The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-03
Mr.. Blaine and Foreign Voters.

There is at this time much specula-
ton as 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 Irish-Americans.
There does not appear to be any sub
stantial ground to rest such claims on.
Mr.. Blaine is a Republican of Repub-
licans. We know of no act of his or
measure that he has advocated which
entities him to more favor among
Irishmen or Irish-Americans than
his party has. That the Republican
party has done nothing to entitle
1t to the special love of foreign born
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
epce of spirit, and the assertion Of
broad and distinctly American princi.
pies and Republican doctrines among
the Nations would alarm and almost
paralyze business and drive capital az
once into hiding. This low NationA
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. navy, foreign commerce
carried in American ships manned by
American sailors under the American
fiag-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 seaports at the mercy
of any one of score of Governments
whose hostility we could not afford to.
would not dare to provoke. IpwOuld
be the very icentiousness of folly to at
tempt to play the role of q great Nation
beyond the seas with such means of Of
fensiye 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 the
Democratic party, the only party which
promises with the least show of reason
to lift the American people from their
helpless and humiliating condition in
the family of Nations? Cheap talk and
sounding resolves in National platforms
what do they weigh against the real
lied fruits of twenty years of expert
ence under the restrictive, dwarfing
commercial policy of the Republican
party, which has left us without ships
of commerce or war, and worse than
this, without sailors to man them until
we can train ard educate them? No
Nation of medisyal or modern times
was ever great or respec cted beyond its
own borders which had not commerce
and navy. Our own is, and will be,
no exception. The election of Mr..
Blaine and the prolongation of the
power of the Republican party will bus
prolong the day of our weakness and
timidity in all that concerns the United
States in their relation with other peo-
ple.-Egchange.