Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-08
The Laboring Sons of Erin.

we notice with regret that many OF our CO.
temporaries have taken occasion to criticise the
irish laborer, harshIy, on account of the recent
riot in the city of New York In many cases,
we could name, the writer's revive exploded
slanders and bring into play infamous state
ments that had to be literally dug out of the
dead past. And so it happens that these uu-
fortunate children of proud and historic ma
tlonaty are to have their traditions, and what
ever else they love, hra aught forward, and held
up to the curious gaze of public, thirstng for
sensation and morbid recitals
Ishm9Etes-without home Social Or
phans, shut out from many of the kindly infu-
ences Of domestic life: the Irish working man
Is misrepresented by pens dipped in the venom
Of prejudice and told that his hand is against
every man and that every mans hand is against
him.
And then, as if to pile Pelion upon Ossa,
the London Times an inveterate enemy, claims
to see 10 the New York riot of Wednesday un-
derlylng facts, showing to the world that Irish
men are responsible for English misrule of Ire
land This very statement, seeking apology
for tyranny out of the eXoesses of miserable
rabble, is OF itself damaging confession to the
position held by the Thunderer.
Let US examine 1t is we'll known that the
Spiritual Heads of the Catholic Church in
New York gave special and positive instruc-
demonstration whatever. The various Hiber-
nian Associations of the city held meetings
and adopted resolutions pledging their members
to keep the peace inviolate and in no way to in
terfere with the Orange parade.
La spite Of the efforts of right thinking men,
the riot came. As to who is responsible for
the magnitude of the affair, even now it is
becoming palmer and palmer that much of the
destruction of life was due to the excited and
uncaled for firing Of the citizen soldiery. So
evident has this become to the public mind,
that the officers of the respective regiments
throw this burden upon some other regiment
than their own.
When one remembers that there are in the
city of New York 200, 900 Irish, the large ma
jority of whom are, like the Israelites of old,
lorded over by taskmasters, or hudded into
crowds, it at once appears unfair and unreason-
able to charge whole class of people with the
excesses of few turbulent spirits, rendered
dangerous from necessity and want. Exami-
nation into the mortality and wounded lists
show that the wounded are by no means con-
fued to the much-abused Irish. The pick
pocket, the professional brawler, the genus ri
oter-the innocent maiden-the fond parent
the respected citizen, and the patriot soldier
all fell into the whirlpool along with the mis-
guided Celt.
We are no apologists for any one who en-
gagged in the deplorable affair, out we do pro-
test against this effort to bring into further dis
grace the constitutional tendencies Of the Irish
working class.
"No Irish need apply" is too often the re-
frain of the civilized world few arc the hands
stretched forward to lift up those of them
whom poverty and ignorance push into the
mire. In vain, one recalls the kind-hearted
simplicity and downright honesty Of even the
humblest, that their thatched cottages In old
Erin, even though the abode of poverty, has
ever the latch unstruDg.
Men forget the agony of soul which racks
the tens of thousands forced by harsh laws and
unfriendly fortune to tear themselves away
from home and kindred, and seek in this, to
them almost tabled land, an asylum, which
turns out in too many cases to be an inhospi-
table grave.
The monuments of the patient toll of the
Irish laborer meet the observer on every side.
Who else ''earries the hod?' Who builds our
railroads? Who is it that almost emulates the
coral insect and weaves out Of very existence,
for SO it is, marvels of labor and creation?
With all his faults, Pat seldom becomes a
thief or an assassin. His misdeeds are open.
II he takes to small trading, he is not used to
swindling nor misrepresentation. His goods
are what he claims tor them, and if he only
kept down, as the phrenologist would say
'the bump of combativeness, he would soon
force prejudiced world to admit him to be ''a
jolly, honest and hearty good fellow, whose
hand one would like to shake did he not fear
its honest squeeze. '-Petersburg Courier.