The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-09


takes Cabul and Candahar. She will not
then have conquered Afghanistan, and will
have before her the problem whether to ac-
cept half triumph or to 60 on. If she
concludes to go on and moves toward
Herat Russia will have a word to say if
she does not 60 on her influence will be the
same in Afghanistan, with a new Ameer, as
it was before with Shere Ali.
General Grant and the Irish Catholics.
The refusal of the Town Council of Cork
to tender the Inequalities of that city to
the distinguished American ex-President is
exciting more feeling, both in Ireland and
America, than so trivial an event deserves.
The effect in Ireland has been to
increase and intensity the demon
STATIONS of welcome in the Irish
towns through which General Grant
has since passed, as if Irishmen felt it in
cumbent upon them to vindicate their
character for generous hospitality. We can
Judge Of the effect in this country only by
the letters addressed to US by citizens Of
Irish birth, not knowing whether these let
tiers express merely the individual senti-
ments Of the writer's or whether they may
be entitled to representative char
acter. The action at Cork was so
singular, it deviates so widely from
the treatment which has been bestowed
upon General Grant in the many Catholic
countries and cities in all parts of Europe
which he has visited, that it is difficult to
believe that the exceptional proceeding of
the Town Council of Cork was self-prompted
and spontaneous. In Catholic France, in
Catholic Italy, in Catholic Spain, the highest
municipal and social honors have been paid
to General Grant, without any thought that
Catholics who participated in these COM
plimentary displays compromised their
religion. General Grants visit to the
Catholic city of Dublin was no excep-
ton to the general heartiness and en-
thusiasm. But, all of a sudden, to
the establishment of all the world, up starts
the Town Council Of Cork with denuncia-
ton of General Grant as bigoted enemy
of the Catholic faith. Cork is small and
obscure town, and it seems odd enough that
it was reserved to this petty city to discover
what had escaped the knowledge of all
Europe during the long period while Gen.
eral Grant has been so conspicuous recip-
lent of unwonted honors and inequalities
Strange and odd as the Cork demonstra-
ton may seem, it is easily accounted for.
The action at Cork has probably been in
spired by American politicians. 1t was not
pie if 70
announced that politicians in the United
States took any special interest in his
travels. When the Catholics Of France
entertained and honored him it was thought
to be Of no consequence, since the French
residents in the United States rarely get
naturaiized and the French vote is of little
account. The Italian and Spanish resi-
dents are still fewer and more inconsider-
able, and it is q matter OF indifference how
they may vote, if any of them are entitled
to vote. But when it became known that
General Grant was to make the tour of
Ireland there sprang up sudden fear of
its effect on the large Irish vote of this
country. 1t was felt that o series
of splendid Irish ovations to General
Grant would be regarded in this coun-
try as q dangerous Endorsement of his
character. We behold the consequence Of
this American fear in the attempt made at
Cork to arouse Irish bigotry. Communica-
ton with Ireland is swift and easy, and the
Cork demonstration is On American device
for breaking the effect of hearty Irish well
come on the 'Irish brigade" in this country.
We print the communication signed
'Irish Brigade" in pursuance of our rule
to give all sides hearing in every exciting
controversy, and because it is expe-
dent that the Presidential supporters OF
General Grant should know precisely
what kind of accusations will be
made against him. In our judg-
ment the American Catholics will make q
great mistake ii they raise this religious
ISSUE 1t cannot hurt him with the Ameri-
can Protestants, who are q large majority of
the American people, and it has ten
dency to divide the Irish vote. There
are many Catholics who will believe
that he is unjustly accused, and
all such will be more influenced by
the example of Dublin than by the example
of Cork. 1t is an egregious folly to bring
religious controversies into American poll
tics, because our institutions are founded
on basis Of perfect religious equality. 1t
is worse than folly, it is lunacy, for a
sect which is minority to stir up
such controversies. and, by display.
of religious rancor, to provoke like spirit
of intolerance on the other side. There is
no excuse for introducing religion into
American politics, and at time when the
country is disposed to ignore such issues
it is blunder which approaches the mag
nitude of crime for Catholics to lend
themselves rs tools to politicians for re-
yiying them.