The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-23
irish Catholics and the Republican
Party.


Inc ReV. Father Dennis O'Dona-
ghue' Chancellor to the Bishop of
Nlhcennes, and one of the most elo.
quent and Influential of the Catholic
clergy OF the diocese, has been inter-
viewed in regard TO his reasons for
permitting the use of his name nc ono
OF the Vice Presidents of the meeting
addressed by Senator Harrison last
Wednesday. His reply contains some
suggestions that will not be with
out their weight among the more
VEoughtful Catholic Irish men in the
coming campaign. Father O'Dona-
ghue says:
i should have been glad to have
been present at last Wednesdav,s
meeting, as it would have afforded
me great pleasure to have heard Sem
ator Harrison's speech. When ac-
cepted the invitation to be one Ofthe
Vice Presidents l expected to be
there' and, although | found that to
be impossible, [ assure you I regard
ed IL as high honor and compliment
10 nave been named as a Vice Presi-
dent on so important an occasion. and
accepted it without any hesitancv.
one reason for thus publicly takinga
stand with the Republican party is
that L regard the expressions in the
Republican platform upon the Irish
question as manly and generous, and
as great significance coming from
the dominant party in the State. AS
an Iflshman | was glad to express my
appreciation of the declaration made
In the platform, and | believe that its
ehect Will be to gain for the RepubIi-
can party the confidence of Catholics
who are in sympathy with the Irish
cause.
II think the time has passed when
lrlshmen could be counted upon as
naturally belonging to the Demo-
cratic party. l do not believe that
religion ought to consolidate any class
OF people into political party. Each
citizen should vote as his judgment
directs. L know at the present time,
Whatever there may have been in the
past, there is no disposition on the
part of the Catholic Church or clergy
to keep any man in the Democratic
party; and on the other hand there is
everywhere disposition on the part
of Irish Catholics to break loose from
allegiance to that party and vote in
dependently. In fact / can not, and
never could see, any reason why the
Democrats should claim the right to
control the Irish Catholic votes. |
have given that matter a good deal of
thought and consideration as to why
the Democratic party has been able to
control that class of voters in former
years. and have reached satisfactory
solution of it. l have noticed how
eyer, that the Republicans have al
ways treated Catholics with perfect
equality and fairness. They don't
prescribe man on account of his re-
ligiOn. | don't mean to say that the
Democrats have done this; but |
mean that when an Irish Catholic is
nominated by the Democrats he al
ways suffers on account of his relig-
ion, and runs behind, but when he is
nominated by the Republicans this
is not the case. lrishmen generally
are beginning to see this, and are act
Jug accordingly. The New York
Id6iet, one of the oldest Catholic
papers, has for years been advising
Catholics to quit voting solidly with
the Democratic party. and advocat-
ing Republican principles. These
ideas have taken root. and I believe
the present election, especially IN
view of the action of the Republican.
Convention, will see a marked change
in the Irish Catholic vote. ."-h,-
dionapols Dispatch to Cincinmati
Commercial.