The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-26
BLAINE AND THE IRISH.
How the Republican Candidate Is Endorsed
by Leading Irishmen.

How the Republican Candidate Is Endorsed
by Leading Irishmen.
The Dublin Freeman" (Parnell's Daily Organ).
Blaine has been always steady champion of
the Irish, and-what is nearly as good-a stout
opponent of British interests. His conduct, es-
pecially in 1S67l6S, will be long and gratefully
remembered by Irishmen. When, in 1867, Au-
gustus Costello was arrested in Ireland for a
Unreasonable" speech delivered by him in New
York, two years previously, and sentenced to
fifteen years penal servitude, Blaine, who was
a Republican leader in Congress- made
a series of powerful speeches in his behalf,
and in behalf of Gen. d. F, Burke and
others, which eventually succeeded in securing
their liberation. The Irishmen had their papers
of American citizenship in their possession but
they were disregarded as a defense, or as pro
lection against British law, and this aroused
much excitement and indignation in the States
Blaines advocacy induced Congress to demand
the release of the Fenians from English custody
and when the British Cabinet refused, on the
strength of the then existing treaty the United
States government threatened reprisals with re-
spect to British subjects then in the
States. England, being well frightened
caved in, as became her, and Costello
Burke, and the rest were released
This triumph was mainly due to the mastery
advocacy of Blaine and the leaning he then
showed toward Irishmen has not since relaxed
In the many comparisons that have been iusti-
tuted between the functions of the President of
America and those of the English sovereign
perhaps the most strictly accurate is that which
tells us that they are both sovereigns, with the
distinction that the Queen reigns but does not
govern, while the President governs but does
reign. Should the decision of the autumn cleo
ton rest upon Blaine, we may be sure that the
States will be governed during the next four
years by genuine friend of the Irish cause.
The Dublin Nation "a NJ. Sullvan's Paper.
What then, has been the character of Mr.
Blaine as politicianl He has been described
by those amongst the English who do not like
him as ''the greatest Jingo of the Western
world" His friends will probably describe
him as the most forward" American of his
time, The meaning is that he of all living
Americans, has the largest ideas as to the des-
TIMES of America, and possesses courage
enough to translate those ideas into fact. For
example, he believes that the old world has no
business whatever in the new, and he would
accordingly, if he could, make England clear
out of Canada and for her trade with Central
and Southern America would substitute that of
the great republic. By act and word he made
it plain that if ever he has the opportunity of
organizing Western confedercy to shut out
England from the commerce Of the Western
Hemisphere, and, above ALL to increase the
export trade of the United States at the ex-
pense of that of England, he will not fail to use
it to the utmost. 81 especially dislike" he
said, ito see England winning great commercial
triumphs in a field that legitmatey belongs to
the United States" This was the language he
held when, as Secretary of State under Gar
field he wrote about English enterprises in
Peru. Elk une disco omnes. In short he is
said to aim at the unifcation of all the Ameri
cas- under the egis of the chief of them, and
the expulsion from the area of the new empire
OF all foreign and especially of all British power
and influence. If, therefore, he be elected Eng
land may look out for the adoption of "a
spirited foreign policy" by the government of
the United States, involving some serious blows
to English trade and commerce. and con
sequently English power and prestige. This is
a serious reflection for the British, especially
when they recollect that the United States con
stitutes now one of the greatest of the powers.