Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-10-09
Irishmen for Blaine


rity, who lives on Clinton avenue in
TINT city, and who Is a son of the writer.
The letter Is addressed to Bernard Gar
rity, another son living there. In con-
versation, Mr.. Michael Clarity assured
the Journal that protection Is the great
issue which is producing revolution in
the Irish vote this year. He said: THE
Irish understand free trade; they ought
to, for they have paid for their knOwl-
edge" The writer of the letter was
born In Ireland near the beginning Of
the century and is now 80 years old. He
Is in vigorous possession of all his facul-
ties and still taxes keen interest in
current events as may be seen from a
perusal Of his letter.
If he does not state his reasons with
all the rhetorical polish which is at the
command of the leading Independent
cranks in Boston and New York, he gives
them with force AID directness, His
Irish readers will find no difficulty in
grasping his meaning, His appeal
should be effective with Bernard and
with all others who still hesitate to
abandon party which has never rend-
cred them the slightest service:
SPENCERTOwN, Columbia county Sept.
o., 1884.
DEAR SON-Yours of the 18th is before
me. The information you ask for will
endeavOr to give. You ask If it is true
that have fOrsaken the Democratic par
ty.. My answer is no. Had you asked
was supporting the Republican candi-
dates would answer yes. For thirty
four years l stood by the Democratic
party. In every campaign In that time
I've devoted time and money to the can
vass. I've seen the result of many
contest-contests that seemed to me at
the beginning forlOrn hope, yet never
gave up in despair. I've done every
thing in my power for the advancement
of the principles of the party: vet when
it comes to an issue of this kind with
which we have to deal to day, l am too
Democratic to vote for Mr.. Cleveland.
The reasons you ask for providing l
was against him, will not attempt to
give In this letter. They are too numer-
Gus. You might ask why do | work
against him. Accept this as slight
reason; and before giving it | will call
attention to the fact that I am an Amer
lean at heart. gave three sons to the
government in the late war because |
was to old to fill one of their places. One
went with the ninety-frst New York,
another with the eighteenth, another
with the gallant sixty-ninth. Much as
I loved them, l was willing they should
60, that the country of my adoption
might live-that the flag that gave pro-
lection to the Irish exiles might float
triumphant to the breeze and demand
respect wherever it was unfurled. But
the question of to-day as I view it, is
this; Cleveland means English rule.
Cleveland means an insult to the flag
that cost us the best blood of our cOun-
try to protect.
You might reason with those that
have not suffered, but I felt English
rule in AZ, 48 and 40. I was a rebel
then in Ireland; served my time in
ROscOmmOn prison and wore chains, be-
cause l lifted my voice against the gov
eminent of England, because I protested
against wholesale butchery of innocen
people and because 1 protested against
what appeared to me determined Of
fort to exterminate the Irish race. /
was arrested not mere than six hours
after my marriage with your mother on
a charge had nothing to do with. This
Is one OF the many reasons | could give
to show why have no love for the En-
glish government. That Is a sample of
English law and English justice. Now,
you cannot wonder that l will not sup
port party that eaters to England.
You cannot wonder that l will not
support a party whose platform calls
for free trade. Had you lived in the old
country as have you would know and
you would feel what a curse free-trade
is. will say nothing against Mr.. Cleve-
land, but against his platform l must
protest.
The Argus of your city contradicts the
statement that the Irish voters of Chat
ham declare themselves for Blaine and
Logan. Yet the Tribune is correct. Mr..
Manning of the Argus is wrong. I'm
derstand, every one comprising the club
has been life long Democrat who new
or made a scratch on a Democratic tick
ct, and 1t Is fact that at the first meet
ing we enrolled sixty-four men, and
they are men. They are men who freely
admit that they are indebted to the DEM
Ocratic party-men who admit that the
party has held mortgage on them for
the last twenty years and men enough
to pay their debts In November and
raise the mortgage which has fettered
them so long.
I'm sorry TO see you still cling to tho
Cleveland party IN this Issue. You are
the only one Of my six sons who has not
of his own free will and for his cOuntry's
good declared himself for the greatest
Of statesman, James G. Blaine. But you
are the youngest Of the family, and
will not deal harshly with you. In my
Judgment say of you and those that
think as you do; Forgive them, they
know not what they do" Please call at
the Journal Office and say that the Chat
ham Irish Blaine and Logan club not
only nourishes to-day but will after the
election in November. Trusting some