The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30

be charged that am maligning the Democracy.
God forbid. No living man entertains higher
regard for the honest and Jealous multitude who
labor for the assertion and maintenance of the
Democratic theory of government. Their prin-
ciples are my principles, and may my right hand
forget its cunning when utter an unkind word
against them. But despise and denounce their
allies and their camp-folloWers. And, though
much love the galaxy of great names which.
in better days shed lustre on the Democratic
name, would rather see the Democratic party
of to-day go down in disaster than see it succeed
by an alliance with the enemies of society and
the foreign foes of the Republic.
BLAINE's FOES AMERICAS ENEMIES.
| will not charge the Democratic multitude
with unworthy or unpatriotic motives. But
glance across the field of battle, and what do
sect In the front and in flank behold the enc
mics of the Republic ready to do battle for the
success of Grover Cleveland. The British
Lord in the House of Peers and the beggar upon
the London bridge are united in their hatred of
Blaine. The Prince of Wales, that royal ruffian,
scion of the scrofulous house of Brunswick, is
clamoring for free trade, The confederate
brigadier and midnight agent of the shotgun
policy are solid for the Democratic nominee
The Canadian Orangeman sounds the alarm and
rallies his brethren to the battle. The midnight
robber, fresh from the task of drugging and
plundering his victim, makes midnight
hideous with hurras for Cleveland. Not all
nor half the supporters of Cleveland are enemies
of the Nation; but if you will show me an enemy
of America in Britain, Dixie or Canada, in or
out of the Republic, will show you supporter
of Cleveland. They are diversified in race, in
class and interest, as the men who fought be-
meath the Roman standard-animated by lofty
or ignoble motive, but united in q common cause
There can be no unity of feeling between Allan
Thurman and George William Curtis, but they
labor in aeommon cause, and each from diff
ferent motive And when thoughtful men be-
hold this condition of affairs-the Democratic
party marching proudly at the front
and its allies behind it, ready for the fight it is
time for true patriots to inquire whether this is
indeed Democracy or an enemy Of an entirely
different composition and character. Would it,
In view of all the circumstances, be unreasona-
BILE to assume that there is triple alliance
united for the control of America? The British
empire, the oldAslave power, and the united
power Of evil in American society. And what is
it that America demands of her children, native
and adopted, to dot Simply that every man
shall consult his conscience and do his duty
We are told that the Democratic party is the
friend OF the Irish, and, by implication almost
necessary, it is assumed that the Republican
party is the enemy Of the Irish. Are Irish
Americans ready to admit all this? Are we will
ing to confess that our people have lived here
since colonial days, that we have built up Amer
icas material prosperity and poured our blood to
defend her from the assaults of every enemy;
that we have peopled her hillsides and her prai-
ries until every hamlet in the land has its Irish
settlers; and that still we are hated by a ma
jority of the American people, and that majority
composed of the wealth, character and intelli-
gence Of the Northern States where our homes
are chiefly situated 1t cannot be- my brothers,
and if it is, by heaven it should not be and it
must not be. Men may despise us for the moral
cowardice which forbids us to think, and which
for twenty years has bound us back to back
with the slave power of the South in opposition
to every movement for progress and for liberty;
but they do not hate US because we are Irish.
AMERICA HoNoRs THE DUTIFUL.
Three weeks ago was standing on Broadway,
New York, Americas most magnifcennt
thoroughfare, in front of venerable graveyard,
in which reposes the ashes of Americas honored
dead; and in front of the Enclosure, only sepa-
rated from the street by an iron fence there
stand three monuments towering high above the
rest One of these is to DR.. McNevin, the Irish
patriot of 98; one is to Montgomery, the Irish
American soldier and one to Thomas Adds EN-
met the celebrated lawyer, brother of the i'm
mortal Robert These monuments offer us con-
vincing proof that America. if we are true to
our duty, will not only honor us when we are
living but will honor our memories when we are
dead.
THE sPRIG OF GREEN
On the dreadful day Of the battle of Fred.
ericksburg this order ran along the lines of the
Union army Accused be the man who shirks
his duty, and honor to him who dies nearest to
the enemys works. On that eventful morning
Thomas Francis Meagher, with his Irish bri-
gade, lay in front of the heights Of St Mary, and
though neither shrub nor tree was visible in the
vicinity, every member Of the brigade wore (God
knows from whence procuredl sprig of green
in his cap. All day against the front of the enc
my the Union lines were hurled, but to be
decimated. torn and driven back, until night
came down in mercy to end the bloody day.
The fight was a confederate victory the blue
had lost the day, and early on the bright sue
ceeding morning masses of the rebel troops came
down from their heights to survey the harvest of
death. The dead lay in heaps, like the sheaves
of grain ripening in the summer sun; but one
dead man lay in advance of the rest, stones
throw nearer to the enemys works. And the
grey7coats raised him tenderly, for the brave re-
spect the brave and his face was the face of boy,
and in his cap they found, still unwithered, his
sprig of green. And they buried him on the
very spot where he had fallen, and raised above
his grave a simple mound and above the mound
they planted the dead boy s sprig of green. 1t
cannot be difficult to see the moral of this heroic
incident. 1t is this That mankind including
the enemy, will respect the man who is faithful
to duty. That duty is the highest test of man
hood and the crown Of manhood's faith.
THE Gospel. OF INDEPENDENCE.
This is the lesson that would teach my Irish
American brethren and the lesson; that is good
for them is good for the least of the American
people. The Irish-Americans are race Of
wage workers The British laws which de-
stroyed their manufacturers sent them adrift
upon the world with unskilled heads and hands,
compelling them to be the hewers of wood and
drawers of water for more enlightened peoples.
This Republic is the home of the majority of the
Irish race. TEelr every interest is bound lD IN
the prosperity Of this country for this country is
the worlds best and last hope to them and their
kindred, and by every interest which appeals to
their enlightened selfshness and by every holy
impulse which animates the nobler ambitions of
their souls they are in duty bound to be faithful
to the best interests Of America.
You ask me what is liberty, and tell you lib
Artr is law Above all things wa rnnst be faith