The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-10
Wherefore on the Irish Potato.

i1uSiion io"oioto' cdSh iiudEty, OHe vi
the reporters ofthe London press, jast i'm
ported from Tipperary, said to the only
other reporter in the gallery at the time
that he felt very drowsy, and that he
would be after taking little bit Of nap
|ifhe would tell hins when he awoke, any
thing which might take place. The other
agreed. and Jack was soon asleep
After half an hours snooze, Jack opened
his eyes.
"Has anything happened?" was his first
question.
"1o be sure there has,, said the other,
whose name was Morgan O'Sullivan.
"Has there, by the power'" said Jack.
eyes, Jack, and very important, too"
"By Jasus, then, and why don't you be
after telling it me at onceS What was it
about"
"About the virtue of the Irish Potato,
jack"
"Was it the Irish potato you said, Nor.
GAM"
''The Irish potato; and most elegant
speech it was.'
"Thunder and tightening, tlien, and why
don't you tell it me?"
"1ll read it from my note book, Jack,
and you'll take it down as I go on" said
Morgan.
"Och, it's myself, sure, that's ready at
any time to write what any mimber says
about our parties. Are you ready to be-
gin?"
"Quite ready" answered Morgan.
"Now, then" said Jack, with energy.
E"Now, then, Morgan, my boy.'
Morgan, pretending to read from his note
book, commenced thus-"The honorable
mimber said that IT,
"Och, be aisy a little BIT" interrupted
Jack; "~ho was the honorable mimber?
Morgan, hesitating-"Was it his name
you asked? Sure it was Mr.. WHEREFORE
"Mr. WiIberforce2 Och. very well, then.
Morgan resumed. "Mr. Wilberforce said
it always appeared to him beyond allques'
ton that the great cause why the Irish la
borers were, as body, so much stronger
and capable Of enduring so much greater
physical fatigue than the English, was the
surprising virtues ofthcir potato. AND
he'+
/ Morgan, my dear fellow" shouted Jack
at the mention ofthe Irish potato 80 Nor
gan, my dear fellow, this is so importan
that we must give it in the Fl list person"
ado you think SO" said Morgan.
"Troth, and / do answered Jack.
| Morgan resumed: sand have no doabt
continued Mr.. Wilberfprce, Hthat had il
been my lot to be born and reared in
"Did the mimber say rearea u" interrupt
ed jack
"He said reared" was the reply.
"Had it been my lot to be born and rear
ed in Ireland. where my foo q would have
principally consisted of the jpotato-tha
| most salubrious and nutlicious, root--ln
stead Of being the poor, inffm, shrivellet
and stunted creature, you, SLIT and 1onora
BILE gentlemen, now behold me, | Wcnlt
have been tall, stout, athletic man, ant
able to carry an enormous weight"
! Wilberforce is correctly described.
j Here Jack Finnarty observed, looking
his friend eagerly in the face; "Faith
Morgan, and that's what | call true elo
qnence! Go on"
"Ihold that root to be Invaluable, ant
the man who first cultivated il in Ireland,
regard as benefactor Of the first magni
tude to his species, and my decided opinion
is. that never until we grow potatoes j
England in sufficient quantities to feed a
our laborers. will those laborers be- so able
bodied a class as the Irish. "Hear hear!
from both sides Of the House, "Well, b
fSt. Patrick, but that beats everything,
observed Jack. @That's raal philosophy
And the other Numbers cried, hear, hear
did they?"
aThe other members cried hear, hear!
AS soon as the House rose, Jack IN PEI
feet ecstacies at the eulogium which fa
been pronounced upon the virtue Of the Pr
tatoes of Ould Ireland, ran in haste to
public house where the reporters wh
sbould have been on duty for the otht
G morning papers were assembled. he rea
over his notice to them, which they copie
: verbatim, and they repaired to their re-
i pective Offices and gave a copy Of it Int
q the hands Of the printer.
1t appeared in all the public papers ne'
9 morning, except the one with which Mo
: gan was connected. 1t created sensatleo
! ! and surprise IN London. Everyb0d.
4 while regreting that the necessity shouI
ov;,t cow No otbar conrse was left, but
S put MIR. Wilberforce at once into stra
jacket and provide him with a keeper.
!. The House, as usual, in the evening M
and Mr.. Wilberlorce, on the Speaker takir
the chair, rose and begged the indulgent
u of the House for one moment to matt
, which concerned it as we'll as himselfpe
= n, .:Tr,.,r,, honorable mamhnrp hp n