The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-23
O'CONNELL TO THE IRISH.
An Open Letter Full of Facts for
IriShmen.

CINCINNATI, Septem Der ~.
To the Editor OF the Star:
The Republican meeting at the Highland House
last Thursday evening was one which it was pity
more OF my countrymen did not attend Three
fourths of the audience, which numbered between
five and six hundred, were however, Irish, men
who, perhaps, never voted anything but the Demo
cratic ticket and more orderly closely attentive
audience l have never seen. And they were en-
thusiastic too, giving their unstinted applause at
the right time and place. The speech of Senator
Matthews, occupying scarcely more than a brief
hour in Its dellVerance, was a most happy effort
1t was plain, simple, straightforward and honest
and peculiarly appropriate, coming as it did from
the warm friend of Thomas Meagher Con-
don and his devoted sister and family and how
ever much he may protest against the credit he is
SO dcservedly entitled to being given him, every
honest Irishman in the country with drop OF pa
triotic and sympathetic Irish blood in his body
must and will look upon Senator Matthews as
their most unsellish friend The story, as he told
it, of what he had done in this last successful eff
fort for Condons release, confined as ii was to a
few simple phrases, should be treasured by every
Irishman. How he received the petition from Miss
Condor, accompanied her in person to the Presi-
dents office caused the order to be issued restor-
ing to the unfortunate prisoner his citizenship
and right of protection, by having the record Of
deserter'' changed to that of an honorably dis
charged soldier of the Union, as Condor was just
ly entitled to; the prompt Endorsement of Presi-
dent Hayes, and his Instructions to the Secretary
of State; the Introduction of the
case to the Republican United States Senate by
Senator Matthews himself, its unanimous passage,
and 80 on to the final result, which we all know
Condor free man, coming home with heart full
of joy to the devoted family and warm friends in
America, all make chapter in history, the bright
ness OF which will never fade while there is left
one grateful Irishman to remember the man and
the party TO whom the credit of it all is Justly due
Contrast the action of Senator Matthews and his
Republican associates with that of Milton Sayler
and his Democratic associates in the case of the
war-worn veteran, James Shields. The recollec
ton OF Saylers act is enough to bring the blush of
shame and injury to the cheek of every Irishman
shame that the man whose national position of
honor was due to his Irish supporters in this
county should so contemptbly choose that o ca
sion to insult our race and in jury in that we now
have this doublC-faced politician with his dam
ming record fresh in every mans mind, begging
for the votes OF the very men he turned his back
upon and willfully and knowingly offended,
where he should have shown them his grateful
n IS and thanks. The Irish people of Cincinnati
will fifty deserve many more such cowardly kicks
If they forget these things The fact is, and it is
becoming known more and more every day, hat
when an 1rishman or the Irish people desire eth
Democratic hands. All honor, then, to the grand
old Republican party and its great hearts" such
as Stanley Matthews and others, who have never
refused the helping hand in time of need to our
people. Democratic demagogues like Sayler, and
organs like the Enquirer may howl as they please,
and call it trick, and lie and misrepresent as
much as they %ant to- put very much 1
Irish people of Cincinnati if they do
not come out solidly in October and hereafter to
the unseltish, grateful support of the men who
have shown themselves to be their true friends. |
And if there is any one thing in Irish character
worthy of admiration, it is gratefulness to friend
and hatred to one who, pretending to be their
friend is not. The Highland House meeting
should be repeated. The speeches of Senat
Matthews and Major Butterworth on that occasion
will bear repeating many times. They have the
true ring they are plain, simple, and easily I'M
derstood; the humblest Irish working man will
not go away uninstructed. And when Condor
comes home We must have big meeting, and
Stanley Matthews must be there, and all of Con-
dons Republican friends must be there-the
men who did what they could, willingly and un-
selfshly, in simple justice to the poor prisoner,
and in honor, nope and know, of the people he
belongs to-and when he shall come, and The story
OF his trials and troubles are told, alongside Of
that of his release mems hearts will swell with
gratitude, and there will be mighty cheers and
silent tears-tears of joy-and the man who was
not entitled to join in the Shields reception will
be equally out place when Condor comes home.