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.

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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 bigotry no sanction, to persecution no
assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection
should demean themselves as good citizens.
-- George Washington, _To the Jewish Congregation, New Port,
-- Rhode Island_, August, 1790

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