Speech #870178434

We are sick and tired. and we believe the voters in this city are sick and tired. of party leaders paying as much attention to religious or ethnic background as to ability. and often more." I believe that there are a great many people who would share these feelings. The truth is that what the Times referred to as national ticket balancing should become a thing of the past. because the conditions which originally caused it have largely ceased to exist. The story of the United States. up until very recent times. was one of a series of waves of immigration. Here in Rhode Island the first settlers were mostly from the British Isles. Later. especially in the years between 1837 and 1857. most of the immigrants came from Ireland. and they played their part in building the Blackstone Canal and the railroads. Soon they also found a place in the local textile industry. where they were joined by many French Canadians. Late in the last century. our State witnessed a rising tide of immigration from many parts of Europe. but in the years between 1890 and 1920 the greatest number came from Italy. Each new wave of immigrants always experienced some discrimination. All were looked down upon by those who thought of themselves as the original Americansa title which really belonged to the Indians. It is not hard for anyone to see how group thinking and group feeling grew up here.