Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-08

Miles kehOe, for many years q prOml-
nent Irish Democrat of Chicago, has re-
nounced democracy and in t. following
extracts taken from his interview by a
newspaper reporter published in The In
ter Ocean, he gives cogent reasons for the
faith that is in him:
Reporter-NIr Kehoe, I have come to
ask whether it is true, as announced
around town, that you have made up
your mind to have nothing more to do
with the Democratic party, and that you
have fully resolved to cast your vote and
influence hereafter with the Republican
party? ...s
Mr.. K.--I am an Irishman, and have
always worked hard for living, and the
same is true Of the gentlemen you see
here with me. AS lrishmen we Joined
the Democracy in common with nine
tenths Of our race; in fact, Irishmen have
made up and still constitute three-fifths
of the membership of that party, We
have been Democrats because we have
been trained to believe that the Demo
cratic party was our friends and the
friend Of the poor man. We have been
so loyal to the party in the past that we
are now considered slaves by the leaders
--insulted and reviled by them one day
and on the next led by them to the polls
to vote. Wilbur T. Storey and Carter
Harrison lead the Democratic party in
Cook county now.
R.-1ou said you thought the Demo
cratic party a friend Of the poor man.
Mr.. K.-Yes | did; but | have found
out the only care the Democratic leaders
have for the poor man to get his vote. /
was elected to the State Senate twice
neither time on Democratic ticket how
overland when legislation in the interest
of the poor man came up, [ found the
Democrats anything but friendly to him
/ defy any man to point out to me one
solitary instance where that party, when
| in power, ever: did anything to benefit the
poor man. What has the Democratic
party ever done for Irishmen, or for work
ingmen, that the Republican party has
not done, or has been ready to do? Every
native American who was ever q Know
nothing is now Democrat The South
ern leaders Of the party We're, and are now
set of arrogant aristocrats; they defeat
ed stephen A. Douglas because he
sprung from the common people: and
since he died there has been no Demo-
cratic party of the people, and, if ever
this country becomes monarchy, it will
be to suit their aristocratic notions. The
Democracy advocated State rights before
the rebellion, and tried to break up the
IL,
The Democracy still advocate State rights,
and now think, as | have thought for
some time, that it is the most dangerous
doctrine that true friend of this Ameri-
can republic can indorse 1t was for
State rights that the rebels fought, wasn't
it? And yet the Democratic party is howl
ing for Estate rights" 1t seems that the
only issue now between the Democratic
and Republican parties is this question Of
estate rights" and [ think, as the Re
publicans do, that this is nation.
R.-Were you opposed to slavery?
Mr.. Kat the time that question was
before the country [ was quite young. AL
though too young to vote, | Was heartily
opposed to slavery; those flying from
English slavery would not be very likely
to uphold slavery in any country the
Democratic party upheld it; but since
the negro has the right to vote the Demo-
cratic party pretends to be opposed to
slavery. Such hypocrisy. and deceit is
enough to disgust any one. Ishould think
the Southern Democracy would show bet
ter Judgment by being grateful for the
liency that was shown them by the North.
Look at the election of ellow-Fever
Blackburn by the Democracy Of Ken
tucky-that alone ought to damn any par
ty. The fact is, | have had very little faith
in the Democratic party lately, and now
feel disguised with it. and have conclud-
ed to get cut Of it. Yes, sir; you may tell
the public that | have concluded to act in
the future with the Republican party, and
| there are thousands of Irishmen in Chica-
go who have concluded to do the same
thing. We find that the longer we con-
tinue to vote the Democratic ticket, the
less we are respected. Irishmen con cote
the Democratic ticket but if they want
favor done them they have to see Re
publican about it. The American Re-
publicans are, and always have been,
better and more iberalminded friends
to the Irish than the American Democrats,
and am certain you will see thousands
Of Eishmen this fall assert their indepen-
dence of the Democratic party, and re-
buke Storey and Harrison by voting the
Republican ticket-that is, if the Repub-
icans nominate good men.
R.-You have always been a Democrat,
have you not?
Mr.. K.-I have acted with that party
generally upon all political questions.
While member of the State Senate, |
was elected to that body as an Indepen-
dent workingman, and | tried hard to do
my duty to the whole people regardless Of
party. While in the Senate I wrote and
introduced the bills which became laws
that year, abolishing the old town cleo
tons [ supposed it was one Of my best
reforms and am inclined to think so
yet, but strang to say, was condemned
by hosts of Democrats for getting those
He H. l. i