The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-07
Republican Estimate OF irish Voters.
The GLObe-DenOcrat saws:

The GLObe-Democrat says:
ave can think of but one native-born Irish
man sent to the United States Senate for a
full term.Mr. ConnesS of California He
was elected by Republican Legislature in
1873"
What IS here meant by "native- born
freshman p" is matter only of conjecture.
Whether native-born means born in
Ireland or in the United States of Irish
born parentage we can only guess.
Whatever supposition be adopted the
above betrays strange lack OF ac-
quaintance with public life in this coun-
Try. There are at this moment serving
full terms in the United States Senate
Charles w. Jones. of Florida, born in
Ireland in 1884, and James G. Fair, of
Nevada, born near Belfast, Ireland, in
1881. General James Shields, lately
Senator from Missouri, served a full
term in the adjoining State OF Illinois
from 1849 to 1855. If reference is made
to men who were born in this country
of Irish-born parentage, the list of
those who served as Senators is almost
too long 10 be quoted. The Jacksons,
the McDuffies, the McDougals, the Quit
mans, the Cassadys, the Kernans, and
have adorned the annals of the country,
make the statement still more astonish
ing. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
every one of the men whose names are
quoted owed his elevation in political
life to the Democratic party. Those
recognized by the Republican party
would. indeed, be found to be few and
far between.
But the Globe Democrat makes fur
Their frantic appeal to Irish voters, from
which we quote:
'-Yet still the Irish were Democrats. They
did not undertake to say why, but they voted
the Democratic ticket regularly and vigor-
ously. In return, what have they received?
few local honors here and there, but
scarcely National recognition worthy of the
name"
This sort of appeal can scarcely fail
of being offensive to self-respecting
Irishmen. Not since Mr. Webster
Flanagan, of Texas, asked the Chi
cago National Conventions: "What are
we here for?" has the discussion of
public questions been put on lower
plane. The inference would seem to
be that the price of every Irishman' s
vote was an Office for himself or his
friend. That he can act from motives
of duty to the public, and promptings
of intelligent and patriotic citizenship
appears to the Globe Democrat to be in
conceivable. Is it strange that a
party whose organs treat IRISH voters as
so many chattels to be bought with
offices and Government patronage finds
little favor among them and rare
ly or never gets their votes?"
"What have they received?' is
asked. What that is valuable and
worthy their consideration do the body
of voters ever receive? Good govern
ment, and equitable and equal admins
tratIon of the laws. This is what they
have received wherever the Democratic
party has controlled legislation and ad-
ministration. What are the few offices
in comparison with the boon of civil and
religious freedom. and perfect protec-
ton of person and property? Nine
hundred and ninety-nine out of every
thousand of the people, whether native
or foreign born, have no earthly con-
Germ in the offices except to see them
held by honest men and faithfully ad-
ministered. 1t is an insult to the hon.
esty and an impugnment of the common
sense OF any class of voters to appeal to
them for their votes with a promise of
Offices and patronage. Many Irishmen
have served the country at the call of
the Democratic party, and very few at
the call of any other party; but they
have in no sense put themselves under
obligations involving the freedom of
their votes. The party has honored
itself in honoring the men, some of
whose names we have quoted at the be-
ginning of this article. Those men
achieved distinction as other Americans
of worth and ability have won recog-
milton. With them there has been
no buying with offices or selling out for
patronage. Considerations of the pub
lie good, modified by such regard for
self-interest as is universal in human
affairs. have been the basis of the mu-
tual trust OF the Democratic party and
Irish voters. We hope such considera-
tons will continue and be paramount.
1t will lie an evil day for the country
when demagogues, selfish office-seekers,
and mere managers of either of the in
fuential parties shall be able to trade
Offices and patronage for the votes of
any considerable portion of the people.
The Flanagan school of political NOR
atty, which seems to command the en-
tire respect of the Globe Democrat, is
fortunately not recognized outside the
Republican party We trust there will
be found many in that party who will
refuse to receive its doctrine as a cor
rect rule of action.-St. Louis RepU6-
licGn.