Bill Pascrell: “There are stark similarities between what happened in the 1850s and now. You judge for yourself. In 1856, former…”

“There are stark similarities between what happened in the 1850s and now. You judge for yourself. In 1856, former President Millard Fillmore ran for President as part of the Know-Nothing group. A year after the failed attempt, most of the Know-Nothing supporters joined the newly formed Republican Party. You can't make this up. A primary concern of the Know-Nothing movement in the 1850s was the large number of Irish and German Catholics who were coming to the United States. A concern they repeatedly professed was a worry that the character of the country would be changed because they were coming here. Lincoln said this: ``As a nation, we begin by declaring that `all men are created equal.' We now practically read it `all men are created equal, except Negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read `all men are created equal except Negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' '' When it comes to this, I should prefer immigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty. Russia--oh, the similarities are unbelievable--where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy. That is the difference. But there are a lot of similarities. ____________________”