American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Francis J. Grund (1805-September 29, 1863) was a mathematician who became a political commentator. His death was mentioned in the New York Times, October 2, 1863. A contemporary of Alexis de Tocqueville, Francis J. Grund wrote in his work The Americans in Their Moral, Social and Political Relations, 1837: <Although the most perfect tolerance exists with regard to particular creeds, yet it is absolutely necessary that a man should belong to some persuasion of other, lest his fellow-citizens should consider him an outcast from society. The Jews are tolerated in America with the same liberality as any denomination of Christians;...

Alexis de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805-April 16, 1859) was a French statesman, historian and social philosopher. He arrived in New York, May 11, 1831, with Gustave de Beaumont, and began a nine month tour of the country for the purpose of observing the American prison system, the people and American institutions. His two-part work, which was published in 1835 and 1840, was titled Democracy in America. It has been described as: <the most comprehensive and penetrating analysis of the relationship between character and society in America that has ever been written.> 1805AT001 In it, Alexis de Tocqueville related: <Upon my...

United States Congress (June 4, 1805) during Thomas Jefferson's presidency, drafted a Treaty of Peace and Amity with Tripoli, ratified April 12, 1806, in order to prevent the pirates of the North African Barbary Coast from seizing American ships, confiscating their cargo, and selling the crews and passengers as slaves. The United States had made a previous treaty with Tripoli and paid large sums of extortion money, but it failed when war broke out in 1801. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) won famed by stealing into the Tripoli harbor on the small vessel Intrepid, February 16, 1804, burning a captured ship and...

Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805-August 4, 1875) was a Danish novelist and story-writer. He authored many fairy tales, including The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Tinder Box. In his autobiography, titled The Fairy Tale of My Life, 1855, Hans Christian Andersen wrote: <Depressed in spirit, I took up my Bible, which lay before me, for an oracle; opened it, pointed blindly at a place, and read: "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help." (Hosea.) Yes, Father, I am weak, but Thou lookest into my heart and wilt be my help. Here...

Benjamin Disraeli (December 21, 1804-April 19, 1881) the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, was Prime Minister of Britain, 1868, 1874-80. An accomplished author and diplomat, Benjamin Disraeli wrote: <The time will come when countless myriads will find music in the songs of Zion and solace in the parables of Galilee....The pupil of Moses may ask himself whether all the princes of the House of David have done so much for the Jews as the Prince who was crucified?> 1804BD001 -- American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement. Endnotes: 1804BD001. William J. Federer, American...