Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-19
POLITICAL IRISHMEN.
Valuable Suggestions from a Son Of
the Emerald Isle.
To the Editor of the Ledger:

" II AEukGLa
The altitude assumed by our foreign
born citizens in the present canvass,
taken in connection with passing events
elsewhere, is becoming the cause of much
concern to the better classes OF our citi-
zens, who pride themselves upon
their patriotism and the free institutions
of our republic. 1t is painfully apparent
that these people have no fixed priuci.
Piles of patriotism or politics. l mean
the Irish leaders, for certainly it cannot
be true that the masses of the Irish and
German people are 80 tickle and unre-
liable as their leaders and chief spokes-
men. But it is very emphatically as
serted that not fifty Irishmen or Ger
mans will vote the Democratic ticket.
II this prediction is verified on August
the LIST, what position will these people
BE- placed in2 Is it not fair to presume
that the spoils of office is the only moving
power by which their votes are to be se-
cured2 They are ever ready to take
part in primary elections and conver-
tons, and equally ready to bolt when
they have not everything their own way.
Like the Ribbon men in Canada, aud
the Mollie Maguires of Pennsylvania,
they demand everything for themselves
and concede nothing to others. In short,
they are losing sight Of the fact that they
are American citizens, and are becom-
ing Fenians and sgitators in a
land that gives them equal rights only
to be abused. The Irish as a
race or class are ofice-seekers of the
most dangerous character, because they
shift from party to party when their
power is great enough to win place and
emolument fer them. They are as ready
to accept Republican nominations as
any other, and will stand upon one plat
form as readily as another, provided
always that they hold office. The Ger.
mans are known by their socialistic o
communistic proclivities throughout the
world; and ii they move on as they have
been doing in this country, trying to
! hold the balance Of power and using il
only for purposes of sole and individual
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, the time will come when
all the natives Of this country will band
together against them and Know Moth.
ingism will rise sgain when there is nc
{ Andrew johnson or Henry A. Wise to
put it down. / am 10 full sympathy
with these people al to all political
rights; and l would not deprive
them of the least OF them. But the
exigencies Of the times demand that
|, they should be one thing or the other;
they should be partisans, or let parties
alone; their political principles should
be fixed, or they should be independent
Some of their best men would to day be
10 Office but for their political treachery
and want of stability. | warn the Irish
people that if they support and make
good the boast OF their leaders that not
fifty will vote the Democratic ticket after
electing thirty-nine out OF one hundred
and four delegates to the late Democratic
convention, aud participating to the last
moment in that convention, then they
will pave the way for an alliance between
the Democrats and the colored voters
that will inaUgurate a rule under which
No Irish Tor GERMANY need apply"
The Democracy has always been faithful
TO the foreigners; it has done their fight.
ing when they needed it most; and SO
long as they are faithful it will be true to
them. But it is human to give blow for
blow; and if they desert the Democracy
in the hour Of its greatest need, when
they have least reason for desertion, they
may expect retaliation. l therefore ap-
peal to them to stand by their party
vote with it, and secure the lasting conf.
dence which will serve them so well.
FRESHMAN.