The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-11-04

EDIToRs REPUBLICAN In last Saturdays
FREE TRADER it was said that lies derogatory
to Mr.. Thomas, candidate for Circuit Clerk,
had been industrously circulated. This is
not true, but the statement that follows, viz. ::
that Thomas raised his hand and swore so
help me God" he never voted for an lrishman
or foreigner, is true. But it was not uttered
IN Seneca, but in Ottawa.
The buncombe statement that no one could
be found to subsantiate the above assertion
of Thomas, when investigated, is on p8r
with the impudence of the entire article. The
writer of this, who has been in Ottawa thirty
years could have been found to prove the
truth of what Thomas SAID had any inquiry
been made or any investigation had OF the
matter.
If it is a lie about McGinnis being opposed
TO Mr.. Ferguson, the writer is glad of it, and
If he could nfuse much of the same spirit in
to his family, it would not hurt him.
There is no doubt but the article referred
to was penned by the editor of the FREE
TRADER, whose well known partlallity for
Irishmen in this community has become
proverblal.
Should i, become necessary, can foItlfy
the foreg ding statement of facts by an aflida-
Wit and other proof. PETER DoNLEvY.
As there is a grain of truth IN the above, it
may be worth while to treat II seriously
Four years ago Mr.. Thomas was candidate
for recorder of this county, and while he got
the straight democratic vote in the towns
generally, he was badly scratched in the town
of Wallace, Mr.. Donlevy's town. Meeting
HIM afterwards, Mr. Thomas asked Mr.. d.
why he had thus treated him. Mr.. d. replied,
that it was because he (Mr. Thomas) was un.
derstood to have made the declaration that he
would never, so help him God, vote for an
lrshman.
Mr.. r. denied roundly having ever made
such declaration and challenged Mr.. ID. To
prove it. No proof was offered; on the con-
trary, such gentlemen as Mr.. Morrissey and
Mr.. Armstrong, who were present, showed the
absurdity of the charge by the fact that Mr..
Thomas had repeatedly and on every occa.
sion that offered, voted for Irishmen for all
kinds of offices But Mr. Donlevy stubbornly
and unreasonably persisting that Mr.. Thomas
had made the declaration, he finally turned
on his heel and said, "Well, have it so, if that
pleases you best" or words to that effect, and
that is what Mr. Donlevy refers to when he
says the declaration was made in Ottawa.
To this statement of the circumstance both
Mr.. Armstrong and Mr.. Morrssey are ready
TO make affidavit.
We desire no unpleasantness with Mr. Don
levy, Notwithstanding his mean fling at the
FREE TRADER in the above; but it is well
NJ n narcppa1 orr
sing out of the employment Of his son in
the Recorders office, for preferring the cleo
ton of Mr.. Holmes TO Mr.. Thomas quite
strong enough to account for his opposition
to the latter, without reference to the oStenSIble
cause of that opposition.
Upon the same subject we have the follow.
ing note from Mr. Alex. Vaughey, of Seneca.
Irishmen, Read!
Mr.. Thomas, of this place, the candidate
for circuit clerk, | have known for the past
1G years and in all that time he has in all re-
spects been an upright, unprecedented citizen,
giving his support at all times to good men
irrespective of nationality. As an Irishman
think am pretty well known to the people
o. this county, and not as one of your Irish
nabobs who are Irish on st. Patrick S day or
at times of elections, but as an Irish national
ist who at any time when there was a chance
for the Irish people to achieve their freedom
gave my aid, my time and my money. Can
the deiamers of Mr. Thomas say as much? |
think not. They are OF the proud class, and
whether in America or Ireland, are as big en-
emies of Irish freedom as the British govern
ment and had | the slightest idea that Mr..
Thomas possessed any bigotry in that res.
pect, | would no more support him than |
would cut off my right arm. On the contrary,
| would do all in my power to defeat him, or
any other man possessing such principles.
But | know 10 the contrary, and l have no
axe to grind or motive in this election, but l
like fair play; and while my duty as an
citizen always stands first and fore |
most, do admire nationality in any people |
who..are. oppressedby monarchy, be they Irish,
English, German, French, Pole or Scandina-
Wan, and think 1t the duty of all good Ameri.
cans to give their sympathy and aid to any
people struggling for freedom.
ALEX. VAUGHEY.