The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-07-16
The Irish Vote.

Within tile past two years there
has been EVIDENCE accommodating o!
increasing detection among the Irish
voters from the Democratic organI.
zation to the Republican party. Tins
tendency has taken form in the re
cent Convention OF Irish Republi-
cans at Chicago, which embraced in
It's membership many OF the most
prominent and intellectual lrishmen
in this country-men' the equals of
any in the land in intelligence and
political foresight. The name ftDe-
mocracy,' as applied to the party
assuming 60 wear it, they have DIS
covered to he cheat and deeoy TO
thousands of libertyloving men,
The acts of .hat party have complete
ly belied its professions, OF The true
Democratic faith, so dear TO the peo-
pie who have long sighed for refiei
from the burden of monarchial and
aristoeratic government. They have
discovered that the party which has
overthrOwn the only oligarchY which
ever bore sway in this land is the
only one at heart opposed to class
government, anu in favor OF 'goy-
ernment OF the people, BY the people,
and for the people, .-..s
The Convention which adjourned
in Chicago on the 9th inst, affirmed,
first, the duty OF ''the Irish people
in this Republic, and OF all men over
the world, to give their support 20
those who, on principle, contend for
the right to all OF perfect liberty,
without regard TO race, color, creed,
or seXn This is brCadradical ground,
on which square fight can he waged
against all misgovcrnment and OPP
preston. The platform avows earn
est devotion aud loyalty to the Unit
ed States, sympathy with Cuba and
all people struggling for freedom :
Among the most important and sig
nificant planks in the platform
is strong denuncIatiOn OF free trade
doctrines, and Il declaration in favor
OF adequate protection 10 american
Industry. The Irishmcn understand
how free trade contributes 20 hold in
ahject dependence and servitude the
mass of laborcrs in Europe to q
wealthy and powerful arlsIocracy,
without the hope of ever lettering
their social position. American free
labor offers q1ite another prospect
for the honest worker. Il oilers "A
competency-the right to own land
-an inviolable homestead-oqual
political rights and opportunities and
Tree scope for honest ambition.
If the Irish voters OF the United
States will give their political indu-
ence to secure to the productions of
American labor the first chance in
American markets they will strike
blow at'their ancient oppressor that
she will feel in every part OF her sys- |
tenn. While, on the other hand, II
they continue, through the free trade
Democracy, to minister to England's
wealth and power, that government
will continue to laugh II the wOrdy
which Irishmen continue
to utter against her. We rejoice,
that they are opening their
eyes to the facts and philosophy of
their politic.l situation. Many OF
them have become connected, of late
years, in the eastern cities, with
interests, and hence
the party and the policy which pro-
tects them, is the one entitled to the
utmost confidence. .3
This convention recommended TO
the Irish people to avoid, as far as
possible, the dependent occupations
of the cities, where the odds must be ,
gre atty against them in the struggle
for a competency, and urged them to |
more generally turn their attention
to agriculture,--to build up perma /
nent, thrifty agricultural communi-
ties of their own people.
The drift is 10 the right direction.