The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-07-03
Unsubstantial Claims.

There is at this time much specula-
Lion az to the preference of voters of for
eign birth in the approaching Presiden-
tial election. The Republican press
and orators are making broad claims to
much support from 1rish-Americans.
There does not appear to be any SUBJ
stantial ground to rcst such claims on.
Mr.. Blaine is Republican of Repub-
licans. We know of no act of his or
measure that be has advocated which
Irishmen or Irish-Americans than
his psrty has. That the Republican
party has done nothing to entitle
citizens, Irish or others, need scarcely
be asserted. Never in the history of
this Union has the Government of the
United States been in so helpless con-
dition as respects foreign powers as it
is now. Never has it been so utterly
unable to assert any doctrine or right
which another Government feel inclined
to dispute as it is right now. Repub-
lican rule has tanned the National spirit
with respect to all beyond our borders
and created feeling of timidity in all
our ports and coast cities which
few Americans can fail to re-
gard with other than a sense of hu-
initiation. Helplessness begets depend
ence of spirit, and the assertion of
broad aud distinctly American princi-
Piles and Republican doctrines among
the Nations would alarm and almost
paralyze business and drive capital at
once into hiding. This low National
status is the inevitable fruit of the COM
mercial policy which prevails in this
country, and of which Mr.. James G..
Blaine is the most conspicuous advocate
who has been in American public life.
Talk, resolutions and boasts are puerile.
Facts, a navy, foreign commerce
carried in American ships manned by
American sailors under the American
fag-these are tangible, influential.
powerful things. We can never have
| them under the rule of the Republican
party, and least of all under that party
| with Mr.. Blaine at its head. American
influence in the family of Nations can
never be restored under the party which
has called our flag from the seas and
put even our great scaports at the mercy
of any one of score of Governments
whose hostility we could not afford TO-
would not dare to provoke. 1t would
be the very licentiousness of folly to at
tempt to play the role of q great Natior
beyond the seas with such means of Of
fensive and defensive action as we now
possess. Irishmen, like others, are fully
informed of these facts. Is it likely
that they will be led to abandon thu
Democratic party, the only party which
promises with the least show of reason
to lift the American people from theil
helpless and humiliating condition il
the family of NationsP Cheap talk ant
sounding resolves in National platforms
what do they weigh against the real
lied fruits of twenty years of expert
ence under the restrictive, dwarin.
commercial policy of the Republican
party, which has left us without ship
of commerce or war, and worse thai
this, without sailors to man them unit
we can train ard educate them? NJ
Nation of medi@val or modern time
was ever great or respe ted beyond it
own borders which had not commerce
and navy. Our own is, and will be
no exception. The election of Mr.
Blame and the prolongation of tn
power of the Republican party will bu
prolong the day of our weakness ant
timidity in all that concerns the United
States in their relation with other peo
ple.-E1change.