Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-05
THE IRISH VOTE.

THE IRISH VOTE.
| A Few Words of Calm Counsel from the
| Hon. William Louis Kelly, Relative to
| the Duty Of Irish-American Citizens on
| Tuesday.
| To the Editor of the Globe.
do not for an instant doubt that the
| we'll known loyalty of the great mass of
Irish American voters to principle will
keep them as it made them Democrats.
The menssof race which through ages of
unparalleled oppression and tyranny has
| maintained its individuality because of its
fidelity to the truth, whose history is but
the lives of martyrs to principle, will not
(whatever an individual here or there may
do) sacrifice their conviction of right to
the plea of expediency. If Irish-Ameri-
cans were as body mere place hunters,
they would be Republicans in Minnesota,
because that party has long controlled
the patronage of the state. But holding
the Democratic political faith because
they conscientiously believe it to be true,
they will not desert its altar, as long at
least as the fires of constitutional freedom
are kept burning there
This is not, therefore, written as a
bugIe-call to duty. The men of my race
need no such call-they know their duty
and appreciate fully all the responsible
ties that rest upon them. Ny only ex-
cuse, Mr.. Editor, lies in this: I have
too much Irish blood and Kentucky
breeding in me to suffer such
an elegant fight to pass by and
l not in it. Just now
let me remind the editor of the Northeast
ern Chronicle, and the others who have
chiIned in with him, that every argument
SC far advanced to seduce Irish-Americans
from that loyalty to principle of which
have spoken, is positive insult to cur
race. Boiled down, these arguments are
two in number: NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
should no longer continue Democrats be-
cause that party denies them official po-
sition. d-Irish-Americans should
dicide their vote between the two opposing
parties, and politicians will bid higher
for that vote. When the Praetorian
guard put up at auction
the imperial purple of Rome
it had the decency to kill the successful
bidder. When Judas Iscariot betrayed his
divine master and the truth that he knew
was in him, for consideration, he had
the decency to go out and hang himself.
If there be any of my race SO vile as to
make bargain with the truth and sell his
manhood for mess of pottage, the best
advice I give him is to follow these illus
trious examples. Dying, for such an one,
will not be hard, for the body is already
dead when the soul OF honor is gone.
Now, grow more charitable as 1 grow
older, and do not believe that these
young men who have been so freely hand
ling hat terribly dangerousthing, the pen,
really intended to advocate the prostitu-
ton Of principle for place. They are
simply inexperienced and a trife vain.
But that is the logic of all they have writ
ten-let US become as a people Of the Col.
Sellers order,in favor of any administration
and San appropriation" 1 do not care to
9enounce such a suggestion. Every i'm
pulse of every honest heart instinctively re-
volts at it. 1t is too gross to be handled
and 1 drop the unclean thing as know all
true Irish-Americans will.
Let me say here, too, that I have no
sympathy with the abusive style of litera-
ture in which some have INDUCED in criti-
cising Capt MacOarthy's course. Capt.
MacCarthy had the undoubted right to 90
over to the Republican party if he saw fit,
and any attempt to belittle or besmirch
Capt. MacCarthy's private life or political
course by calling him vile names-"in-
former" and the like-is unmanly,
II41
on those who utter them. If
Capt MacCarthy or any other Republican
can give reason for their political faith,
let US hear them patiently, and after
weighing them, see If they are not found
wanting.
Mr.. Editor, there are special reasons,
independent Of the duly of always main
tanning the rightly why the call to action
should go forth now to every Democrat in
Minnesota. This has been a Republican
state. The eigns of great political changes
are apparent in every Republican county.
These charges are not of the growth of
yesterday. Numbers of voters, hitherto
Republican, have begun to see how
really narrow and bigoted is that
party. Protesting to be the evangel of
universal freedom, it loses no opportunity
does it in the name of morality. It reminds
me OF an old print once saw, solemn
faced, eeple-crowned gent-a veritabie
'Puritan one,
Hanging his cat on Monday
For killing mou:e on Sunday
The people are at heart right, and cree
q conviction goes cut among them that the
party of their choice and love has aban-
doned the truth, they will abandon that
party. 1 will concede that the Republican
party has accomplished some good things
in the past, viz: it has soourged and puri-
fed the Democratic. 1t has tried it by fire.
1t has taken from Us the vensl, or the weak,
and what is left is a survival Of the fttest.
Grown arrogant and power-proud the Re-
publican leaders have forgotten that polit-
ical tact which so long has distinguished
them, and have begun to kick some Of
their former allies-notably the Germans
and Mortimer. These men are usually
mild hammered, but they are dangerous
when aroused.
They we're aroused in Ohio the other