The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-10

I'm Antagonism.
browning men catch at.straws," and the
Richmond papers, in their desperation. seize on
and divisions among our people which it is sup
posed to have developed, if not generated, as
evidence of 'the just retribution" that awaits
the North, as 'the Inauguration Of that terrible
condition of anarchy which they had often pre-
dicted." See an article in another column from
the Richmond Wing, entitled Causes of
Conflict at the North" It is evident that in this
case, as in so many others, 1.-THE wish is father
to the thought" When the rebellion was
planned, anarchy at the North was one OF the
elements of success on which the leaders calcu-
lated. But like their reliance on foreign aid, it
has hitherto failed them, and the avidity with
which their organs grasp at the shadow proves
how great was the stress they laid upon the
substance.
The article in the Richmond Wing is one tissue
of falsehood and misrepresentation. 1t asserts
that there is strong antagonism between the
Germans and the Irish; that the Germans were in
favor Of the draft and the Irish were against it;
that between these races there is not only in
congruity Of blood, but incompatibility of faith;
and, as both races compose q very large
proportion of the Northern population, espe-
cally Of New York, this city "must be the start
ing point of the internecine war that is sooner
or later to make a wide aceldema of the
North" If the writer in good faith "lays this
fattering junction to his soul" be never was
more deceived in his life. There is no antagon-
ism between the Germans and the Irish
Many Of them are Of the same religion, and, if
they were not, thank God, in this country re-
ligious differences never can be . cause of
social or political strife. The Irish and Ger
mans are both alike useful and industrious
citizens, and there Is abundant room for all,
without any danger OF jostling or collision.
Indeed, according to the Wing, there is no pos
sibility of rivalry. "The only safeguard it
says, against deadly collisions between them
in the past has been the separation in their
social and Industrial spheres, which resulted
from dissimilariV Of natures. The Dutch al
most invariably engage in some sort of bust
ness, while the Irish resort chiefly to manual
labor as means of support" If this repre-
sentaion were true it would go to show that
there can be no antagonism between the Germans
and the Irish on the vital point of employment,
which is the only one that could ever be
of any consequence. But it is not correct,
and such statement proves that the writer
knows nothing OF the populations Of New York
city and the occupations in which they are en-
gagged, or he wilfully deceives his readers for
political purposes. There are more Irishmen
in business In New York than there are German
and many of our most successful merchants are
Irish. The Germans are descended from an
agricultural people. The largest proportion Of
them in this country become farmers or farm
laborers; but an immense number are me-
chanics. The Irish are sprung from . trading
and commercial race-the PhGnicians-aud
whenever capital, education and other crcum-
stances are favorable they always reveal their
origin by embarking in business. But owing
to the jealous policy Of England, which delibe-
rately, by act Of Parliament, crushed the once
fourishing manufactures Of Ireland, four -fifths
of the population Of that country are agricul-
turists, and from the oppression they suffer.
owing to the tenure of land, they are the poorest
and most ignorant class of the country. and
constitute the great bulk Of the emigrants.
They become ON their arrival here, for the
most part, laborers in Cities laborers on rail-
roads and farms, or farmers. But there are
other classes of Irish which embark in business,
and, speaking the English language, as they do,
they possess facilities which are wanting to The
German. Besides this class there is q large
number Of Irish mechanics in New York, and 1t
is here that the chief rivalry exists with the
Germans; for both the Irish and Americans
sometimes complain that the German work for
prices at which decent white man can hardly
live. But there is ample scope for all nation
alities to thrive and prosper, and there can be
no ground for serious antagonism. 1t is the
Germans ignorance OF The English language,
and not his race or religion. which isolates him
equally from Americans and from Irishmen.
Hence 1t is that the Germans are more clan
ish than they would otherwise be; but this ia
no cause Of violently antagonistic elements
In the same political community" Germans
differ in their politics. like Americans and.
though In proportion to their numbers there
are not so many Of them democrats as Of the
Irish, yet there can be no doubt that majority
Of the German population Is democratic. The
foundation, therefore. on which the Richmond
Wing builds Is ~ unsubstantial a. /" the base
less fabric of q vision"
But the rebel organ assumes that the aboli.
tionists and Puritans, as soon as the present war
Is over, Will unto with the black republican
Germans against the Irish and The Catholic reii-
gion, and inaugurate another civil war a.
bloody rs that which Is now raging The want
OF success which has hitherto attended every
attempt In this country to get up a war OF
white races or war Of religion, will always
characterize such base efforts. And a. for the
Puritans and abolitionists, when this war Il over
they will have to so hide their diminished heads
from public view that little apprehension need