, 1880-09-19
COL. w. r. REND.
Why We(I-Known and Honored
lrish-American Citizen
Abandoned the Democratic Party, with
Which He Had Long Affiliated.

Abandoned the Democratic Party, with
Which He Had Long Affiliated.
Instructive and Interesting Reading for
Irish Democrats Everywhere.
Thursday evening, at 1arge1y-at tended
meeting OF the Irish Republican Club at the Pa
cif1c Hotel, the Presidency of the Club was
offered to and refused by Col. ". F. Rend. one
Of the most honored OF the Irish-Amer1cau cit
lzens OF Chicago. The honor he declined for
the reason that his business interests here. and
In Ohio and Pennsylvania, where he Is largely
engaged in coal mining, were Of such an alb
sorbing character as to prevent his discharging
the duties OF the Office to his own satisfaction.
The Colonel, IN the following speech, explained
why he abandoned the Democratic party, Of
which he had long been an earnest end active
member: -.'
GENTLEMEN OF TIE IRIsH- AMERICAN REPUB-
L1CAN CLUB: I was informed few days since
BY your Committee that had been elected to
the Craftsmanship of your Club by your unant-
nous vote I am again apprtsed of this fact by
your warm. friendly words Of greeting contained
in the y6f ns5 and
honored By this evidence Of your confidence and
esteem, but regret very much that circum-
SlAuEES OefUuu LILY EUEtIDA "t14 AOL AAAtH A4C W
acoopt the position so kindly offered.
My personal business duties arc SO exacttng
that, In looking after my affairs here and else
where. I could not properly dischurRe the duties
due to your Club without seriously comproms-
ing my own. assure you regard this act on
your part as comforting IN honor on me for sew
eral reasons. In the tirst place, 1t is an honor
to be elected in such complimentary way by
an unanimous vote to the ;Chafrmanship Of
Irish Americans, among whom ure many OF the
foremost representative lrisbmen OF Chicago.
I would also esteem it an honor to become
successor In the position Of Chairman Of your
Morrison. whose political duties and engage
meuts elsewhere in the canvass Of the campaign
resignation Of this position.
have known this man long, and have ad-
mired him for those talents thnt have raised him
from common labor In the cabinet workshop to
the honorable position OF intimate personal as
sociataon with Gen. Garfield and tho leading
men Of the Republican party. have also ad-
caused hi1p to pay public debt, made by the
defalcatioH Of q dishonest clerk, By placing 81 q
mortgage On bis only pr hia Ii humble erG Got
would regard it an honor to succeed to such
position d man Of such pure morals, such sincere
M woSa soSh hgn egSnaer ntefFs e an aoncp
which you are. now engaged. But, gentlemen,
on o
given, I will work as private member OF your
Club and do everything can to further our
able for any citizen to be q politician in the
sense that he Is governed by honest motives IN
aspiring to attain position where he can make or
execute his couutry's laws Bur few business.
men can well be politicians, for the reason that
their personal business duties require all their
time. For this reason cannot ne pollt1ctan. @
ever, 1 have enlisted for this campaign. -,
assure you, in taking an active part with the
soaai %oel9s P"of'i of political am6ou as
never held or sought Office, and do nor want any
political office now, but have simply taken this
S,me of my political views appeared recently
in TIE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, given in an interview
unsolicited and unexpected at the time en m ny
part. I was asked for my views, and, as 1t had
been a rule Of my lite to freely express my opIn,
ions whenever properly inquired into, stnted
freely ana without reserve those that had been
iprdp6se to address you on the subject Of the
political Issues now before tho: country, anu III
T be ppnetp trne can at
that express convictions that are honesty ana a
sincerely believed. The purposes OF policy are
nnintons. but it is moral cowardice for a man to
hesitate to express honest views through motives
OF expediency. 1speak to you as an lrlshma9 @
Government l speak to you also from the
standpoint Of Un,on soldier, who lived tn the
South prior to the Rebellion and there carefuiiy
Him then and there prevailing, and finally I
speak to you from the standpoint Of an Amera-
can citizen anda Chicago businessmen. +,,,.+a
It is indeed cause of rejoicing, and u matter
of honorable pride, that there hAs been formed
in Ch|ca2p such an organization as the Irish
Ameritan Republican Club, composed or thlnK-
ing, intelligent, respectable !rishmen, who have
had tih courage and manhood to cut loose from
the Democratic party, aud who are now voting
and acting In accordance with Intelligent views
and honest conviction -.
! and have asserted your indep endence from 2
party that has proved fata curse to & tne PEST
# Gao Il IS an
ISOLATION, and teel proud to become one Of its
We have voted the Democratic ticket in the
pagt. and although our errors we're serious the
cnnseo11ences have not been so bad, TOR the
reason that during the past twenty years on1
votes were simply thrown away III t1e keuei@
irishmen are fast leaving the Egyptian dark
ness Of Democracy and trtxeiing over ,i, 10 ine
to see that they have been on the ROAD 10 poht~
icai perdition, and have TOO long gone astray; =.
short time since ne 5 S ac.lse mi me- hayt
| cause Of hearty congrntuladon that we nave
forsaken the errors of our political Ways, ant i
fatal. prejudices that have influenced US 70 fol.
low In the past false political DOCTRINES ENC enat
caused US to ally our political acts and fortune:
to the party Of wrong, in1ustlce' oppfess'on' an'
a1ssbe Tbe irishmen OF this organization have tht
purpose in view Of feariesly discharglnX aa tne,
towards the public good. You have decided st1; t
cast your votes and use your influence to SECURE
the great blessings OF Eood government. r,,v ~, y
Irish Americans who are tast preAxlng -; ioos' 9s
from the Democracy and giving their allegianc' ne
are ar w Veteran Union soldiers, who went to tnt
War Democrats but returned Republicans, ant
who now vote IN the same WY a. wv ~ g5.a