Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-08
MONDAY. April 5, 1s4s.


some comment, but we have not seen it eX-
planned clearly One of our 'anti-Grant" con-
temporaries finds in it that murphy is a con-
quering hero" and evidently regards it as
dangerous sign of the times. The published
letter Of an Irishman states that he and some of
his friends believe that too much uuwarranted
abuse has been bestowed upon Gen. Grant and
Mr.. Murphy, and that their votes will be used
to express their opinion of this injustice. Be
the explanation what it may, certain democratic
politicians in Connecticut are amazed and angry
at the conduct of considerable number of Irish
voters Who have used the right to think and act
for themselves.
We find it surprising that Irish voters have
ever been persuaded to vote the democratic
ticket, and to be used by democratic politicians
as the "old guard" of that party. If this
course had been pursued in our politics by the
ignorant and selfish only, we could understand
1t; but it is astonishing that any lrishman who
is well Informed, can give his vote to sustain
party which iavors England by supporting the
English endeayor to destroy our manufactures.
1t is well known that democratic members of
congress are usually free traders; that is to say,
Iileh Stlllu i0dtAS un ait ONNdolouo " StNN
fish manufacturers control of our markets, and
remove the business of manufacturing goods
from our factories and shops to those of Eng
land This is what is meant by free trade.
Engiishmen say, we ought to conline ourselves
10 agriculture and allow them TO manufacture
our goods and wares of all sorts; and free
tradism shows how they propose 10 force us
into this dependent condition. 1t would bring
great gain to English manufacturers, but it
would DESTROY our prosperity and ruin our
workingmen. How lrishmen can allow them
selves to vote in favor of this arrogant policy Of
England we can not explain.
This aim Of the English government to give
English manufacturers sthe monopoly of all
markets, has directed one of the agencies il has
used 10 destroy Ireland. Ever since English
control over Ireland was established, it has
sought TO repress Irish industry. Suppose we
go back only to the year 1868; we find that Irish
industry, restrained in most other respects, had
become remarkably successful in the business
of raising cattle. In that year, an English law,
which was afterwards made perpetual p for
bade the Irish to import cattle into England,
because English landholders wanted the whole
market. In the same year, another English
law excluded Ireland from the navigation act, .
or, in other words, shut out the Irish from al
trade with the colonies; and, few years later
it was enacted that no goods should be brough
from the colonies, by anybody, to Ireland. Tn,
principal colonies were in America, and IRELAND
was nearer to them than England; but it wa
enacted that the English should monopoliz
everything.
Their trade in cattle being destroyed, the Irisl
turned their attention to sheep-raising. The
had begun this change when Lord STAFFORD wa
sent to govern the island. He took notice Of i
as follows, in a communication 10 his govern
ment: "Ihere is little or no manufacture;
among them, but some small beginnings 10
wards clothing trade, which have and shall
still discourage all can. Il might b,
feared that they would beat us out Of the trade
itself by underselling us" This went on, ii i,
said, until "a spirit of real industrial energy be
gan to perFade the country" But England in
ierposed again, and, by an act passed in 1888
the Irish wooden manufactures were suppressed
The Irish people were absolutely forbidden Il
export wooden goods either 10 England or I,
any other country. Mr.. Lecky speaking OF thi.
atrocious proceeding says: "lhe effects Of thi
measure were terrible almost beyond concep
ton. The main industry of the country wa
completely aud irretreyably aunihilated at &
blow. A vast population was thrown into
condition of utter destituton" But wha
cared English greed? Thousands of the manu-
facturers left the country and settled in Ger
many, France, and Spain. Meanwhile, England
omitted nothing that could enable her own man.
ufacturers TO become supreme in all markets
The cases we have cited show the policy pur-
sued by England towards Ireland, and towards
her colonies, also; she was never heard TO talk
Of free trade until she supposed herself able TO
break down the industry of most other nations,
by means of this English free trade" Most OF
the intelligence, energy, and manufacturing
skin Of Ireland, was driven TO the continent by
such oppressive measures, which were continued
persistently and extended to every form of manu-
featuring industry. With freedom of industry
aud commerce, and with no more aid from the
government than could have been realized in be
ing let alone, Ireland would have become indus
trious and prosperous. As Mr.. Lecky says
speaking-of the wool manufacture There ap
peared for time every probability that the Irisl
would become an industrial nation; and haC
manufactures arisen, their whole social, politi
cal, and economical condition would have been
changed But England would not allow this
Her laws and administration deSignedly made il
impossible. In the same way, England has de-
stroyed the manufacturing industry of India.
The history Of Ireland during the past two or
three centuries, not to 90 further back into the
past, ought 10 enable Irishmen TO understand
what England means when she attempts to in
terlere with the industry of other countries. Is
great love for England and the English policy
which has destroyed Ireland, that moves so
fmany Irshmen, in this country, TO vote steadily
with those who favor the English crusade
against American industry? Federalism is an
English device against our industry. 1t is the
English method of attempting to do here what
was done in Ireland in 1899. If we were subject
to the sway OF the British parliament, very short
work would be made Of our manufacturing in
dustry. AS it is, the paid agents of English
free-trade haunt our congress ;gand Irshmen,
driven from their own country by English OPP
preston, become American citizens and vote Tor
members Of congress who will grant what these
agents of their old oppressor demand. Ii is high
lime TO discontinue this strange method of keep
ing green the memory Of Ireland; and we think
Will be discontinued. Certainly there are signs
of a change.
Tue proposed Cincinnati mass meeting gets
the attention of political shysters. We are told
that ii win draw small company Of them from
Kansas, one or Two from Iowa, aud several from
Nebraska. That remarkable man, James NJ
Ashley Of Ohio, came to Massachusetts the
other day, II is said, to canvass for the mass
meeting, and went back to Washington greatly,
discouraged. We did not see him; he did mo-,
get up resolution enough to visit Worcester:
but we heard Of him and have no doubt Of hi,
fitness 10 operate as an assistant democratic re
eruiting sergeant The latest recruit we hav,
heard Of is that poor creature, James NJ Scoye
Of New Jersey, whose quality can no
be fully appreciated by those who hav
never seen him. The Brooklyn Eagle
democratic friend Of the Cincinnati
affair, thinks Scoyel "heads" the moyemen
in New Jerspy without a following and guO