Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-30
"v0TE AS you PLEASE.
Congressman John E. Finerty's Stingias
Address to his countrymen.

certain bigoted section of the Demo-
cratic party because some prominent
Irish american citizens in Chicago,
New York, Buffalo, Rock Island and
other citizens throughout the union
have declared their preference for the
presidential nominee on the Republic
can ticket, the howl is raised simply
because these gentlemen are Of IRISH
birth or decent. 1t appears that an
a German-Ameri-
can, or any other kind Of an Ameri-
can, who is not also Irish, NAV change
his opinion on political questions
whenever he chooses without loss of
casts, but for an Irishman to do it is
pronounced "heresy" by the great po-
litical doctors who think they own
him body and soul.
This kind of ridiculous assumption
on The part of the doctors aforesaid,
would be only laughable we've they
not aided and emboldened in their
conceit by fairly large element of
the Irish american people themselves,
who join in the cry against their IN
dependent fellow-countrymen, and
seek tn brand them with rank aposta-
CIV. What may we ask, has given a
particular party in America the i'm
piled right to look upon Irish voters
as their particular property! Did
the fathers of the existing generation
of the Irish-Americans make com
pact with the party in question, pledg-
ing to it the support of their sons
| forever and ever, no matter what
errors il might commit, no matter
what objectionable candidate it force
upon them? We have never heard of
such compact, and, if it were made,
the self-respect of the existing race
would rise in revolt against it.
The Democrat party has been, aud
is held up to the admiration of Irish
men, because it is alleged to be '9the
friend of the foreigner" BY implica-
ton, the Republican party would seem
to be indicated as the enemy of the
foreigner. But is this true? What
is the philosophy of placing any for
eign born clement of the body polite
in this country in the position of
dccla ing that fully One-half of the
American people are its impiaca-
BILE enemies.
1t is true there was a natlylst or
know-nothing party in this country
wears ago. 1t was base and stupid
party, and il died of its own venom.
The Democratic politicians were wise
enough to see that il could not live,
aud their platforms were emphatic in
its condemnation. Yet those lovers
o. freedom, such as Gov. Wise, of
Virginia, and Stephens, of Georgia,
were siaunch defenders of human sla-
very. They rested their hopes upon
il ~ ii scernerstone" for an indepen-
dent contederacy
There is no use in denying the de-
plorable fact that large body of Irish
voters, under Democratic leader
ship, were opposed TO negro emanci-
patton Very many true and noble
irishnen distinguished themselves in
the Other direction, but they found
little or 30 support. When the war
came, finally. the eyes of the Irish
people residing in the north were
opened wide. tor the first time, 10 the
iniquty of the Southern Democratic
leaders The cloven hoof was re-
vealed. Poor John Mitchell, lured by
an irexphcable and inconsistent fanai-
icism, unfortunately flung his inti,l-
ence on the side OF the rebellion. But
Thomas Francis Meagher, Col. James
a. Mulligan, james Shields, and many
other men, worthy the spirit and
fame OF ireland. mustered on the side
of union apd liberty. Their vaIor, and
that of their gallant followers, re-
deemed the Irish name in the eyes al
Americans and of freemen Of all lands.
They poured out their blood in de-
Tense Of The old flag and for the liber-
alton of the slaves, and yet there
were men who claimed to be patriotic
and humane, who cursed Thomas
Francis Meagher because he had dared
TO appeal 10 the manhood and the
dignity of the Irish race and the love
OF human freedom.
Ii was in vain that he said he was a
Democrat that believed in buying and
selling human beings. 1t was in vain
that he referred to the example OF
OConnell, who was vehement aboli-
tionist. as the whole world knew. lie
Immediately lost caste with the Dem.
ocra,ic doctors and power with such
Of his own people as were Influenced
by their mischievious misrepresenia-
tons, but everything that was worth
respecting in the lrish-American PEG.
; pie remembered Fair Oaks, Malvern
Hill, and Antietam, and blessed the
heroes that had shed such glorious
lu,ter on the twin battle flags OF
America and Ireland.
But the politicians did not want
/ Meagher's style Of Democrat. He
wouldn't Wear the party collar.
Although the most eloquent man OF
1 his race since Grattan ceased to de.
light the world, nobody in New York.
, on the Democratic side at least,
thought of him for congress. Fer
nando Wood might 90 there, Brooks
might go-aDy other narrow polit'-
clan. half or whole stained with trea
son to the republic, might go there
but there was no room for Meagher
At last. as everybody knows, this most
; brilliant and gallant gentleman died
while acting governor of Montana,
and even that favor did not come
from Democratic hands.
We had hoped that this species. OF
political ostracism was dead, put il is
not. Renegade" ''apostate," heret-
ic," hireing," are the mildest cpithc.s
hurled by the Democratic press at
, such Irishlncn as have the sterling
manhood to assert the courage of their
convictions: and, shame OF all shames,
some OF their own countrymen
bounded by the narrow horizon OF
: their invincible prejudice, join in this
wolf h cry against them. But all that
kind of persecution will not prevent
others from telling the Democratic
bosses 10 go TO the devil if necessary
Ii seems TO us that nowadays to be
straight Democrat" means TO be a
mere human machine. There must
be no kicking. lie must swallow any
nomination. however insulting to his
. private sentiments. He must accept
the thoroughly English doctrine OF
free trade even though il should
make il impossible for him TO keep
his rebellious stomach in proper SUBJ
lection. He must keep his mouth
axaa,,f ,xhan no nnonc N