Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-08-25
Irish American Leaders"

The Boston Pilot, edited by an Irishman, and
a reco5nized organ Of the better class of Irish
Americans, speaks with refreshing and vigorous
emphasis against the influence of certain Irish
American g leaders" who are the authors Of
most of the mischief in which the Irish on this
side of the Atlantic, and especially in the larger
cities, are involved. The Pilot goes to the root
of the matter, as follows -
If the Irish people in this country were to
utter enc prayer with more devotion than
another, We think it should be, " save US from
our leaders - OF sll demagogues, not even ex-
cepting the Yankee, the most impudent igno-
rant, assuming, intolerant and dangerous deu-
sgogue is the conventional "Irish leader" Pro-
fessionally, perhaps, be claims to be lawyer,
probably is an editor, and, almost certainly, has
some interest in the liquor business. lie is a
rsady and many -worded orator, with = voice
hosrse and cracking from fiery drinks and
shouting to an uproarioas and utterly iustten-
tive crowd He hss the cunning, easy look of 4
ward politician, and with his hsul in bis pocket
he roars out his jokes and denuaciations, excit-
ing the naked passions OF his hearers. as the vile
mixed drinks excite their raw palates Another
demsgogue there Is, Of a milder sort. but still
more dangerous. He dresses in rusty clothes
and, covering up his ignorance with gravity,
claims superiority on the score Of his superior
learning. He probably is a distinguished
member Of temperance society. or appears TO
take an interest in the public schools His 'sad-
dresses' are composed Of stsreotypi phrases on
the necessity Of temperance and elucation for
''our people,, scattered judiciously through some
political scheme either for his own or an employ
er's benefit, which he desires the people 90 swal-
low. And be succeeds-succeeis IN winning
their applause and their friendship, and succeeds
in procuring for himself a lucrative Office, while
in the dark he hiss his chuckliug laugh Of pride
at his "cleyeTness
But the worst demag0gue Of the whole bunch
is the demagogic editor. He does not speak in a
crowded room TO a uoisy audience the people
who read his writing cannot see that be is bleir-
eyed snd drunken he speaks 10 q thousand
perhaps two or three thousand pe0p.e-sul, in
general, his advice and remarks are f,r more
dangerous and dete.ts5ie than those Of either The
hquor-interest or the ''eminently respectable
demsgogue. Ia all cases, The stOck-I-trsIe Of
the deragogue sIrish leader is-Blstherssite
Blatherskite Is a compound il is made Of five
parts "Sunburstry,' TWO parts "Irsh bravery"
four parts bloody England, and the remain
der Sunburstry and Irish excellence again
Blatherskite is applied in different ways: some
timel il is given TO the patient with = small
spoon as IS praotisel by some men and journals
who stand just on the verge Of Irish influence
people who are in = constant self-deblte AS 10
whether they should pitch the Irish over slto-
gether or keep on tickling them in gentle wav:
then again, it is rubbed in with the sho.e hand
or two hands, ss Is the case az ''polticsl meet
ings," ward oaucuses, snl some laeturss
But the most approved way to srpy BlstLe--
skite-ard the editorial article. At ihat-is
to make the patient hattie iu it, drink o. il. sri
get drunk on IT, We have protested lielv
sgainst the assertion :hat the Irish Catholics or
America were represented By the people wLo
make the riots Nov We register another pr.-
test and far more indignant one seaias- the
charge that the Irish Catholics arc represented
BY the dema-cgue LEADERS who have sprou.-
ed up-eitner IL the shape Of speech makers OF
so-calle1 " Irish-Americsn journals" T1ey
speak ami write for their own glorifcs,ioa Cr
their own pockets The only interests represent +
ed by them a-c the interests Of corrupt politics.
secret societies or their own
We notice in one OF the most prominen; of these
demsgogic journals an editorial call flr ian
Irish American party" for which the dangerous
demagogue says the rscessify il forced upon
ul.' ne can tell him that the diy is surely
coming when the necessity Of punishiHs the aa-
thor OF such criminal folly will be forced ur0n
the Irish people Of America. Day after lsy we
see sheets called Irisb-Americsn journals"
fIled with such blatSuJ nonsense or suicidal ad-
vice. Thank Heaven, these proiuctious are Do.
very numerous, nor do they compete in influence
with our respectable Iriih-Anerican p-ess. Eu.
their existence is a sore. which will spread as l
sores do if neglected. The Irish people Should
keep their eyes on these fellows who sway the
passions Of the mos ignorant portion Of the
community. Ga every occasion that arises g,
Is the duty Of Irish-Americsn Catholics. in yisT
Of their own respectsbliy, TO protes, shortly AID
decsiyely sgainst these wouli-be "represeuts-
tive Irish leaders, or " Irish newspapers"