The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-13
Am Omen Letter 70 Mr.. Blnine.

| ItdSOuS lOT uln CuduS0 VI SeQLlIneQtS.
II is well worth reading:
CLEvRLAND, O., July q, 1884
HON. JAMES G. BLAINE.-Dear Sir: As O
lifelong Democrat, and as an lrish-American,
permit me to congratulate you on your nomi.
nation for President of the United States by
the Republican National Convention. Your
brilliant record as a statesman, your earnest
and scholarly advocacy of the principles of
the Republican party fully entitled you to the
high and honorable recognition you have so
enthusiastically received at the hands of your
party. Your untiinching,. patriotic and gal
can citizens, OF native or foreign birth, at
home and abroad, is worthy of the gratitude,
the respect and support of every man who
loves his country better than his party. The
Republican party In National Convention as
sembled acted generously toward the men of
| my race. That party is not under many obli.
cations to the Irish race in this country,
speaking from q political standpoint, and
| their action Is the more commendable It
must bo admitted that they did only the right
thing. Yet 1t is generous to do the right thing
at the request OF those to whom party owes
nothing. Undera the existing circumstances
and taking your record and candidacy into
consideration, the Irish-Ameroans can not
consistently, and will not any longer wear
Democratic party collar II Is a well-known
fact that the Irish-Amerlcans have marched
In nearly solid column under the Democratic
banner for the past twenty-four years, TO
local victories occasionally, but to National
defcatsregulary. In sunshine and shadow,
when all other classes wavered, the Irish.
Americans as body have been loyal Demo.
crats; and this, too, in the face of the fact
that they have been repeatedly stabbed in the
back by the bigoted members of the Demo.
cratic party. Your nomination, however,
coming us IL did from the people, your record
as liberalminded American, your anteced.
| ents, the antecedents of John A. Logan, your
| gallant. brave and chivalrous copatriot on the
ticket, have set my countrymen to thinking
| for themselves. Under your magnetic leader.
| ship, particularly with reference TO your
| grand Amerioanism and the rights OF foreign
| born citizens, the hitherto solid Democratic
| lrish-American army will be badly shattered,
| II not entirely disbanded. Gratitude Is one Of
the strongest characteristics of the Irish race.
As an lrishman by birth, and proud of it,
| an American by choice and glorying in it,
and speaking for large number Of the lead
Ing and thinking men OF my race In this
country we owe you debt of gratitude for
| breaking and casting TO the winds the
old moss,covered British shibbOloth: "Once
. British subject, always British sub
ycct-" OF what earthly use is any Gov
| ernment that does not jealousy protect the
| rights Of its citizens at home and abroad2
Nonel Your broad and comprehensive
American craftsmanship has struck re
| sponsive chord in the hearts OF every native
| and adopted citizen OF this free and glorious
| country. A firm believer I'm America for the
| Americans and the perpetuation of its free
| institutions, | appreciate the freedom we
| here enjoy. In common with my country
men the world over will WRITE speak, work
ana earnestly advocate at all suitable times
| and places, for the same blessing OF freedom
| for the Green Isle beyond the sea, the beauti.
ful land of my nativity. In conferences
| with large number OF my countrymen IN
| with scores of them from oil parts Of the
| Union, since your nomination, especially
among the boys who wore the blue during the
| late unpeasnntncss (having personally had
| honor NJ "A EQldiQr
| Ohio In the Union army at seventeen years OF
age, the aggregate OF opinion found Is
| crystalliZing in your fayor-the gentlemen 10
| whom refer having been hitherto leading
| and working Democrats in their respective
| localities. The planks Of the Republican
| platform, relative TO the "duty OF our Gov
ernment 10 protect the rights and promote
! the interests of our own people; protection 20
| American industry; the establishment of a
| National Bureau OF Labor; the enforcement
| Of thelEight-hour law; the public lands a
heritage OF the people OF the United States
for actual settlers In small holdings; opposi.
ton TO the acquisition OF large tracts OF lands
by corporations or individuals, especially
whore such holdings nre in the hands of non.
residents and aliens; liberal pensions 10 dis.
abled Union soldiers and sailors, and the
widows and orphans of those who died in the
war: the restoration of the navy TO its old
time strength and efficiency; the people Of
the United States, In their organized capacity
constitute Nation, and not a mere confed.
count and correct return: the passage OF
such legislation as will secure 10 every citizen,
OF whatever race or color, the full and COM
plete recognition, possession and exercise of
all civil and political rights" appeals 20 the
natural pride, the sound judgment, the wis
dom and support OF every thinking. patriotic,
independent, falr-minded American citizen.
The platform OF principles of the Democratic
party where Il speaks plainly, simply contln.
ues that torganlsation.where IL has been for the
past twenty-four years as the opposition
party The main sections OF the declaration
OF principles, however, are as usual made up
fessions, Intentionally deceptive, the
creation OF non-producing theorists
who arc more interested In their
Pet hobbies than In the building up and con-
tinued growth OF the industries OF tho
country. On the substantial, living issues
that interest the people OF the United States,
the platform OF the Democracy Is all things
10 all men, and bears no certain sound 10 any
one. It's therefore undeserying of the sup
port Of all citizens who admire honesty and
candor In public matters as well as in the
everyday affairs Of life. When universally
recognized statesman and leader Of the old
guard that has kept the Democratic flag
nailed 10 the masthead the past quarter OF
century, like Allen @. Thurman, Is set aside,
through the Vaccinations Of the most corrupt
and despicable gang OF monopolistic consplra.
tors and political pirates that ever purchased
a ScnatOrship or scuttled the Democratic
ship, because he was fitting representative
OF all that had been pure In Democracy. and
had record on the side Of the masses Of the
people, Tor an untrled accident, a creature OF
circumstances, willing tool OF monoDolists
like Cleveland, IL is high time that the hereto
fore faithful old Democratic guard, who has
had notices serve upon them that their serv.
ices are no longer required, should vigorously
repudlate the cheap pigmy that had been
forced upon them by the coal-oil Johnnies
and 0livers OF the Standard on ring All OF
the old guard, who prize square dealing above