Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-14
Why are Irishmen Democratso

It has long been an enigma to the "upper ten thousand,'' says the New York Daily News why the lrlshman IS a democrat, All sorts of explanations (but the right one) have been civ. eh. ne favOrite one with certain class of gentry IS, that it is the high sounding name of democracy which deceiveS and induces them to enter within its folds-which, like the boa constructor, crushes, besmearS with saliva. and then swallows them. Others, vita no more truth, but greater cunning than our silk stock inS friends, say that 1t is the dreadful monster. their religion; and others with no soul of na. trotsm, pretend to believe it is from dowpri5bt stupidity or maliciousuess It is strange they have never analysed the heart and feelings of the lrishman. Had they spent one half the time or shown one fourth the sagacitv in this tha, they have used in seeking out and m,gui- tylng hS faults, they would have discovered that every impulse of his heart responds 10 the generous, pure and holy principles of the dem- ocratIc faith. Cold ani selfish prnScrip,ionists torture into a deformily his love of the Green IS'e, and because they tiud themselves iucapable ui SD noble an emotion for the land of fbeir bTth, they stamp II in him as crime. and womb excite the tears of silly fanatics, to doubt the poNs bIhty oi an lrlshman ever having true love for the land of his adoption. They can- not appreciate the feelings which make the son oi Ireland look back with a sigh to the lit. He cot, the fond old mother who bore him. the green helds, from which the lark springs. soar- Ing into the heavens, pouring out the song fa- mhiAF to ms ooyhood's ear; the hedge from whlch the thrush's note woke him to his daily labor; the dance, where love and frolic were the order of the night. Is it strange that thoughts of all these should make the eve ali bs l. a No; thousand times no. It gives the best proof that the heart is honest and human Ii l' the best security of loyalty to freedom. He feels that oppression has driven him from that home, he knows that it was the same oppres sor's hand that drove the Colonies to revolt against the oppressor. This is why he seeks our land; and 1t Is this knowledge and feelinc that leads him to sympathze with that party winch has ever resisted the encroachments of the common enemy. Democracy is born, with hlm, It grows with his growth, and strengthens with hls strength. His temperament is con- genial to liberty, and his spirit chafes under the unnatural and lnhuman restraint of the oppres- sor. lie realizes In the land of his adoption that for which his countrymerI have hoped tor poor, old Ireland, self-government. personal equality and freedom. Who shall paint the emotions of the adopted citizen as he looks upon his little son, running about, (perhaps in rags) and knows that it is possible that that son may yet chain the ear of listening senate" or fill the guberuaorlal chair, or better still suc- cessfulIy lead the soldiers of the republic against its enemies? In this simple fact he re- aIlzes the very essence of democracy! His af- tectons, his gratitude, and his love of justice, all lead him to the democratic party as cer- tanly as a mothers love draws to her the child she has nourished at her breast.