The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-05-06
lRISHAIEN- md TIE TINES

Editor Morning Star,
~ The .Iimes of Wednesday morning contains
two articles, respectively headed The New
Police y and Nationalities" Both articles are
kindred in character, and are an unjust and
even coarse commentary both to the orgaui-
cation of the new police ard those of my coun-
tIymen who have been fortunate enough to
connect themselves with it.. In the QUO we
have an Incorporate Instrumentation of the force
as formed, somewhat ike the jealous and in
coherent tv6 adding Of a disappointed aspirant;
an the other. n faint attempt at sarcasm, cou
posed Of debauchsd Engiish and supported by
quasi statistical table, pnrporting to sho w.
che dsproporton~ of nationalitiss in the ap
continents made.
will overlook the aRimus which gave birth
60 the article. 1t is too evident to need ex-
PLANTATION, and too silly to Justify q consump.
ton of space in your valuable columns. The
intent is obviously to create a feeling against
the foreigner-the German, the Irshmau, the
Italian, tho Spauiar6-agRnst all whom the
accident of nativity dsqual6es for the office
OF President Of this country. l will deal only
with Questions Of fact, which the writer in the
YSmes seems to be incapable of examining.
In the first place. it is contrary to the genius
of Republic to discriminate in the matter of
nationality. II is likewise subversive of the
fundamental principles of this government,
and amounts to constructive treason aud moral
perfdy. 1t is vicious also, tending to the
fostering of specjes Of prcjCdice which has
already exercised more baleful inluenCe than
anything arising out of "reConstructive
mensures in the South. The organic law re-
cognizes no distinction between q man born in
another country and uaturalizrd in accordance
with the laws and usaEes of this and one who,
helPleSsly, without any responsibility on his
part, happened To see light brst under the flag
of the United States. We are all one when we
come under the forms of law, aud entitled to
the same respect and consideration.
The Timec errs when it holds Gas its articles
tend to show that appointments to any given
service (say the police) should be in proportion
co given general population. If this priu-
clple were carried out in it's great est severity,
the effects would be found pernicious and dan
gerous TO the public service. If the question
of nationality must be considered (Which all
good men should deplore) the appointments
should be made, not in proportion to general
population, bat in the ratio of the number of
applicants and their nativity. IT. for instance
two thousand Irishmen presented themselves
as applicants for police positions, and one
hundred "native-bOrn" Americans, and thai
there were three hundred places TO give away,
it is within reason that more Irishmen should
be appointed policemen than native borns,"
the matter of efficiency and reliability being
equal. The statement of population, therefore,
furnishes no index; it is the number of appl- |
Giants, and the nntionalities under which they |
subdivide themselves that must be regarded.
Lastly, will call the attention of the Times |
60 q vulgar error, that men bearing certain |
names were necessarily born in certain places
SSor instance, every MoNulty, every Sullivan
and every o'Neill is of necessity a native of
" Tipperaryor Wexford" This would be to az
sumo that every man named Smith or Brown |
80 an EnglisbmaD, and SO on to the end, till We
would ultimately hnd that We were all forsign. /