The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-07
Friends and Enemies.
WASHINGTON, D. c., February IA, 1868.

WASHINGTON, D. c., February IA, 1868
To the Editors of The Irish Republic.
GENTLEMEN: l and pleased with every
fresh issue of your journal You have, of TRUTH naugu
rated and grand in the history of American jour-
nalsm. Up to the advent of THE IRISH REPUBLIC, no
newspaper could be found in the United States brave enough
and enough throw open its columns to the foes
as we'll friends of its particular views But you only
publish what is opposed your avowed views particular
or general Subjects but what is actually abusive of your
selves. And that without note comment To the obec-
your views you reply in your editorials the abuse
you suffer reply to ITSELF and this it does most efecuay
sensible decent would address you in that fashion,
and none other is worth moments consideration Yet in
all this you show yourselves to be very original men, and
of great moral inrepdity That species of courage
which enables his foe at distance of ten
twelve paces enables him, when his blood up omount
the deadly BREACH common enough But that species of
it which enables to denounce hoary fasehood, to
trampe upon vulgar prejudice to the dsmay of block
heads and to the indignation of bgo is the rarest and
grandes and only belongs to the finer and nober type of
manhood.
In your treatment of your correspondents perceive you
have captured the idea that the suggestions OF be
very valuable while the time his photography
tax prosody all three may be very detective So if
any of those defects should appear any communication
sent to your Office you correct them and lay it before
your readers if its views be sound and its ideas original
like wise men and good men,
How generously and how philosophcaly does this
with that pursued by the great majority of
brother Journalists And verify, verify you will yet have
your reward
denal interviews with several members of the present Con-
gre; and your journal invariably spoken of in the
complimentary terms by every of Them They all
spoke of being the bodet and db published in the
United States in the interest of any people, and of its being
destined to accomplish great work amongst this American
people They added that every independent man of
party would find it to his interest to sustain journal in
which every could get fair and prompt hearing on
any occasion question whatsoever when he respectfully
asked for it. To all of which freely assented suggested
that the duty of every friend Of THE IRISH REPUBLIC
whether in public in private life to recommend very
strongly his friends the best of heading off the
host of enemies which its original and independent
had arrayed against it. And they have all promised do
As walking along Pennsy avenue few daysago
was hailed by American friend of mne of excel
lent culture and high social standing and addressed thus
you sir acquainted with the editors of The IRISH RE-
PUBIIc~ "Only by reputation sir" I replied. Have
you had their character from their endsor their enemes
"From both" answered. How do you manage in such
cases hear both sides, and then decide according to
the weight of evidence and the character and standing of
the Witnesses" replied. Evidently, friend you
customed to judge for yourself" Yes an early age
fell into the unruy habit and acquired the dangerous ability
to think and judge to speak and for myself" answered
have and read several numbers of that journal he
observed, and very much pleased with it. 1t to
be tremendously in earnest Its editors write with seventy
horse power "Yes replied they drive their pens as
vigorously the Crusaders swung their baeaxes amongst
the saracens And their correspondents don't be
far behind them. like earnest men and strong writing
whether they be on my side against me And do l."
my reply. eff must have an opponent would fan
have him man OF brain, and of spirit. For who
would desire TO nave for opponent human pismre
human bumbebee human cockroach p This is fair
sample of the almost daily conversations which have with
some friend acquaintance of in relation to the RE
PUBLIC But you have friends here YOU also have
bitter enemies By those fellows your journal is denounced
as an "Orange rag and "infde sheet" Your case NAV
be thus stated For friends have the intelligent and
;ndenendent of all paries for enemies all that
and ntoleran and worthless amongst own people It
only since the Fall elections went against the Republican
party that those bockheads have been heard openly
you AS they all have keen eye to the chance
while there was any probability of gaining ANYTHING by