The Evening critic., 1884-08-09
Irish-American Political Ipdepend-
| ence.

Irish World.
The spirit OF independence In politics that
Irieh-Americans are displaying all over tho
country is destined, We believe, to be produce
tive OF results that Will be felt many years after
the causes that have produced them have been
forgotten. The Irish.American vote, from the
fact that 1t has been cast solidly for one party,
has up to this time, speaking In a general way,
counted for nothing; II Is not hard to see the
that they could always rely upon the Irish
American vote, and the Republican party had
the feeling that 1t would be labor lost to try to
conciliate II.
In other words, the Democratic party know
that nothing 1t could do would alienate the
Irish-American vote, and the Republicans were
convinced that 1t was useless TO try TO propiti-
ate 1t. on the one side, there was absolute cor
tainty; on the other, there was utter despair.
upper and neither stones OF a mill, the Irish.
counted for nothing. II q quarter OF a century
ago It had been equally divided between these
two parties, 1t would have exerted an infu.
once that would have told for tho honor and
the credit of the Irish name. Both parties in
that case would have recognized the necessity
OF doing something to win favor with Irish.
Americans.
Unfortunately, however, Irish.Amerlcans
ranged themselves solldly on the side of the
party that was always In favor OF free trade.
In doing this they rendered England service
OF which they had no conception. The Demo-
cratic party has always been, to u creator or
less extent, In favor OF free trade. Its present
candidate for President would never have been
nominated III IL luQ not Deeu Well known tlat
he was in favor OF the free trade policy. In
other words, he would not have been placed
at the head OF the Democratic tickot II he had
| not made It quite clear that he was thoroughly
| impoverish the United States in order that
England might grow richer. Irish Americans
| are invited by the Democratic party to help
Cleveland TO carry out this pro-Brltlsh and
| antt.American policy. Twenty years ago this
invitation would have been listened to with
| respect because 1t came from the Democratic
| party, but to-day It is treated with contempt.
We hold that this uDwillingneSs to accept q
candidate who Is the champion OF principles
| thut no self-respecting Irish American can in
dorse is in Itself proof'positive of the develop.
| ment among lrish-Americans of O spirit OF
independence that Is sure TO win respect. II
| Cleveland Is defeated and II Is mado evident
| that his defeat has been brought about by tho
Irish-American vote, both the Republican and
Rem9craiie r parties Is % Will ieei that henSeforta
candidate or platform that is not acceptable to
Irish Americans.
words by saying that for all time to come no
political party will dare to stand on any but
purely American platform. We say this be-
| cause Irish Americans have never advocated
any but purely American policy. In this
they greatly diner from the Independent Re
| publicans who secured Cleveland's nomina
lion. These latter pride themselves In being
advocates OF tho pro.British policy Of free
trade, which they hope TO see triumphant al
the coming election.
We honestly believe the country Will be
greatly Indebted to the revolt among Irish
American Democrats for saving It from the
evils thnt would inevitably result from the
adoption OF the free trade views of the Inde-
pendent Republicans. The independent spirit
| that the lrishAmericang are manifestlng IN
| politics Will consequently not only rebound tC
their credit by raising them In the estimation
ottheir fellow.citlzens who are not OF Irish e2
traction, but II Will also confer positive ben
ent on the country by saving IL from the
Vaccinations OF a band OF pro-Engltsh con-
spirators, who would glory In destroying
| American manufactures In order that thu
"dear mother country" might havo u new
market for her cheap goods.
From the first day that the Republic came
into existence lrlsh-Americans have In n thou
sand ways proved their devotion 10 It. From
Bunker Hill down TO Appomattox there has
not been an American battlefield that has MOI
been wRtered with irish blood. Great as have
been the service rendered In the past by Irish
Americans 10 the Republic, greater still arr
the services that they are rendering Z
tus,ng to help the Democratic party and the
Independent Republicans in tue work OF re
duclng the United States 10 state OF indus
trial dependence on England.
We feel confident that whom the smoke OF tn
present political battle will have rolleC
away,and when the American people Will hav
examined with something OF a judicial splrl
the character OF the Issues that will be settle
at the coming election, there Will be a genera
FEELING OF thRnkfulness TO lrlsh.AmerlcanSf =
the position they have taken In Qhfe1fnl
Cleveland and his free-trade supAalsers.
e-a
The Highest Pri6SsSDrawn in TIN