The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-21
DEMOCRATIC B1GoTRY.
A Vigorous Reputation of the Democratic
Claim to the Irish Vote.

A Vigorous Reputation of the Democratic
Claim to the Irish Vote.
Chicago Citizen Congressman Finerty's Pnper).
An awful howl has gone up from q certain
bigoted section of the Democratic party because
some prominent Irish American citizens in Peo-
ria, Milwaukee, Rock ISLAND and other cities
throughout the Union have declared their pref
erence for the presidential nominees on the Re-
publican ticket The howl is raised simply
because those gentlemen are of Irish birth or
descent It appears that an AngIo7American, a
German-American or any other kind of Amer
lean, who is not also Irish, may change his
opinion on political questions whenever he
chooses without loss Of caste, but for an Irish
man to do it is pronounced ''heresyn by the
great political 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 were 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 independent Eellow-country-
men and seek to brand them with rank apostacy
What may we ask, has given a particular party
in America the implied right to look upon Irish
voters as their particular propertyg Did the
fathers of the existing generation of Irish Amer
leans make compact with theparty in question,
pledging to it the support of their sons forever
and ever, no matter what errors it might COM
NIT no matter what Objectionable candidate it
might force upon themY We have never heard
of such compact and, if itwere made, the self
respect of the existing race would rise in revolt
against it.
up to the alteration of Irishmen because it is al
legged TO be ''the friend of the foreigner By
implication, 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 foreign born element of the body
polite in this country in the position of declaring
that fully one half of the American people are its
implacable enemies2
It is true there was a Nativist or Know-noth-
ing party in this country years ago. 1t was a
base and stupid party and it died of its own
venom. The Democratic politicians were wise
enough to see that it could not live, and their
platforms were emphatic in its condemnation.
Yet, those lovers of freedom, such as Gov. Wise,
Of Virginia, and Stephens, Of Georgia. were
stanch defenders of human slavery. They
rested their hopes upon it as a cornerstone"
for an independent confederacy.
After the dissolution of the NatiYist party
many of the Know nothings, who had slave hold
ing procivities, Joined the seceders in the dread
full effort to overthrow the government of the
Union by armed rebellion. Nothing is ever said
by the Democratic doctors about those worthless
Influenced by Affecting of gratitude and blinded
by specious representations, quite large con
tngent of Irish Americans was led to sympa-
thize with the promoters of the civil war. Their
cupidity was appealed to and their anger was
excited to some extent against the negro race,
then in servitude. They were told by Demo-
cratic orators that slavery was justified by the
Bible, and that it would be unconstitutional" to
abolish it. The very name of Abolitionist was
made hateful to Irish ears by these same Demo
cratic orators although the Aboltionists counted
such friends of Irish liberty as the late Wendell
Phillips Thus was presented to the American
people the extraordinary spectacle of a race
which had struggled long and manfully for free
dom at home, voting for and with the men who
wished to MAINTAIN slavery in America.
There is no use in denying the deplorable fact
that large body of Irish voters under Demo
cratic leadership were opposed to negro enamel
patton. Very many true and noble Irishmen
distinguished themselves in the other direction,
but they found little or no support When the
war came, finally, the eyes of the Irish people
resident in the North were opened wide, for the
first time, to the iniquity of the Southern Demo
cratic leaders. The cloYen hoof was revealed.
Poor John Mitchell, lured by an inexplieable
and inconsistent fanaticism, unfortunately flung
his influence on the side of the rebellion But
Thomas Francis Meagher, Colonel James A.
Mulligan, James Shields and many other men
worthy the spirit and the fame of Ireland,
mustered on the side of union and liberty.
Their valor, and that of their gallant followers,
cans and of freemen in all lands They poured
out their blood in defense of the old flag and for
the liberation 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 to the manhood and the
dignity of the Irish race and to their love of hui
man freedom.
1t was in vain that he said he was a Democrat
but not the kind of Democrat that believed in
buying and selling human beings. 1t was in
Vol that he rafaTrad n the axampld of (l(ion-
nell, who was a vehement Abolitionist, as the
whole world knew. He Immediately lost caste
with the Democratic doctors and power with
such of his own people as were influenced by
their mischieyous misrepresentation, but every
thing that was worth respecting in the Irish
American people remembered Fair Oaks, Nal
vern Hill and Antietam and blessed the heroes
that had shed such glorious lustre 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 he was the most elo-
quent man of his race since Grattan ceased to
delight the world, nobody in New York. on the
Democratic side, at least, thought of him for
Congress Fernando Wood might go there,
Brooks might go-any other narrow politician,
half or whole stained with treason to the Repub-
lie 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 fa-
vor did not come from Democratic hands
We had hoped that this species Of political
ostracism was dead, but it is not Renegade"
.apostate,n ''heretic,r hireling are the mildest
epithets hurled by the Democratic press at such
Irishmen 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 invinc
ible prejudice, join in this wolfish cry against
them But all that kind Of persecution will not
prevent others from telling the Democratic bosses
to go to the devil, if necessary.
It seems to us that. nowadays, to be a
straight Democrat means to be q mere human
machine. There must be no kicking. Ho must
swallow any nomination, however insulting to
his private sentiments. He must accept the
thoroughly English doctrine Of free trade.1
even though it should make It impos-
sible for him to keep his rebellious
stomach in proper subsection. He must keep
his mouth shut" except when he opens It