Daily Republican., 1880-07-06
A Convention of Irish Rrpubls
cana.

We have received a circular signed
by q representative Irish. American
Z! from each State of the Union calling
q convention Of their countrymen, to be-
held at indianapolis, Ind, on the IA
of August next. Though the document
contains good deal of political gush
and spread eagle praise Of the Republi-
can party and its candidates, still 1t
tells some sAlutary truths that 1t would
be well for our fellow Irish citizens to
take to heart. II is in many respects
unfortunate for the Irish, both in So
cial and political point of view, that
they have so closely allied themselves
to one political organization. They
have been 80 welded to the Democratic
party that their support is looked upon
al certain, and therefore they are treat
ed with little consideration when it
comes to make up the ticket. 1t must
be confessed that in local offices our IT.
ish citizens are fairly represented, but
when 1t comes to State or national mat
ters the idea of giving an Irishman or
Catholic a place on the ticket is
sneered down by the Democratic lead.
els. II Irishmen hold their own mum.
cipal Offices it is simply owing to the
fact that by their votes they can con-
troll the local elections, and therefore
cannot be totally ignored. As an in
indication Of how deeply seated 10 this
prejudice, even in the Democratic par
ty, against us, though the Irish vote in
the city is about one-half of the Demo
cratic vote, still, if the name Of the
most worthy Irish-American citizen is
mentioned for the Office of Mayor, it
is at once quashed on the ground that
he would not be supported, simply be.
cause he was OF Irish descent, and bore
an Irish name; and should he be a Ro-
man Catholic, there was no chance for
him at all.
Should Charles 0'Conor, or some 9TH
er equally eminent Irish. American
Catholic, be put in nomination for the
mayoralty next November, these very
same Democratic leaders who look
upon the Irish as the tail Of their 20.
litical kite would combine in secret and
vote for Republican in preference to
him.
Have We net had several instances of
this? HIVE not our Irish. American cit.
liens been subjected to unjust discrim-
nation by the Democratic party? For
example, in New York, the great
stronghold Of Democracy, no citizen of
irish birth has ever been permitted to
fill the position of governor, mayor,
collector Of the port, or postmaster I'M
der Democratic administrations, and
only few years since, when that able
and pure man, Francis Herman, was
nominated for governor of the State of
New York, his name was scratched by
sixty thousand Democrats simply be-
cause he was of Irish descent and
Roman Catholic. This was Kpow-Noth.
ingism with vengeance, and 1t is
fact that cannot be denied that the
most bitter Know-Nothings, who houn-
ded on the Infatuated masses to burn
churches and expel Catholics and for
eigners, gravitated into the Democratic
ranks when their bloody work ceased
to be profitable, and many of them are
even to-day prominent leaders and
shining lights in the party.
We hear so much Of this clap.trap,
political gush about all the Democratic
party has done for the Irish that we
must, in all sincerity, state that it has
comparatively done nothing, for with
out the Irish votes the Democratic par
ty would soon cease to exist. In a po-
litioal sense, the Democratic party owes
us everything, the Republicans moth
ing; yet in all truthfulness, it must be
said that we have got decenter recog-
milton from the latter than from the
former. Besides when the Republicans
give nominations and office to Irish
men, they do so as a reward of merit
and responsibility, while the Democrat
ic leaders, regardless of the moral or
social standing Of parties, are infuenc-
ed in their choice solely by the pomi-
nees' power in controlling the votes Of
the bar-room and rowdy element.
II I'VE go through the Government Of
fees ia Washington, or the Post Office
and Custom House in New York, we
will find that large percentage of the
officials and employees are Irish, and
that they are all men of education, go
briefly and intelligence.
As an instance of the liberality Of
the Republicans towards Irish-Ameri.
cans we mention the following appoint
msnts:
Thomas Murphy and Gen. G. A. Ar.
thur, both Irish-Americans, appointed
collectors of Port New York by Presi-
dent Grant; james Kelly, appointed
Postmaster of New York by President
Lincoln; Gen. Patrick II. Jones, ap-
pointed to the same position by Presi-
dent Grant; Col. Richard Crowley, ap-
pointed District Attorney for Northern
New York by president Grant; Col.
James Mclean, appointed Postmaster
of Brooklyn by President Hayes; Gen.
J, B, Carr, elected Secretary of the
State of New York. Whilst firmly hold
ing that the recognition of any nation
atty should never be permitted to in
terfsre with the Constitution or the
rights of Americans, we are of opinion
that independence Of action aud good
organization are necessary among our
Irish citizens, in order to secure the
influence and privileges to which they
are entitled.
The Germans are consolidated by So
cieties, and are less subject than the
Irish to party influences. They are
Just as ready to vote for a Republican
as Democrat if his record entities him
to their support. On this account
their friendship is eourted by both
parties, and their influence Is su'h thai