[This letter was written on printed letterhead and each page includes
the words: The Pilot Editorial Rooms ]
was popular to speak for her. And
also Mr. Hoar’s constant friend-
ship. I believe we are
near the end of a certain spirit
which has Kept men & their minds
from mingling in a healthy way:
the Irish-American is not shut out
quite so much, in the mind of his Anglo-
American fellow-citizen, from the
"American" Class. Your party,
more than the other, I think, has
doubted & excluded the foreign-
born citizen, & even his children
& all of his distinctive name.
When this doubt is dispelled, both
parties will change. It was natural
that the foreigner should be put on probation, but it is
not fair to put him on a life-
trial, much less to classify his
children born here. Good Citizenship is
not so hard to learn as all that.
The interference of the Republican
State Government with the city go-
vernment of Boston will work
more evil for this city & State
than those short-sighted legislators
dreamt of. And now,
dear Mr. Long, believe me
that there is no public or private man in
Massachusetts for whom I should
sooner vote than for you, for any
office—Governor—, Senator, President.— or simple
Gentleman.
Nov. 2. 1886
Dear Governor Long
Some busybody
sent The Pilot to you—not I.
I did not do so because I under-
stood your remark, just as you
explain it;
but the general
Democrat might misunder-
stand, & so I made the cor-
rection in the paper.
If there
be one word of offence to you,
I shall as publicly take it
back.
Pity it is that our
constant excitements lead men
into hasty words & hastier re-
plies.
I remember
well, dear Mr. Long, your Kindly
was popular to speak for her. And
also Mr. Hoar’s constant friend-
ship. I believe we are
near the end of a certain spirit
which has Kept men & their minds
from mingling in a healthy way:
the Irish-American is not shut out
quite so much, in the mind of his Anglo-
American fellow-citizen, from the
"American" Class. Your party,
more than the other, I think, has
doubted & excluded the foreign-
born citizen, & even his children
& all of his distinctive name.
When this doubt is dispelled, both
parties will change. It was natural
that the foreigner should be put on probation, but it is
not fair to put him on a life-
trial, much less to classify his
children born here. Good Citizenship is
not so hard to learn as all that.
The interference of the Republican
State Government with the city go-
vernment of Boston will work
more evil for this city & State
than those short-sighted legislators
dreamt of. And now,
dear Mr. Long, believe me
that there is no public or private man in
Massachusetts for whom I should
sooner vote than for you, for any
office—Governor—, Senator, President.— or simple
Gentleman.
I am very truly yours
John Boyle O'Reilly
[Subscription (recipient's name at end of letter)] John D. Long