Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-09-15
To Irishmen and Cath.iiCs.

-Amer,can, published by p. Lynch, Esq
> to Irish Americans, throughout the Union
The wholesome advice contained in them
0 may not be confined to Irish American
t alone, for there are many native born
I who could profit by them if they would.
"With these PREDATORY remarks, arrive
e at the point from which I am anxious to
address you on the course you should pur
, sue a, the approaching election.
Vote for the man your conscience ap
proves and for the principles your judg
ment sanctions and endorses Go TO the
polls quietly, ,peaceably, without ostentation
without discussion with any body. Depo.
sit your ballot without remark, answering
any question of legal and constitutional
character put to you. This done go with
out any delay, to your places of business
or to your homes. Make no crowd. En-
courage no street or bar-room haranguing.
Bring on no discussions IF you are as
rallied in any way, appeal to the authori-
ties for protection, and you will be protect
ed. The sound, healthy, sober second
thought of an excited, and disturbed. and
passion-driven public opinion will super
vene and if you act as I have determin-
ed to act, and now point out to you, no
difficulty will occur, no riot will take
place, no blood will be spilled, mo wife will
be widowed, and 70 children will be rend-
cred fatherless orphans.
In 1928, OConnell and Shiel, and the
celebrated Father Murphy, or Corofn, in
duccd half million of excited people to
abstain from drinking Intoxicating liquors.
For three warm summer days the hundred
thousand men assembled did so abstain,
presenting to the astonished British Go
vernment and the public the sublime
spectacle, not only of the po,eer of the
magician agitator, O'Conncll, but the re.
solution and self-control of the masses Do
you, fellow-countrymen, abstain likewise
from maddening liquor on election day.
Join no cliques, parties or crowds deposit
your voting papers in an orderly manner;
and the evil disposed fighting men of the
Know-Nothiug party cannot get chance
of using their revolvers and bowieEnifes
upon your person.
Iperceive 1 by the daily and weekly press
that the politicians are calculating already
on the ''Catholic Vote" This cruel aud
criminal perversion of the franchise into
what the party gamblers term the "Catho-
lie" and Hrish" vote is about the fore
mostand most pregnant cause of the enmity
and dread and disgust entertained against
you by the Native Americans.
Catholic Irish vote
Why, you have no more right to vote
as Catholic or Irishmau in the choice of
American lawmakers, whether federal,
state, municipal, or judicial, than you have |
to llunder your ncighbor's property. /.
American interests should guide you.
The honor, and glory, and prosperity of
the federal Republic, the interests of the
State, the purity and health Of the social
relations with which you are associated
and identified, should alone guide you in
the exercise of your franchise. The Cop
knows no State religion, acknow-
ledgcs no scctarian interference in govern
mental affairs, cuts of clearly and totally
III and every connection between the rul-
ne power and any and every Church, and
caves conscience free AMI uutr,mmelled
n the exercise of social ard political rights
By and through the Constitution the vot-
ne privilege is extended to you and by
that privilege is extended to
;ou and by perverting that privilege
o any personal or religious purpose.
iou. not only violate your oath of cit
zenship, but you give valid excuse to
;our prosecutors TO advocate the Ieenact-
nent of the alien and sedifon laws, and
hus deprive you of the privilege, advan-
age, and honor of forming component
art Of the great American Union. Aud
ct me add that those who appear to and l
railic on your religious synpathies ard :
and who constantly refer in i
heir writings and speeches to your position
nd influence as "Catholics" and solicit
'ou to take your "Catholie' interests into
ccount in exercising your right to ap- .
roach the ballot-bc1, are your titterest ..
nd most malignant enemies /; and before
;od, they have serious responsibility in
bus misleading you, which they, the !,
after end, will find it difficult TO satisfy
nd discharge.
And now, fellow w-countrymen, implorc {
ou to read and think over this plain and ID
implc observation. Never mind the want c
f influence OF the humble position of the 5
writer. If what | have written be true c
nd rational, aud have any common sense 7
n it, You are bound to attend to j: and :
igcst it, and be guided by it just as well &
5 if it came from higher, more elevat- c
d, and more digniii,d an1 eminent l
Durcc . II