens of New Jersey, recently held in Newark, a talented young Irish- American, Mr Patrick Jordan, late of tho Irish College at Borne, happened to be present. In the course of the even* ing some remarks derogatory to the Irish character were made, and Mr Jordan, overhearing them made a warm rejoinder as follows :— " The slander is as much levelled at me as at (hose whom you pretend to alienate from me as a distinct species of Irishmen. Mark me, we Irish are all the same at heart. In your charity and knowledge of history, you should have long since ceased to wonder why impoverished Irishmen incur censure for their supposed ignorance and other wants. If you are liberal enough to concede the fact, you must make allowance for the sufferings they have inherited through a despotism which has only been mollified by the increasing light of the civilisation of our time."' The son of an ex-Governor of New Jersey remarked that Mr Jordan's notions savoured very strongly of bigotry, and thereupon that gentleman answered in substance as follows :—: — "I am not a bigot. The best impulses of my nature rise in rebellion against the charge. The very name is rank and obnoxious beyond endurance, and my soul scorns and repels the accusation. If an ardent devotion to the creed of my fathers, and a hardly less earnest allegiance to my race, be ample reasons that this aspersion should be cast upon me, I have only to say that the word bigot incongruously embraces in its signification the faithful and the patriotic as well as those of rank hearts and poisoned souls. Either the word has no meaning at all, or it possesses the rare quality of expressing opposite ideas at the same l time. If the latter instance were correct I should accept the epithet only because I .would be unable to avoid it. But, gentlemen, to be proud of confessing one's convictions as to eternal truth, and fearlesß in defending our national or political principles, are noble traits in a man's character, and attributes too great to be desecrated by the opprobrious name of bigotry. It is bigotry to hate a fellow-man, or shun or strive to harm him because his convictions may differ from our own, and result from the peculiarities of his nature or education. Whenever I perceive in a man principles or tenets contrary to, yet as deeply rooted as my own, I feel that I should equally share admiration for his fidelity with regret for our differences. The bigot is he who deliberately pursues the dictates of a hell-born propensity to injure or persecute, though it may cost him a fight against conscience aad convictions to do so. He will break a heart or tear a reputation to tatters that he may glut his morbid instincts in groundless revenge upon those who dissent from him in faith, morals, or political opinion. He will squander bis substance, abandon his occupation, and even neglect his health to pursue the unguarded object of his vindictive hate. He spies through crevices at the open, free, and candid doings of his unconscious victim. He breathes the subtle poison of calumny and detraction into ' the hungry ears of his confederates. He gloats, like a fiend, over the prospect of the ruin he may accomplish. I cannot help conceiving that, should the purpose of a bigot herd be gratified, their shrill huzzas and savage clamour would recall in miniature what we may imagine to have been the applause of the fallen angels had they conquered St. Michael ! Bigotry is the inseparable sister of hypocrisy, selfishness, and treachery. The bigot would feign forbid the shining of the sun. , were he to fear that its light would reveal a fact contrary to the aims L and doctrines which repudiate any infringement upon them — no matter ) how trivial— if it savour of justice or liberality. His end is not bo l much to arrive at truth as to wrong, combat, and vilify those who differ ; with linn. He works with still keener subtlety. He prostitutes learn- ) ing, genius, and firm convictions to the pursuance of his wretched ■ desires. He wilfully interprets history to serve his own projects ; . mutilates facts and even misconstrues the written treasures of anoient • archives to abet his malicious purpose. I could give you many ; hideous examples of the species in the history of my own nationality ; L and I wish you to know that these poor words of mine, no matter how exaggerated they seem, are mainly inspired by memories of my perl secuted race. J3ut I will seek a milder eximple among the bigots of : our own time. In a spirit of honest belief, I must assert that my re- > marks are fairly attributable to the attempt made by James Anthony ; Froude to breed contempt for the Iri3h in America — aye, gentlemen, i to blacken their national character, which for so many ages had withi stood the terrible tests of persecution, famine, plague, war, usurpation, [ foulest injustice, and exile. The object of that gifted and systematic . bigot's vindictiveness was the people who for centuries of bondage could hardly look to their G-pd, or "but upon the light of day, without meeting the frown of a tyrant, or hearing the rebuff of a despoiler. t The means which. Froude employed clea.rly justify me in naming him I, as an example of the subject whereof lam endeavoring to treat. You y will at once perceive the deceitful plan of the bigot in the fabricated r citations of seeming great soundness which he used to bridge him over c in his foul fight against truth and conscience,"