The Portland daily press., 1869-07-22
II TT E PR ESSI
Thursday Morning: July %, 1869.
The Intolerance of Irishmen.


The Intolerance of Irishmen.
The privileges and opportunities offered by
the United States to the oppressed and friend
less of all countries, have been embraced by no
people with more alacrity than by ifishmen.
AS they seldom or never return to the old
country, we must conclude that they have bet
tered their condition by tho change.
We have yet to learn of single instance in
which their poverty or ignorance has been
considered by them as a reason why they should
not avail themselves of the protection afforded
by law, or where they have declined the civil
or political rights with which, after a short
residence, the law invests them.
The Irishman admits that he fees from
land of oppression, and from the operation of
laws that are unequal and unjust. Once here,
he enters upon the enjoyment OF the largest
exercise of civil and religious freedom, and
forthwith arms himself with the ballot with as
much complacency as he would if the same
had been his natural birthright. 1t would be
quite natural to suppose that an individual or
class of individuals thus favored and blessed
would be among the earliest and most jealous
advocates OF an extension of these rights and
privileges to other unfortunate people not
more ignorant nor less worthy than them
selves. Up to this time however, any natural
expectations in this direction have not been
justified by the facts. On the contrary, Irish
men as a class have been most intolerart of the
rights of others, and have shown more opposi-
tion to granting the protection OF law to me-
z 'oes, Chinese and Others thani other of
our citizens either foreign or native. Their
hatred of the negro is positively malignant
and has been manifested not unfrequently by
the most brutal and disgusting outrages upon
bis person and property.
And now that the Chinese are coming to our
shores they show the same illiberal spirit and
the same disposition. to persecute, that they
have ever shown toward the negro. They act
precisely as though they thought no foreigners
had rights in America, except themselves
This spirit of bigotry and intolerance is not
only quite unbecoming in men who have in
yoked the protection of our laws, and enjoyed
the benefits arising from our free institutions
but is positively disgusting as indicating
lack of gratitude as we'll as common sense.
Considering that the Irish have always been
accounted a generous, hospitable and tender
hearted people their conduct in this regard is
almost inexplicable. The fact that they have
been caught in the tolls of the democratic par
ty, and have been made 10 imbiEe their insane
preiudices, affords the only rational explana-
ton for their ungenerous action.
The action of the Irish Republicans recently
assembled at Chicago goes far to show the
truthiulncss of this conjecture. Here was a
body of Irishmen, intelligent enough to break
the shackles with which democracy had bound
them, and begin to think for themselves. Meet
ing in convention they shew by their utter
ances and resolutions that they bad become
emancipated from the chains of ignorance, in
tolerance and superstition, which characterized
the race while in the leading strings of democ-
racy, and boldly proclaimed themselves in IA
vor Of extending to others of whatever race or
color, the inestimable rights which they had
SO freely enjoyed themselves We hail this
meeting as beraiding brighter day, when ex-
perience and education shall bring to Irish
men The knowledge that their truest interests
lie in the direction of universal freedom and
equal rights to all.