The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
WHY iRlsHlIEN SYMPAIHiZE WITH THE
FRENCH.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD -
As an Irshman, lately arrived from the Old Coun.
try, fully agree with the statement In to-day's
HERALD-"that the Irish do not dislike the Ger
mans as people, This statement is only meant
by the HERALD to apply TO the Irish In the city, but
as one who has taken some part In Irish politics at
home, ana who Is wen acquainted with the feelings
OF lrishmen on most matters, can affirm that tho
same assertion Is entirely applicable to the great
man pluck and German perseverance, and were 1t
any other nation In Europe but France that was ar
rayed against Germany their sympathics would be
with Germany. 1t Is not that they love Germany
less, but that they love France more This adverse
feeling OF the Irish, may state does not apply SO
much TO the Germans as people, as IL does to the
Prussans In pa, ticular. There numberless rea
| sons why the sympathy OF lrishmen should be en-
TREY with France 10 the present struggle. Still
Irishmen, with the exception OF the unthinkIng few
are not dangerously hostile To the Germans. IL is
| part OF the irish character to love ana admire
bravery and gallantry wherever they found: and
what freshman that does not admire bra very Of
the German people who forgetting the petty diner
ences winch so long divided them and kept them
poweress In Europe, nave rallied together in aid
Their common country, and proved the world
what mighty things can he accomplished by "a
united peopeil Germ ny has enacted one OF those
mighty dramas which rom time To time revOll-
tlonZe the world towards the "a OF the last cen
fury monarchy doZed over The nations OF the world
ana thought moved In the Old groove OF cent ures
n lew colonies on the shores or America, neither
very rich nor very popuOus, but strongly imbued
with patriotism and love OF liberty, their stan
dard 10 the breeze ana bodl, inaugurated new
order or things, the most glorious and gigantic in
It's results the world has ever known. Next the
splendid meteor OF the French revolution flashed
across the political HORIZON. Now federal Germany
comes forward and procaims TO a startled
World thar 1t has mucn yet to learn.
of thugs. still, IN common win most freshmen.
my sympathies are with France In this struggle
now going on, ana as | stated before. for many
,navn
occasion tOove France, - they have always had its
sympathy IN all their struggles, ana on many hard
banner or France. What freshman that does not re-
member with pride the famous field Of Fontenoyi
When lrlshmen were outraged, uamped and
driven from their homes by English tyranny they
always found welcome in France France has be-
sides until late been the consistent enemy OF
England, ana TO most Irishmen Engiand's enemy Il
lrelands friend. The hate which freshmen nave for
England can only be understood by those who have
endured the wrongs and indIgnties which Irlshmen
have for centuries endured at The hands OF Eng
land. Next Prussia has mostly pecn England's ally
and as Prussia IL identified win Germany Germany
loses any chance for Irish sympathy From the
commencement OF this war to the present time the
towards France ald the foulest epi,hcts have
every day been hurled against the French people.
This OF itself was quite sufficient to enlist en-
tirely Irish sympathy on the side OF France. Thee
Is another cause. great similarity OF disposition
and temperament exists between The French and the
Irsl The same elasticity OF character ana natural
gayety OF temper exist between the two peoples,
while the chivaric bravery and daring OF both are
Ntly All tUls, COO contributes largely 10
give the "choSen home OF chvalry--tbe garden of
romance,' the earnest sympathes OF the Irish peo-
pie In whatever struggle she may be engaged In.
Nor should Americans forget that France aided
them largely In their struggle for independence.
must however. assert that there is an acerDity OF
ieeing between the adverse supporters OF the con
tending powers which Is entirely unCalled for. This
Is not war OF races, nor OF religions; 1t Is OF
rival politicians and rival dynasties. Therefore. It
should not awake such rancorons feelings The
question Is whether Napoleon or Bismarck shall die
tate to Europe and when the God OF vision permits
such a state OF things men should not tight among
themselves about it; for after all, 10 may he much
better for the world at large that Germany should
win. ERIN GO BRACu