The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-11-16
Lights and Shadows.

most able useful and respectable of the journals of the
United States We are indebted to its distinguished
editor for very favorable notice which he lately
gave to The IRISH REPUBLIC. AS he is advocate
of temperance well of every other movement cal
culaed to advance and elevate the human race he was
pleased to speak approvingy of certain articles which
have appeared in this Journal the object Of which
to check and if possible eradicate those drinking habits
which we'll known to exist among section of the
Irish people. This would suppose, was sufficiently
harmless in ITSELF and evnced anything unfriendy
spirit Not such however, the opinion of weekly
newspaper which is also published in New York, and
which processes to be both Irish and national we'll
independent in politics which practically means
throwing all its weight into the scale of the particularly
pure and patriotic party which rules in Gotham-and
neutral in religion (which means in this instance
going in dead for one creed and ignoring opposing
all Others The journal in question has felt it to be
sacred and irresistible call of duty to open all it's little
popguns its big weekly neighbor, because the latter
dared to nsnuate that any of the Irish of New York
were ever known, on any OCCASION to drink single
thmbleful of whisky 1t is quite Mortified at such
intoerabe outrage the assertion being so totally and
VIGOROUSLY untrue
Now as we happen to have been the original occasion
of this terrible and intoerabe oense we parcu-
lary grateful to New York friend for the most mer
cul spirit he has manifested in declining to at
all, except in very indirect way. By our New York
friend" the gentleman of independent pol
tiles and neutral religion" It is perfectly evident
that he did not wish to extingush utterly, and So
although possessed of the giant strength which could
I.x,o H. ~, l. A.
he has, with generosity worthy of epic poem,
forborne its exercise Such goodness amazing 1t is
almost divine. It actually reminds us of particularly
pious old clergyman whom knew, who was jeal-
of younger rival because he was more popular than
himself and, therefore, who never could by any
chance remember the of the latter when in CONVEX
saton with his neighbors.
We could say good deal more on this matter in
which coemporary has displayed such an amount of
that straightforward manliness which is so peculiar
to himself, and which is only equaled by his enormous
candor and boundless generosity. But we forbear as
we have more important subjects to attend to.
A great many newspapers like great many men,
have but purpose in e and that to please Others
in order that they may profit themselves To get good
fat dividends is the main thing thevery chief end of their
existence They resolved to swim successfully no
matter how many men, nations, may sink into the
dark abyss of degradation and destruction. To use
adage, they know when and by whom " their
bread is buttered" And SO, with benevolence which
is exceedingly profitable to themselves they carefully
study the virtues of their patrons and shut their eyes,
firmly andresoutey to their faults and aings Concern
ing the former their trumpes areorever sounding "My
husbands the best cobbler in town to-day" Our people
are the most religious, the most patriotic, the most
intelligent the most moral the most great and glorious
that has been, or that shall be- They have
no faults The thing is false ridiculous and impossible
And the man who dares to assert such thing, is a
monster, sinner heather and hereto, who is unfit