Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-17
Political,
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WHY ARE THE IRISH DEMOCRATS

1t would require history of the rise and
| progress and decay of American political par
ties for the last seventy years to answer the
above query satisfactorily
When Jefferson and Jackon were the re-
presentatiyes of Democracy, in was a party
worthy ofthis Republic But when Brick
Pomeroy essays the role of Jefferson, and
johnson, with his treacherous stubbornness,
imagines himselfac the role of jackson,
Democracy is but comedy" put on the
boards to please the prejudices Of the iguo-
rant and the false. 1t is but dragging the
mantle of the olden gods through the pur-
lieus of crime, and drinking hob-nob with
pothouse politicians, for the purpose of
overthrowing intelligent justice and we'll
regulated liberty, and setting up crime and
license and saturnalia in their stead.
When the Little Giant" of the West
breathed his last, counsclling his children to
be true to the nation, then Democracy should
have died. What was left was but the body,
filed with the worst passions, the soul hay
ing departed Then the mantleof the great
leaders of Democracy should have folded the
giant of the West in his grave, instead of
being torn into shreds by hungry hucksters
to be faunted over the planks of the old
platform, broken up by the conflicting ele-
ments into dozen RATS, one raft steering
South With treason For ITS bannor; another
steering North with riot and murder for its
ensign; another, the smallest, but the one
that had the live oak timbers and the
hickory flagstaff of the old craft, from which
flew the "War Democracy.
1t was for its early virtues the Irish peo-
pie joined it, and themselves being change
less, they have failed to understand how the
principles of one generation become effete
and will not suit for the next, especially in a
progressive age like this, and among pro-
gressive people like the Americans Un-
fortunately for Ireland aud her people, we
are always content with things as our faith
ers have left them. We associate all old
things with sacredness, and look upon men
who are not content with a Constitution
framed in another age, and by a generation
surrounded by old institutions as fanatics
IconocIasts who are going around smashing
the brazen images of the past we look upon
with awe and hatred, even though those
idols are pressing down the world, and we
ourselves are groaning beneath their weight
while protecting their sacred uglinesses.
r
''As it was, SO it is, with our people
They cannot see that the Republican party
is the irst-born of the old Democracy, iu-
heriting all its parent virtues, and laying in
plentiful stock of its own to suit the ad-
yanced days in which we live Convince
the Irish of this fact, and you make them
Republicans. Until so convinced, they will
be the honest odd guard" of Democracy,
around which treason and corruption will
rally, to use our honest countrymen to de-
stroy the Republic and ride into power.
We ask the members Of the Republican
party, and the editors of Republican jour
nails, whether they have taken the proper
means to reach the Irish people?
The principles Of the Republican party
are for no sect, but for all men. 1t becomes
the duty of every member of the party to
invite all men to share iu its councils and
avail themselves of its privileges. On the
other hand, the man who stands upon its
universal platform, and hoists bis banner of
prescription, should be hurled from it un-
tremendously. By what right viii some
narrow bigot stand under the protecting
egis of Republicanism, and cry, We want
no Irish here? We want no Catholics here?
etc.
The majority of Irish people of America
are Democrats because they believe that
party is right. They are led aud used by
knayes, but the people are honest. Con-
vince them of their error. Act up to the
professions of Republicanism. Show them
that you believe in the rights of man. That