The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-13
The Irish for Blaine.

There is no mistaking the fact that in
the present Presidential contest the
hearts of the Irish people in this coun.
try are for Blaine as against Cleveland.
The most intelligent of the Irish leaders,
and the ablest of the Irish newspapers,
voice the sentiment of their country.
men in favor of the Republican candi.
date, because they recognize in him
man whose words and acts in the pasi
give them better assurance of sympathy
in the future than they can extract
from the record of his Democratic oppo-
nent, Mr.. Cleveland. 1t seems to be
the main business and occupation OF
the Democratic organs just now TO deny
the existence of any Irish revolt within
the party, but the zeal which they de-
vote to the denial only proves the ex-
istence of the very thing which they
attempt to disprove. Never before in
the history Of American politics was il
deemed necessary TO enter upon a de-
fense of Irish loyalty to the Democratic
party. 1t was always taken for grant
ed that whatever other nationality
might prove false TO the Democratic
banner, every Irishman who had
right to vote was certain to cast his bal.
lot for the Democratic ticket on election
day.
To-day the real subject of inquiry in
connection with this subject should be,
not why the Irish should vote fol-
Blaine, but why they have in the past
persistently voted against the party Of
which Mr.. Blaine is to-day the honored
standard-bearer. 1t is simply case in
which the fact remains long after the
circumstances which produced the fact
have ceased to exist. The Irish began
TO vote the Democratic ticket in this
country as measure Of self-protection.
They found the old Wing party inherit
ing the prejudices against foreigners
handed down TO them by the old Fed.
eral party, and they naturally allied
themselves with the Democracy as the
foe Of both Federalism and Whiggery.
The war changed these conditions
without changing the loyalty Of the
Irish 10 the Democratic party. The
Whig party went TO pieces, and the
best half Of it joined the Southern
Democracy, TO become in a few years
the most formidable portion Of tho
Great Rebellion. The old enemies of
the Irish in the South Joined with
their old friends in that section 10
make war against the Union. The
Irish question was buried and forgotten
in the secession question. Old things
passed away, and q new world OF
politics was begun, in which lrishmen
IS Irishmen had no interest, but in
which all had interest only as they
we're in favor Of or against the preser-
gation Of the American Union.
II follows from all this that the Irish
have been acting with the Democracy
for nearly twenty-five years without be-
ing able to give any substantial reason
Tor it. The spirit Of Know-Nothingism
IN this country disappeared when the
Republican party came into power-a
party essentially National and in no
way international in its character-a
party whose mission was wholly direct
cd to home affairs, and which vel
coined alike natives and foreigners
who sympathized with its aims and is
purposes. Yet still the Irish were DEM
ocrats. They did not undertake to say
why, but they voted the Democratic
ticket regularly and vigorously. In re-
turn, what have they receivedP A few
local honors here and there, but scarce
" National recognition worthy of the
name. More than half the Democrats
elected to Congress since 1861 have
owed their election TO Irish votes,
yet how many Irishmen have
been elected TO Congress In
hat time? Not half a dozen. Mr..
Finerty is an Irish member of the pres
INT Congress, but he is there by the
votes Of Irishmen, and not by the votes
of Democrats. He had TO find dis
!rictin which the Irish vote controlled the
Democratic vote. He was not elected
IS a Democrat, but as an Independent.
The Democrats OF Chicago, like those
Df st. Louis, find the Irish very useful
1t the polls, but rarely deem them ft
Tor the honors Of Office. The Irish vote
of New York City has for twenty years
been the only block in the way of
Republican success in the State, but
how many Irishmen has the City Of
New York elected to Congress in that
timer So in Missouri. With the aid
Of the Irish vote the Republicans can
carry this State every year. How many
Irishmen have the Democracy honored
with more than local ofliceP Every.
where 1t is the same answer TO tire
same question: What have tho Irish
done for the DomocracyP Everything,
What has the Democracy done for thd
lrishP Nothing. -Sk Loais Glebs-D Depr
ooret .d lnal's