Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-12
A Card from Col. Irish.

nes SeS DeIOre Wh0m 1t was said, tnat mad DE-
for the Presidency. My first intention was to
pursue my usual course since l have been In
public service In Washington, and take no
notice OF the matter. But the item was made
the occasion Of several calls upon me by gentle-
men connected with the press and there seemed
to be necessity that should give 1t some at,
tention. Accordingly, yesterday morning, l
sent gentleman OF my office to one OF the pre-
prietors OF THE STAR with instructions to in
form him that the paragraph was without any
placing me in a false position, and one that re-
Quired immediate correction. He met my rep
resentative frankly, and expressed an earnest
enable me to obtain all the facts. gave the
names OF the parties upon whose authority the
item was published. ThereupOn addressed
as the leading authority, which give, and also
1901 HARDWOOD AVENUE, LIE DRorr PARK,l
July II. 1880. {
SIR: am this morning Informed that the ac-
companying item, from THE STAR of last eve
ming, was published upon your authority.
In view of the fact that have not seen you
for two months that l have not been in
Wizards Hotel for over four. that have not at
any time or place expressed an intention to
support General Hancock for the presidency,
that am and always have been devoted to the
ideas and measures OF the republican party
and to the loyal support OF its candidates and
am especially SO devoted to the support OF Gen
eral Garfield for political reasons as well as
from personal admiration and friendship have
to ask If you have any explanation to offer be-
fore / make public statement In regard TO this
fabrication. Respectfully. o. ii. IRISH.
Mr.. WILLIAM j. MURTAGH.
REPLY.
DEAR SIR: ! Will call on you before noon to-
morrow. when some publication can be made
in THE STAR The man who says authorized
or ever saw the statement In THE STAR before
Its publication lies.
Yours, w. j. MURTAGH.
AS the question seems thus definitely settled
hat
of maintaining the truth OF the statement
contained in the item, shall give it no further
consideration, having no interest In the settle
ment OF the question of veracity involved be-
tween the parties who have been instrumental
in the publication of the article, aud feeling
Well satisfied from this illustration that the
items that are flooding every democratic paper
as TO acceSsions from republican ranks should
be taken with many grains of allowance.
My position, however, in the pending political
campaign having been thus questioned, and
dispatches based upon the item in your paper
having been sent broadcast throughout The
Country, 1t is only proper that should through
you state what my position really is. There
has not been an argument used since 1862 in
all the time OF war or peace, for the support of
the nominees OF the republican party that does
hot call upon every man, with increasing and
accumuIating force to do so now. Not drop
OF blood has been shed in defense of the Union
that does not cry from the ground against those
who would now surrender the government into
the hands Of the party that sought to destroy
~, w
would have peace-lasting, enduring peace-if
we would see all people, OF all sections, of every
class and condition united in promoting the
welfare and prosperity of our common country
the issues settled by the war and subsequent
legislation must remain unopened; and the
spirit which animated the republican adminiS-
those lntrusted with the control OF the govern
ment.
The war is ended. There is peace throughout
the land. The busy hum of industry succeeds
the din OF arms and all the forces of labor en-
terprise and capital are marshaled under the
leadership OF the republican party; and now. in
the very hour WHEEL we are entering into the
full enjoyment OF this peaceful prosperity not
man, be he republican or democrat, who h IS
aided to secure IT, should be forgetful OF the
lessons OF experience, or fail to listen to the
counsels OF prudence, and consent to surrender
the sacred trusts, costing so much In blood
tears and treasure, into the hands OF those who
have heretofore possessed and used them to
work ruin, oppression and desolation; whose
deeds OF courage, equaled only by the soldier OF
the union, attested the depth of their convic-
tlon and the earnestness OF their purpose. Be-
cause l believe that these men who were so
lately arrayed against the union were honest
and In earnest, cannot trust them under any
organization or leadership.
Be assured that the cause In which they suf
1ered so much, for which they periied .tther
lives, their fortunes and their honor" is no less
sacred TO them now True. they yielded TO
superior force; but they will submit to the laws
and government OF the Union only until such
tlne as there is opportunity through peaceful
Observation-Disclosures to secure the objects for which
they struggled In deadly conflict
With these views, and keeping In mind the
DIVINE Injunction not to serve two masters |
snail support General GARFIELD, who In war and
In tne peace that followed has served bur one
party-and that the one which has always fol-
lowed the flag OF the Unton-rather than Han
cock, who has left the side of his compatriots
and now seeks to lead those who s0ught our
flags humiliation. Very respectfully.
o. Il. IRISH.
ut is alike due to Col. Irish and to TaE STAR
and its readers that at least some OF the facts
connected with the publication of the item above
referred to should be given. To begin with,
the erroneous statement did not first appear
in these columns, but was telegraphed from this
city On Friday night. This fact coming to the
knowledge OF reporter of THE STAR. he set on
foot an inquiry as to its correctness and re-
ceived from several quarters deemed reliable
such assurances as could leave In his mind no
doubt OF its truth. 1t now turns out, however
that at least one OF the gentlemen upon whose
word the report originated and who overheard
the alleged conversation made the mistake of
taking Mr.. John Clamp1tt for Col Irish He
knew Col. Irish ''aS well as his own brother"
as he expressed it, and was confident that he
could not be In error IS to the identity of the
speaker. 1t is proper to say also that this gen.
tleman was not Mr.. Murtagh, but Mr. Lead
1ngham, whose Office is in the lobby of WIZARDS
HOteL IL Is perfectly plain now that Mr.. Lead
tngham was mistaken in the man; but those
who know both Col Irish and Mr. Clampitt
easily see how he fell into the error, as they
say there is a remarkably strong personal re-
semblance between the two gentlemen. 1t was
clearly case OF mistaken Identity, OF which
Col. Irish Is the unfortunate victim. THE STAR
regrets the error into which it was led as well
as the injustice done to Col L., but since it took
every reasonable precaution to verify the truth
of the item before printing 1t, 1t does not feel
that any ELAINE can justly attach to 1t In the
matter.-EU. iTdr.1
INTERPRETATION.-The latest idea in the wo-
man suffrage camp In New York is that moth
ing is now needed In that state but legislature
that will interpret the state constitution favor
ably to women. as the document does not speci-
fy Of what sex the voters shall be. OF what sex
is the Interpreter?
ON Foot TO NIA6ARA.-Three lads OF West
Chester, Pa, by the permission OF their
parents, started on the 2Sth ult. on pedestrian
tour to Niagara Falls. They reached TOrwanda
on Thursday In good spirits. though they had
been on the road ten days, having Travelled at
the rate of 80 miles per day. They carry with
them cooking and camping utensils, and tarry
al points OF interest on the route. At Torwanda
they were joined by another amateur tramper,
VINO Will go with them to Niagara
A CHJJ n ATuOsr KuyrD nv NuSorrrnEs