Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-24
An Iri,hman ON Negro suffrage.


Gen. Thomas f. Measher addressed
the Irishmen of ST. Paul, Minnesota, re-
Gently, on their duties as American
citizens. In the course OF his remarks
he spoke upon the subject of negro suf-
frage. He took manly and independ-
emit stand in relation to this question.
He urged his hearers TO emancipate
themselves from the control Of the poll
ticians who have held them in ignoble
captivity for years." and he declared
that the democrat who would deny the
'black heroes Of the Union army the
rights for which their wounds and
glorihed colors so eloquently plead, is
unworthy to participate in the great
ness of the nation" We recommend
his words to the Irishmen Of this vicin-
ity, Hear him;
"By their desperate fidelity to the for
tunes OF the nation in many fierce
tempest Of the war--a fidelity all the
more heroic that they fought in chains
and with the devotion of martyrs re-
paid with torrents OF generous blood
the prescription and wicked bondage
in which, under the sanction Of the stars
and stripes, they had been for genera
tons held-by their desperate fidelity
and splendid sOldiership, such as at Fort
Wagner and Port Hudson gave TO their
bayonets an irresistible electricity, the
black heroes Of the Union army have not
only entitled themselves to liberty but
to citizenship, and the democrat who
would deny them the rights for which
their wounds and olorifled colOrS so
eloquently plead, is unworthy to parti-
cipate in the greatness Of the nation
whose authority these DISTINGUISHED SOL
diers did so much to vindicate. In
speaking thus, am well aware that l
run counter to the preiudices of the
conservative politician, the great end
and aim Of whose craftsmanship, or
whatever else his public talk and labors
may be called Is TO consecrate the err
rors or misfortunes Of the past, and in
woke the sanction of the public law and
an austere patriotism to stamp the civil
disabilities and socia prescription of
the black with fatal immortality. But
in speaking Of what I conceive should
be the duties and relations of Irishmen
to the United States, reference to the
new political conditions, upon which
they have to plant themselves squarely,
is unavoidable; ant if incur the dis
appreciation OF any enlightened and
patriotic gentleman in giving a frank
expression to my convictions, all | can
say is, that | believe the world moves.
and don't intend to stand still and be
overwhelmed like a fossil in its pro-
gress. The independence assert for
myself, | earnestly entreat every one Of
my cOuntrymen in America to cultivate.
1t is full time for them to emancipate
themselves from the control Of the poll
ticians who have held them in an ig-
noble captivity for many years, and to
whose vulgar dictatiOn they surrender
the intelligence and high spirit which
should be as precious to them as their
citizenship Indeed, noble as this citizen
ship naturally is, it becomes reproach
when the spirit it should inspire, the
manhood which should accompany it,
the healthy boldness Of mind that be-
longs to it, and should never cease to
nourish, adorn and beautify it, is COM
promised in political servility, and the
blind discipline of party usurps the pre-
negatives Of an independent man..