The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-07-09
AN APPEAL TO IRISH VOTERS.
Strong Letter John Brennan, TO the
Irish World,

From the Denver opinion.
In late number of the I1'iM WOrl3
John Brennan virtually declared.himself for
Blaine. He did not seem to be at all i'm
pressed by the Auglophobio of the boiling
free traders Indeed it rather strengthened
him in his determination to put an end, as
far as he could, to Irish slavery to Democ-
racy. He put the issues fairly and sqQarely.
He showed how the Irish vote had been a
chattel which Democracy pNwned to socu-
rity, and he showed how the pledge had
never been redeemed by those who prom
ised the redemption. His argument is Wig
orous and clear 1t is made up of the sort
Of talk which means something because it
has facts upon which it can be based. But
quotation is better than comment. We
make one from Brennan's letter:
,'Much as I love the pivotal Democratic
principle sincerely as 1 hope this principle
| shall ultimately triumph in effect giving to
| every State and to every people the largest
| liberty consistent with National integrity
more ardently do hope to see-tO me a
sweeter consummation-tha hour when the
political action of the Irish race shall be with
reference to the questions to be actsd upon.
For the past twenty years our people have
acted in American politics like a steam en-
CINE going down grade-with steam exhaust
ed, with a sort of spent political force. 1t is
true they have had for their guidance what
is called q Democratic platform, and might
be said to vote according to it; but does any
body doubt that if the platform had been the
autithesis of the thing it was that they
would vote the ticket Just the same.
"In the name of reason isn't it time that
we should exercise the privilege, free from
stigma, of voting for those men and meas
ures that suit us best? am now not argu.
ing that we are in duty bound to vote the
Republican ticket; but am cOntending tha
we are not necessarily bound to vote the
, Democratic ticket against our own interests
and feelings. Our people are and have
been for a couple of generations the bone
and sinew of the Democratic party of tn,
North Mainly we have been right. W.
were right in our instructive attachment t
that moral essence, that indestructible some
thing called Democratic principle but j.
the indefinite something called the Demo
cratic party will surrender that principle
as the Confederacy did when it compound
ed that most enormous felony of stealing
the, Presidency by acquiescing in the al
legged election of Rutherford B. Hayes; anC
if it will rush into by-paths, coqueting witt
England and for English interest, am NOR
ally bound to follow it? Not 1. For Low
of its principle and its name, and its ira
ditions, our people have followed it ia
enough. We have permitted ourselves to b
bound to the slave power back to back
Too many of us have aided by our vote T.
deny the political rights of the black man
and have blindly followed the name and fol
tunes Of the Democratic party until its ma
iority, the people of the South, have com
to regard us as a reliable attachment to b
wagged at pleasure. By this unthinking
unquestioning course we have invited an
received the displeasure of a majority O
the people Of the North; and the party i
power, hopeless of ever overcoming Ou
preiudices, have paid little attention to Ou
demands as d people Thus for twent
wears our two million votes have been pow
erless in influencing the public policy {
this Republic as if they were annually fun
in the gutter. Is it not about time that WI
- if we are to perpetually vote the Democrat
ticket, should have something to say as
o what Democratic party policy should be
and if, regardless of our desires and our il
terests, its policy should be one calculate
to advance English interest in Americ
does the fact that we are Irish stultify l
and enslave us at the same time and comp
C us to vote it's ticket? In conclusion, L
&, me repeat the question and beg an answD
for the enlightenment of your million rea,
p ers If am heartily and for good caul
n opposed to the free trade policy Of IL
IT Democratic party, am l. Just because / al
an Irjslm0B, i15 honor or dUtY bound
vote the Democratic ticket?