Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-29

IRFSH.ANERECAN REPUBLT-
CANS.
Their Number Yearly Increasing
statement Of q Leading RO.
man Catholic Democratic
Organ.
From the n eW York Tablet. }

rue. that the irish vote is yearly
becoming more and more republican,
particularly in this city and state.
few years ago an Irishman was an
orthodox in his democratic faithas In
his religious creed. Indeed, with hum
to vote the republican ticket was
crime of such heinous nature as al
most to ostracize him with fellow
ship with his countrymen. This |
state of things was partly produced
from the copperhead teaching OF
prominent democratic leaders who
were in sympathy with the south IN
their rebellion. They cajoled the
unthinking classes of the Irish into
the belief that the war was gotten
up by the republicans in order to
enrich themselves individually and TO
centralize power IN their party
and that they intended to wage the
war at the sacrifice of the German
and Irish immigrants who land
ed on the shores, and, consequently,
the republicans were the ayowed en-
emies of the poor man and OF his
riohts and Liberties. They further
impressed upon them the idea that
the republicans were resolved to eie-
waite the colored man above the poor
class of white people and that the
emancipation of one race would be
the certain enslavement of the other.
Such pernicious doctrines found
ready favor with men not intelligent
enough to comprehend the situation
themselves, and only for the patri-
otic efforts of Archbishop Hughes
and other brave men, whose hearts
and souls were with the union, a stig
ma of disloyalty would have rested
on the Irish name which even the
gallant services of the Irish brigade,
the Corcoran legion, and the Irish
soldiers in the war could not have
wiped out These good and great
men. saw that the disruption of the
states would throw us into a similar
state of anarchy and confusion as
/ Mexico presents to-day, and would
| be the death knen of free republican
government, of the people, by the
people, as we enjoy at present. The
corrupt political combination which
Tammany organized after the wal
was another of those causes which
tended to control the Irish vote IN
/ the democratic interest. Almost
every rum-seller in the city was a
sinecurist, aud was able to procure
employment on the streets or parks
for laborers and mechanics. The
latter, of course, in return voted
the democratic ticket in order to
| keep their friend and themselves in
office, and spent their wages in
drunken carousals in their patron S
/ gin-nill. All this was as repugnant
to Intelligent Irishmen as to any
other class of citizens, but they were
unable to check it, and in fact were
kept in such terror by political bull
dozers that they were even afraid to
vote according to their principles
and convictions. This state Of things
has been changed; every man is free
to-day to vote as he pleases, and to
express his preference for whom he
| pleases. Intelligence has taken the
place of ignorance, reason of blind
obedience, and self-respect of poiiti-
cal subseaviancy. The thinking por-
ton of our fellow Irish citizens are
every year becoming more imbued
with the idea that no political party
should own them or have vested
interest in their votes, and are con
sequently ready and willing to vote
for the candidate and party that, il
their opinion, are the most likely tx
promote the general interests of thu
: country, and to keep alive and foste
, true republican doctrines and prin
ciples. A number of Irish repubi
can conventions and meetings hav
been held of late, and, if we are t.
credit the newspaper reports, the,
have been well attended by educate'
e and intelligent Irish citizens.
e We have vigorous Irish republi
i, can club in this city, with it's head
quarters at No. 121 Nassau street
and it's members have already issue
a stirring appeal and call for
+ state convention. Though not re
publican ourselves, we hearth
u indorse such movements, for OF
g experience teaches us that while I'll
J. Irish vote is controlled solely in til
interest of one party we will neve
exercise any important influence
Q state and national politics. This
too painfully evident to thinkin
s mind; for while we find the Germa
- vote courted and conciliated abot
u election times, and even a big bi
y made for it in the shape of a gener
u candidate occupying prominent p
!. sition on the ticket, there is no col
% sideration given to the Irish vo
n outside of the city of. New 4or
n Even in municipal matters we woul
= be ignored, only that we are tc
numerous, and must be pacitied wit
small pickings and places. 1t mu
n occur to the apprehension of Il
q most stolid fellow-citizen that, VIII
the Irish poll over one-third OF I'll
J votes of the city, an Irish citize
s. aye, or an Irish-American, has new
20 yet been elected to the mayoralt
and that all this is the effect OF dee
/ ri e