Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-19

General McMahon is a prominent Irish
American Catholic Of New York. In an in
terview with Il correspondent of the New
York Herald upon the subject OF the report
ed detection among the Democratic Catho-
lie lrishmen Of that State he said
believe that heretofore on national ques-
tons voters of Irish descent and holding the
Catholic faith have acted gcuerally with the
democratic party, and for a just reason.
That party has invariably maintained the
rights of adopted citizens, both at home and
abroad, and has always 1nantully opposed
prescription on account OF religious con-
victions. lis opponents, under whatever
name they may appear since the old federal
days, have held opposite views. The demo
cratic party certainly has not changed in
these particulars, and see no sufficient rea-
son wiy any number of voters who have
heretofore acted with it should abandon it
to day. think, moreover that this cry
that the Irish vote and the Catholic vote are
opposed to this man or that man is il pitiiul
partisan device For my own part, ! have
not The slightest doubt that the vast maj ori-
tv Of the Irish. h.Americau voters III the
conntry will stand by the party that has
stood by them
''But what Of the alleged hostility to Gov
ernor Cleveland personality"
"Thc republican press cndeaVor TO make
il appear that there is such hostility, and, of
course, they find Il few ready tools to assist
them. This hostility. ilany exists, is manu-
facturcd for the occasion, and is not
bv any means as extensive us our repub
lican friends would like to believe. There
is not an earthly reason why any man Of
Irish birth or descent should hesitate to give
his warmest support to Governor Cleveland.
He mas been lifelong democrat. earnest.
honest and determined, and has never failed
to come 10 the front when there was Il ques-
ton ct the rights Of adopted citizens. As
an old Builalonian have known Governor
Cleveland for ~ very long time and can
say that, fit is intended to impute TO him
any taint Of religious bigotry or intolerance,
any suspicion of hostility TO adopted citi
zcns. his whole life, political and personal.
mos; cmphaticaly contradicts it.
repeal that there is not Il single act Of
his which would justify any one i'll imputinG
to him hostility TO any race or prejudice
against any creed. | believe he has per.
formed his duties in every instance con.
~cientiously and without any consideration
whatever us to subsequent results 10 himscl',
AS 10 The Freedom of Worship bIl:'
THAT never passed the Legislature, there :
fore he never vetoed it, although nav.
seen ii charged that he did :
1T is said, however. that ne defeated ="
in culnmiltcc? ~ E,
Il do no. believe it, II is no: at all iiks:
him. But il seems 10 ;nc that i hy i"-
that he could not sign the bill l-and thcl:'
certainly were grave constitutional "4lc:.
ton. "a it-ihcre was no reason wIt lt.
should not intimate the fact to thnSc ll"rr!t
charge ul it, In fact, think the Assei2<G Z
was IL mere than ono instance inc"n: ~.
ate 10 SAY the least, in presSln" ih;n't% y,
measures ..hicil many Of the members rNr.
| have known were of questionable con5i
| tiona,iiy. anr! thereby throwing iir tHo:
| responsibility cf their defeat upon the e !:
cruur.
"rhv fact, however, that he signed ;.i:Ii
securing. the services Of Catholic pricasS :.
al the State prisons. and suhse:luca''l :
wru,' personally 10 the superintendent, -,
l.. It's Immediate enforcement, shows cor.
c'u>iveiy That there was no anti-Catl;ul': ::
sca!mcnt in his opinion as TO the othcE
| bill. :
"rhe effort to manufacture an anti.Cathcx T.
| lie or anti-lrish sentiment against the Gov .
einor has very little i'll fact TO support i Z
| | believe il will not succeed as long ~ !le
| democratic party remains true to lis prin !:
ciples, anil Of these principles there nGvce,,
was Il more manly. outspoken and de.crs:
mined representative than Grover Cleve> Z
| land /;
Let me call your attention to one we'll.
known fac, in proof Of this When Cow
ernrr Cleveland was Mayor of Buffalo he;
presided over public meeting of Irish cit,
zeus called for the purpose OF demanding
that the government should take action III
the matter Of the Irish-American citizens
imprisonel in Ireland as suspects and con-
fined without charge, Indictment or proha'
BIZ, cause. lie made on this occasion Wig
orous and manly speech as TO the duty OF
the government toward adopted citizens.
Ii certainly was not made then for political
or electioueering purposes, but it derives
great significance at this time from the fact
that the man who was in charge of the for
eirn relations Of the government, when
these wrongs were done in Ireland, and
who made no attempt to right them, was
James Gr. Blaine. There was u letter writ
ten at that time by Mr.. Lowell, which
suppose will be published, in which he
states that under the instructions of the
State Department he could not interfere in
behalf of a certain citizen of the United
States, eighteen years resident OF Callior-
MIA and then in prison in Ireland as 'sus-
pect.' although mere traveller for pleasure,
because he was not q native born citizen.
Mr. Blaine must therefore be credited with
| hat alantpl r