The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-11-02

happens 10 he Il native American. By
he still hunt process and lying
pamphlets in the Norwegian language >,
he preiudiceS of the race are preyed
lpOn. Now, it is just such political
rickery that begets and fosters know
for which Mr.. Sheehy |
has natural horror. If Biermann's
is his superior qualifica-
ton for Office, then Hubbard's must |
be disqualification! If Biermann is
to be preferred for his nationality.
then Hubbard must be prescribed
This is the issue and the natural out
come. Now, who is responsible for
this issue? The sO-called Democrats
who have pressed Biermann's candi-
dacy on it.
If Hubbard is defeated by an appeal
to national prejudices, then Ameri-
cans may he expected to combine
against nationalities guilty of. such
m-American political prOlligacy. If
the NOrwegians are thOughtleSS
enough to run into the trap they will
be the sufferers, but Instantaneous.
if they value their own interest and
self-respect, will not he party to it.
In advising this course | may be ac-
cused of prescribing the Norwegians.
Far from it. The Industrious, stur-
dy Norwegian voters of this State, To
thei, credit be it said. have lost no OPP
pOrtunity to secure their share of re-
preventative and administrative Of
fees. In 1873. when Il Norwegian,
Capt. Mons Grinager, was running for
State Treasurer on the Republican
ticket, Know NOthings of both par
ties cOnspired to elect Il Republican on
the Democratic ticket. With my voice
and pen | earnestly opposed this
scheme and cOunseled Irishmen to
vote for Grinager. which they did. but
not sufficiently to stem the knownOth-
ing tide.
Mr.. Sheehy / know to be an ardent
supporter of Parnell and his policy in
Ireland, and he will admit if Parnell
has accomplished anything, it is by
turning the attention of his country
men from the glory and gloom of the
past and teaching them vigorous indie
pendent action in the present. While
Irishmen in this country are aiding
him, they are catching inspiration
from his noble example We, too,
have been wrapped up in the dead
past, and are without political influ-
ence. We must now grapple with the
living present, and it is emily by indie.
pendent action and manly policy die
tated by the needs of the hour that we
can hope to command the respect and
exert IN influence i'm the political al
fairs of America. Mr.. Shelby would
have us believe that all hope and
friendship lies in the Democratic par
ty. ] do not see it in that light. Much,
if not all. depends on our ability to
utilize all the forces that are friendly,
hut by being slavishly dependent to
one party we receive what we merit
the kicks of one and the contempt
of the other. Our friends don't all
belong to the Democratic party. Dur
ing lreland's recent struggle Il Repub-
lican introduced and Il Republican
Legislature Of Minnesota passed strong
resolutions Of sympathy, and Il Re
publican Governor cabled these words
of cheer to Parnell i'm the house of
commons. Similar resolutions were
tabled in Democratic New York, and
were passed in more Republican than
Democratic States of the Union. But
We are told the founders and leaders
of the Republican party were. and are
unfriendly to the Irish. OF the few
prominent abOlitionists yet living,
who have given more time in private
and public assisting the Irish cause
than Wendall Phillips, James Red
path, and (Nasby) Locke? Under what
obligations were they or any Republic
can to the Irish? None whatever; but
they loved liberty for liberty's sake,
and if Abraham Lincoln, Horace
Greedy, and Charles Sumner were liv-
ing to day they would be our friends.
How many prominent Democrats.
without interest. have espOused the
cause of our suffering mother land?
But we are told the Democratic
party is the only friend of civil and
religious liberty. A few years ago a
Republican legislature passed our
liberty of conscience bill, which guar
antees to inmates of our public insti-
buttons the fullest exercise of their re-
ligiOus beliefs. | myself sent this bill
to Il gentleman i'm Louisville. 1t was |
in the Democratic legisla-
ture of Kentucky and defeated, and at |
the polls its enemies made a secret or.
ganiZatiOn within the Democratic |
party for the defeat of all who favor
ed it, and to this day the religious |
liberty that is exercised in Republican |
does not exist in Democrat |
ic Kentucky and she is not the only |
Democratic state i'm the work. AS to |
the civil liberty claim: while Irish
men gave freely of their blood for the
of the Union, to-day they
are astounded to think how it was
that while their own people were
for freedom. 10y their votes
they sustained party that sought to
slavery in this country.
But has it ever occurred to the Dem
Ocratic party that Irishmen who hold
office do SO 10y their own personal fit
ness rather than by the party's
strength or popularity. The Demo-
cratic party owes much more to the
Irish voters than they do to it. Dur
ing all these years of defeat they have
given to it "a tangible existence, and
borne the disgrace of its errors and
The blows of its opponents. For that
hey must be content with few dry
crumbs and must not call themselves
heir own. Such suggestion is in
,ulting to their intelligence, and they
will find a way to resent it. They
know now is the duty of every good
citizen to vote on principle and choose
he best men for Office. The Demo-
:ratic generals in the legislature last
winter chose to abandon their party
lOminee, an Irishman. and vote for a
Republican Senator. The rank and ,
lie of the voters are now ut liberty to
10 the same, and they are fools if they
ct their sO-called leaders reap all the
benefits of virtuOus necessity.
For myself, l know Mr.. Bierman Is
and it is no disparage-
nent to him to say that Gov. Hub
Dard is in every way his superior. with
he advantage of more experience, and
hubbard shall have my vote.
G. M. MACCARTIIY.
st->