Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-02

scesna04 Reply Of yvm n. Looney 10 Gen
AndersOn's Structures.
In the Kennebec Journal Of Anvrs, 1.,t
we published an interview with VIM. II
Looney. Esq. young Irish American re.
publican of Portland. At the democratic
mass meeting on Wednesday evening Gen.
). J. Anderson, who presided, referred to the
interview in his opening address. and made
remarks rejecting upon Mr.. Looney and the
irish-American republicans of Portland. Gen.
Anderson's speech called out the following
trenchant letter in the Press of September Ia.
PORTLAND, Aug. 81, 1882.
To the Editor of the Press:
Gen. s. j. Anderson's speech in CITY Hall
last evening was the whine of man embitter-
I'd by twenty years If rc-sistent but luckless
ONCE seeking. 1t was the result of rancor
and disappointed ambition. In that speech
ne went Out OF bis way to make a personal
attack on me, charging that was bribed by
an office to vote the republican ticket The
charge Is false. ! am republican by con-
vlction, have always voted the republican
ticket, and cast my first vote for Selden
Connor for Governor. The republican party
OF this city generously elected me city
solicitor last spring. This has called down
both upon the republican members Of the
city government and myself the anathemas of
such venOmous partisans as Gen. Anderson
1t ill becomes Gen Anderson TO accuse me
of being bribed by an Office the salary of
which is seven hundred dollars per annum
when he has for over twelve wears been hold
ing an Office Of the city of Portland As
President of the Ogdensburg Railroad the
salary of which is three thousand dollars a
year. During that time he has been support
ed by the city of Portland, but like Oliver
Twist lie is not satisfied but ever asks for
more. 1t is true as Gen. Anderson said. manv
democrats fought to put down the rebellion
which threatened the Nations life, but those
gallant men turned deaf ear to the treason
able advice Of eopperheads of his stripe.
While they were at the front pouring out
their blood and sacrificing their lives, for the
great cause of American freedom, he traitor
like, JOINED hands with those who made war
upon the Union. by firing upon the Union
soldiers from the rear. His denunciation of
the war legislation OF the republican party
was perfectly consistent with the character OF
a man who during the war was a notorious as
well as a violent rebel sympathizer.
Gen. Anderson in effect charged that every
American citizen in Portland of Irish extrac-
ton whether native born or naturalIzed who
votes the republican ticket is either bribed
by an office or by money. This charge, taken
in connection with a similar Islander made BY
him two years ago, indicates the true charac-
ter of the man, and brands him as a base
libeller of the Irish race. Two years ago
when for the second time he was leading the
opposition fore es Of this district to defeat, he
said in speech in Freeport that the sixty
III
polls in body in Ward Four and voted the
republican ticket were paid two dollars each.
Coward as he is, he did not dare to deny that
he thus sIandered an intelligent and independ-
ent number of voters until the day before the
election when it was too late to refute him.
The sworn affidavit of Herbert G. Briggs,
Esq, who listened to his diatribe.proves tina,
he deliberately misrepresented. What does
Gen. Anderson mean by thus publicly ac-
cusing citizens of being bride takers? Does
he intend to say that citizens of Irish extrac-
ton are mortgaged body and soul to the
democratic party, and that those who vote the
republican ticket are purchased! | defy him
to prove his charges. Let me tell him that
there are Irish Americans in this city who
vote the republican ticket the latchet of whose
shoes he us unworthy to unloose; men who
in point of honor are his superiors. Like
the average democratic leader his mind Is
so narrow and bigoted that he believes every
American citizen in whose veins flows the
Celtic blood should forever be the plant, I'M
thinking tool of the democratic party. Others
may change their political creed but an Irish
American never The old narrow, pro slav-
cry democratic party. with its Infamous histo-
~ of caste, prescription and reputation, con
stitutes for him Procrustean bed-a sort OF
fate from whose decree there is no appeal.
Gen. Anderson made bitter race appeal
TO a certain class of his audience, with the
express purpose of melting religious and race
hatred in this city and State. Arguments of
this kind. which inflames the bad passions OF
men BY arraying class against class, to the
injury of both society and government, are
contemptible, and deserve the Reproduction OF
all honest men.
Gen. Anderson appealed to the naturalized
citizens to be true to their religion, their coun-
try and Their God. Does he mean to assert
that the democratic party IL their religion! 10
which country does Gen. Anderson refer-to
Irelend or the Union? If the former, why,
ask. when in 1867 ireland was in the throes of
a mighty struggle for liberty, and crushed I'M
der the iron heel of British despotism did he
refuse to address meeting in this city, the OBJ
iect of which was TO extend our sympathy to
Ireland? Did he refer to the Union? Let me
tell him that Irish Americans have always
been true to the Union They require no ad-
vice from copperhead or rebel sympathzer,
When he was at home in the North denounc-
ing the war, they were in the South fighting
on many bloody field for their adopted
country. Let me tell him also that many are
becoming members of the grand republican
party, whose policy carried the war to a sue
cessful issue; the party which passed the
homestead and expatriation laws; which
abolished slavery; which protects American
free labor from the pauper labor of Europe;
and which to-day represents the nooiest senti'
ments and the highest aspirations OF the age
WILLIAM II. LooNEY.