The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-25
AN IRISH CATHOLIC
Gives His Reasons for Being a Republican
Rather than Democrat.

Gives His Reasons for Being Republican
Rather than Democrat.
Thomas 'Neill, in Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
In the American, of this city, | notice an ex-
tract from communication published in the
Commercial Gazette by Mr.. Jos. p Carbery in
which he implies that no Catholic should be
other than Democrat As Catholic, Roman
Catholic beg leave to protest against any such
doctrine. 1 know that it is a common thing
among many Democratic politicians, processing
to belong to Catholic faith, TO style the Catholic
ity9of any one voting the Republican ticket as
an unknown quantity, but l have never seen it
in print before. Mr.. Carbery styles the Catholic
religion an organization He is mistaken--it is
q faith But the mistake is common with Catholic
Democratic politicians, who know more Of poll
ticsthan they do of religion.
A system Of bullying has been carried on in
this country for years to compel the Irish Catho-
lie voters to vote the Democratic ticket by
class of politicians whose yituperative tongues
spare neither laymen, priests nor bishops, If they
come in their way. These men are the tools of
the higher Democratic politicians or leaders
who are very willy and astute. One Of their
trump cards has been to keep the Irish Catholic
population isolated from their fellow-citizens
that they might always rely upon as an adjunct
to the party. Hence, though there is deep
prejudice existing in the minds of many of the
Democratic leaders against the Irish Catholics
they have SO managed it that the latter have
failed to fully realize it and if by any chance it
has cropped out in such way as to lead them
to suppose that they were not rightly dealt
with, means have been resorted to to frighten
them back.
1t was so in 1874 The foreign element had
become dissatisfied as they are now and the
Democratic politicians started the Native Amer
lean party to drive them back, just as they are
now trying to start Native American party i
was eyewitness to the fact that majority of the
mob that prosecuted the Catholics and burned
our churches in this city were Democrats,
headed by their Democratic local leaders and
politicians.
The Irish people, suffering from the persecu-
tions and cruelties practiced upon them at home,
are led to believe, when they come to this coun
try, that the Democratic party is their particular
friend and protector hence they attach them
selves to that party. But they arc cruelty de-
ceived The system of isolation is produced,
they are placed in false light before their
fellow-citizens,. and fail to command the
respect that they otherwise would. Neverthe
less there are thousands of Catholics through
out the country-laymen, priests and bishops
who understand that they require no protection
from any regular party, that the Constitution
guarantees them protection in common with all
their felow-citizens. and they will get that pro
lection at all times and under all circumstances.
To all Catholics would say, attach yourselves
to no political party. Realize the individual rc
sponsibility which The church teaches as binding
on you to vote intelligently In such way as your
conscience may decide is for the best interests of
the country in which you reside This country
is differently constituted, the people are differ
emily constituted, and the government is differ
emily constituted from any other in the world,
and cannot be governed by the regulations or
economical policies Of the effete governments of
the Old World.
For my own part a Roman Catholic by birth
education and full belief, have always voted
the Republican ticket for the reason that have
always believed the principles Of the Republican
party were such as would insure the peace, pros
perity and happiness Of the American people
On the contrary, the policy Of the Democratic
party has been to subordinate all the great re-
sources Of the country to the dictation Of foreign
capitalists. There is hardly an emperor, king
queen lord or duke, or any member of the great