Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-11-12
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER l2, 1881.
THE PARTY WITHOUT PRINCE.
PIES.


ton to our citizens. He is we'll known
to all as one of the ablest lawyers that
has appeared in the Cheboygan Circuit
Court. 1t is also we'll known that for
years he was prominent in politics, be-
ing one of the most eloquent stump
speakers in the Democratic party. Last
week we stated he had written strong
letter bidding farewell to that party
and com ing out squarely Republican.
While the letter W as directed mainly to
the Irish citizens of Detroit it contains
much that we would commend Demo-
Gratis of all nationalities to consider.
Below we give the letter as it appeared
in the Detroit Evening News:
desire to address myself to the Irish
American citizens of Detroit upon the
present political situation. l do so, feel
ing that however they may differ with
me, they will receive what l may say
kindly. 1t is of the first importantance
to us that we merit the good opinions of
American people. Our hopes are all CEN
tered here. To merit that good opinion
we should be faithful citizens, ready to
die or live for the peace. prosperity and
glory of the republic. If we have made
mistakes in the past we should correct
them in the future. l believe our peO-
pie have made serious mistakes in The
part they have taken in American affairs
and am ready to do my part to correct
them. Educated democrat, have
in the past differed with democratic
leaders, with great distrust in my own
mind. But no man is fit to be an Amer
lean citizen who has not an opinion of
his own and the courage to express it.
In my judgement the connection of the
Irish masses with the democratic party
has done them infinite mischief in the
past, ami will, if continued, be disas-
trOus to them in the future.
1t placed them on the wrong side of
the slavery question, and in spite of
their natural love of liberty made them
vote and act with those who favored hui
man bondage and oppression darker and
more outrageous than ever they had suf-
fered.
1t marred their record during the
great rebellion by making them in
many cases adherents of dislOyal leaders
and Offset in some degree the debt of
gratitude the republic owes them for
their best blood shed upon its battle
fields.
1t has kept them wrong upon the
southern question and made them ia
vOr domination by those who were dis
loyal as against those who remained
faithful to the union.
1t separates them to-day from the
thinking scholarship of America, and
places them in apparent antagOnism to
her schools and universities, in which
they should feel and do feel the deepest
interest and the greatest pride.
Ii there ever was reason for their
adhering to the democratic party there
is none now. 1t has so behaved itself
that it cannot, if it would, aid them in
any way in return for their support.
No matter what principle man holds
dear he can do more to advance it i'm
the republican ranks than outside of
them. In republic no sensible man
should place himself in perpetual antag-
Onism to the majority of his fellOw-citi-
zens. IL he exerts an influence at all it
must be through the majority and the
men who have the genius and ability to
control public affairs
There is no great Issue now before the
public. Our elections settle the fate of
men more than measures. On all ques-
tiOns of Importance to us as people the
republicans, for whom we have done
nothing, have done more for us than the
democrats. for whom we have done
everything. To those of our cOuntrymen
who have united their destinies with
them they have been more than gener-
Gus. They have placed the son Of an
ri in ha 81
They have made an Irishman born chief
justice OF the state, and these are only
conspicuous instances.
OF course men should not join a party
simply because it is i'm the habit of be-
lions. On the other hand, they should
not stay with a party that ostracizes
them on account of their peculiarities
of faith or origin. That the Democratic
party does this, nationally and locally,
scarcely needs proof. A people that has
its O'COnners and Germans among the
lawyers of the land is without a single
in Congress, except those
elected by Republicans. In local poll
tics need only state the fact that our
single representative on the democratic
ticket is singled out for a special denun-
citation by the party organs.
admit that men should not, even I'M
der Ostracism, forsake party whose
principles they believe in aid join one
in whose principles they do not believe.
But the Democratic party has ceased to
have any principles. 1t has been on all
sides of all questions, and only in earnest
when clearly wrong. Who can say what
its principles are on finance, free trade,
or any other important question =?
AS Is we'll known, these views are not
the result of any sudden conversion.
They are the growth Of years and the re-
suit of considerable earnest thought,