The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-20

politics new era WAS IchCupu'
pence and critical examination into tue
arguments why one or the other party
should receive manly support became tne
guides for political action, and the lrish,
man, alike with his fellow'citiEens OF
other nationalities, no longer gave IN ms
adherence to party action because OIL the
leadership Of those whom they had pre-
yionsly trusted and followed.
This convention, therefore, has Tor US
object the initiatory action which, with
firmness and energy, followed By. prompt
ness and industry In sustaining the cause,
principles, and policy OF the Republican
Marty, shall show TO the world that the
fiish OF to-day are capable OF something
more than being treated as mere political
slaves, that they are capable OF indie
pendent and intelligent thought and &C.
ton, and that they are the friends OF that
party which most truly represents that
liberty, equality, and equal rights which
they have only found In the land oil their
adoption. The claim OF the Democratic
party that 1t Is the only true friend Of ior;;
eign.born citizens is not susceptible OF
proof, as all students Of American history
are well aware that during the entire ad'
ministration OF the Democratic par
~ IL utterly failed to compel the &C
kno yledgment OF those rights which
the Constitution guarantees to oil
Who swear 10 support and maintain 1t.
The Infamous and despotic British doc.
trine, "once subject always asuo1ect'"
was permitted TO exist as principle oil IN
ternational law until the accession TO pow.
er Of the Republican party, when, and
not until then, England was compelled to
retede from that insulting assumption,
and thus the adopted citizen, for the first
time, was clothed with all the rights, and
guaranteed the same protection. (outside
the United States) as the citizen born on
American soil.
So also TO the Republican party do we
owe the enactment OF that most beneficial
law which has thrown open the public
domain TO all actual settlers, thus furnish:
| inf free and happy homes to thousands Of
our Oppressed countrymen who are fleeing
from the horrors Of British oppression.
You are aware, ellow.countrymen, oil
the successful ingenuity with which the
English Government labored to destroy
the manufacturing interests oil our coun'
ry-Ireland-wbiCh had grown up IN the
midst OF Dur desperate aud persistent
struggles for freedom. You cannot have
forgotten the heroic efforts made Tor their
preservation by the great and patriotic
statesmen Of the last Irish Parliament,
under whose fostering care those indus
fries rose 10 such a state OF perfection as
TO rival the best interests oil the most Skill
full artisans OF Europe; nor can you eyer
forget that the act Of the Union contains,
among its other neiarious principles, one
clause which entailed more misery ana
destitution on our country than oil tue
crtelties OF Elizabeth or Cromwell. That
clause provides for absolute free trade be-
tween Ireland and all outside countries
Nothing more was needed to complete
the fell work. Under that blighting
LEGISLATION all our industries, save and
except the linen trade alone. persisted
never to appear again, reducing US
to the condition Of mere agricultural
laborers, and leaving US to be the helpless
victims Of British rapacity and Unsuitable
greed. Compelled by such merciless laws
70 abandon the homes OF our fathers, we
again ENCOUNTER here in America the same
foein the Democratic party, whose cease
less and persistent attempts to engratt on
our free institutions the same English Tree
trade doctrine which wrought such dis,
astrous results TO our own country, should
quicken the indignation OF every consis-
tent Irishman. In marked contradlstlnc'
zion we invite your earnest consideration
to the policy OF the Republican party on
this subject, showing that, under lis lost
ering care, in less than quarter oil CEN
tnry America has created and brought TO
periection manufactures OF all the pro-
duls which enter into the profitable indus
try of people, and their consequent pros
nerity and happiness. Thus has the Re-
publican party shown itself TO DO tne
champion and protector oil american IN,
dustry, to the discontinue oil the aVarice
British capitalists.
We appeal to you fellow'countrymen,
whose history is long record oil desper-
ate struggles for freedom, ii your proper
affiliations are with party which sustain
ed, for many years, human slavery IN us
most degrading form, and only relinqulSh'
ed that relic Of barbarism when the he.
publican party, by the hands Of our mar
tyred President, struck the shackles from
the limbs of the slave, wiped out the only
blot on the otherwise stainless escutcheon
OF America, and extended the glorious
pripciple of free lands for free men over
every acre OF our great Republic. We ask
YOU also whether you are prepared to turn
over this Government, with all Its bright
authorizations OF the future, to the tender
mercies Of the very men who exerted their
best abilities for years to effect its destruc'
ton. The accession OF the Democracy to
full power in all the departments oil the
Government, in the light OF its past record
OF treason and rebellion, cannot but be re,
garded as calamity, the magnitude oil