The Portland daily press., 1868-02-27

The true friends Of Irish liberty are leaving
the Democratic party, since it became
thoroughly aristocratic. The Liberal party
in this country is unquestionably the party
which resents and condemns oppression and
tyranny at home and abroad, in Southern
rice fields, in Cretan mountains, in German
barracks and in Irish jails. On the question
of the rights of naturalized Americans, there
is but one side which the Republican party
could take. "We believe says the Irish Re-
public, "that as party the Republicans on
this question are sound to the core" And on
American questions there is but one side
which Irish lovers of liberty can take, and
that is the side of equal rights for all Amer
leans. We copy the following passage from
the Irish Republic, above mentioned, a Chi
caso paper which though recently started has
obtained very large circulation and is doing
an excellent work:
How long shall the Irish people in Ameri-
ca remain under the infatuation of a name!-
Can they not learn that the name 'sDemo-
cratic" no more defines the principles nor in
dicates the aims of the party in this country
which assumes it, than did that of "Relorm-
ers" those of the ruthless invaders who came
with Cromwell to Ireland to rob US of our
lands and liberties? that the democracy"
which that party comprehends would give to
four millions OF laborers in the South code
of laws more odious and infamous than the
penal code which cursed and degraded Ire
land for more than two centuries? WHY the
name seems even more ludicrous than it is
ironical in its application to such a party. A
party whose only record and only policy
for the past six years have been
opposition = nothing but opposition
Opposition to the party which prosecuted
|. the war against disunion and a slave ol
garchy, which voted men and money to save
the nations lite and preserve our free in
stitutions, which proclaimed all men free
throughout the length and breadth OF the
land, and incorporated that fundamental law
which gave to all male citizens Of the United
States-wlth the impartiality of Justice
the ballot, without which no man is free, ex-
Guiding no man from it, traitor or loyalist,
none but the perjurer, who had taken an
oath to support the constitution and broken
1.-THE perjurer, character which stinks in
the nose of truth; the party which swept
every vestige of aristocracy, In every shape,
from the constitution and statutes OF the
United States, and placed all men on an
equality before the law, and estab-
lished the one only legitimate claim
to the title OF Democratic party which
has ever been presented to the world.
In every one OF these steps, whether to save
the nation or advance the cause of human
liberty, has it not had to encounter the de-
termined opposition of the SO called Demo
cratic party? Is not the fact that they fly
the name upon their banners, while so utter
lY at variance with Democratic principles,
an evidence of their insincerity aud dishon-
esty in all their professions? Democratic"
party" honest Iago." But it is not the first
example of dishonesty, corruption and retro
gession obtaining the confidence and support
Of our people, simply on the strength Of
good ancestral name.