Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-30
To Irish Rennbllnans.


The Irish Republican National Con-
vention, lately in session at Indianapo-
lis, adopted the following address to
Irish voters:
To the Irish Voters Of the United states;
Fellow COuntrymen-With q high sense of
the necessity OF placing before the world In
their true light the motives which actuate tis
IN avowing the support of and cooperation
with the principles OF the Ropublican party
by a distinct organization under the tltie of
lrish-A American Republicans, we feel called
uponto state briefly the reasons which prompt
the support Of the Irish for any cause or party
was sought through the channels Of preiudioe
OF aueouon. lnstru ctiOn was out Of the Ques-
ton; and thus an uureasoning adherence wins
given TO the Democratic party for n period Of
years long numbered with the past with the
advent and rise of the Republican party in
american politics anew era was reached Intel
ligenoe and critical examination into the ar
gument why the other party should receive
manly support became the guides Of political
action, and the lrisman alike with his fellow
citizens Of other nationalties no longer gave
N his adherence TO party action because of
the leadership OF those whom they had pre-
Yi0usly trusted and followed. This Conven-
tion, therefore, has for its object the intiatory
action which, with flrmness and energy fol-
lowed by promptness and industry in sustain
ing the cause, principles and policy Of the
hepuglican party, shall show TO the world that
the Irish OF to-day are capable of something
more than being treated as mere political
slaves, that they are capable Of Independent
and intelligent thought and action, and
that they are friends to that party
which, which most & truly represents that liberty,
only found I'm the land of their adoption.
The claim Of the Democratic party that It Is
ihe only true trlend Of foreign-born citizens
is not susceptible OF proof, as all students OF
American history are well aware that during
the entire Administration Of the Democratic
party II utterly failed to compel the ac-
acknowledgement of those rights which the Con-
sttutiOn guarantees TO all who swear TO sup
port and maintain It. The infamous and des-
pOtio doctrine "once a subject always a sub
ject," was permitted TO exist as a principle of
International law until the accession to power
OF the Republican party, when, and not
reoede from that insulting assumption,
and thus the adopted citizen for the first
time was clothed with all the rights and
guaranteed the same protection (Outslde the
United Statesl as the citizen born on American
soil. So, also, to the Republican party do we
owe the enactment of that most beneficial law
oil actual settlers thus furnishing free and
happy homes to thousands Of our oppressed
countrymen who are fleeing from the horrors
OF British oppression YOu are aware, fellow
oountrymen, of the successful ingenuity with
which the English Government labored 10
destroy the manufacturing interests of our
country, Ireland, which had grown up in the
midst OF our desperate and persistent struggle
lOr freedom. You cannot have forgotten
the heroic efforts made for their pres
statesmen Of the last Irish Parlia-
ment, under whose fostering care these indus
tries arose to such state OF perfection as to
rival the best efforts of the most skillful arti-
sans of Europe; nor can you forget that the
act OF union contains, among its other
various principles, one clause which entailed
more misery and destitutlon in our country
than all the cruelties of Elizabeth and CrOm-
well. That clause provides for absolute free
trade between ireland and all outside coun-
tries. Nothing more was needed to complete
the fell work. Under that blghting leglsla-
tiOn all our industries, save and except the
linen trade alone, persisted, never to appear
again, reducing us to the condition of mere
agricultural labQrers and leaving us TO be the
helpless Pii5si, victims Of British raPaoity and
mercless laws to abandon the homes of our
fathers, we again encounter here I'm America
the same Zoe In the Democratic party, whose
Ceaseless and persistent attempts to engraft
IN our free institutions the same English free
trade doctrine which wrought such disastrous
results 70 our own country should quicken
the Indignation Of every consistent Irishman.
In marked contradistnction, we invite your
earnest consideration TO the policy of the Re-
publican party ON the subject showing that
under its fostering care in less than a
quarter of century, America has created
and brought TO perfection manufactures
of all the products which enter into the profit
aple industry OF people, and their con-
sequent prosperity and happiness. Thus has
the Republican party shown itself to be the
champion and protector of American industry
TO the discontinue Of the avarlce of British
capitalists We appeal to you, fellOw-oOun-
trymen, whose history Is a long record Of des-
afiilatlons are with a party which sustained
Tor many years human slavery In its most
degradlng form, and only relinQuished
that relic of barbarism when the Repub-
lloan party, by the hands of our martyred
President, struck the shaokles from the limbs
OF the slave wiped out the only blot on the
otherwise stainless esoutcheOn of America
and established the glorious principle of free
lands for free men over every acre of our
great Republic. We ask you, also, whetheryOu
are prepared TO turn over this Government
with all its bright anticlpations of the future,
to the tender mercies Of the very men who
exerted their best ability for years to effect its
destruction. The accession of the Democracy
TO full power in all the departments of the
Government, in the light of Its past record of
treason and rebellion, cannot but be regarded
scarcely be imagined.