The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-19

kluureu questions IL has not Tor twenty
years been safe for an Irishman to visit
Ireland, lest he should be arrested. for
he knew that, in such event. he would
get no protection from the Republican
party. am not now speaking as a
politician meyer made stump
speech before, but say now aud here
as my honest conviction that no more
unworthy vote vas ever given than
would be vote at this election for the
man who for 80 years has made them
eat their hearts out with anger of his
bigotries. Six weeks ago | wrote to a
friend in Portland whom | knew to be
honorable and upright--asking him to
ask Blaine plainly whether he had any
connection whatever with the Madigan
circular. / did this as an editor aux-
ious that my readers should know the
truth. The answer came that Blaine
had solemnly said, upon his honor, that
he had no krosledge of the circular
until he had received it through the
mail. Two weeks ago there were pub.
lished atlidavits of men of unimpeacha-
BILE character the effect that, in spite
of his denial on his word of honor,
Blaine had the circulars in his house
when he was Chairman of the State
Committee of Maine, that they were
read by his servants who were Catho.
lies and who were made jnstly indig-
nant by the exposure, and that they
were distributed from his house. In
such man there is no honor.
Mr.. Cleveland has been called upon
but twice in connection with those
matters. When meeting was called
in Buffalo to express the public indig-
nation in consequence of the failure of
the Blaine Government to extend re-
lief TO Michael Boyton, an American
citizen imprisoned in Kllmainham jail
under the Coercion act, Governor
Cleveland presided. lie also made a
speech, one of the strongest eyer de-
livered upon the subject, taking the
broad ground that it was Boyton's
right, guaranteed him in our constitu-
ton and laws, to be tried and tried at
once, or released. Blaine was invited
TO similar meeting, and though not
in Office at the time. neither came nor
answered the invitation. a few weeks
ago there met in Boston great body
known as the Irish National League.
1t included representatives, leading
citizens from every state in the Union,
and many distinguished men from
abroad Both Cleveland and Blaine
were invited to be present The for
mer acknowledge the invitation in
polite note, regretting his inability to
attend, in consequence of a cont.m
plated trip to the Adirondack. ior
needed recreation, which we al knew
he was about to take. Blaine neither
came nor answered Evidence is no.
where to be found that the leopard has
changed his spots on these questions.
1t has been said that the Irish vote
should divide l don't think Irishmen
or any others should go away from a
principle for any temporary advantage,
and | don't see that even a tenn
porary advantage could be gained
by going. Irish.Americans are with
the Democratic party from principle.
They know it better even than some
native Americans. Jefferson, its great
founder, was loved and studied in Ire
land a hundred years ago. Already
the Irish were strong both here and in
New England. They saw where the
principle of human liberty lay. The
Irish people have given up Thousand
years of the life of their nation, in fidel
ity to-in abstract worship of it. Do
you think that they can now give up
the party that loves it and expresses it?
Irishmen are Democrats because De-
mocraoy is for decentralization. which
leads to class rule ahd distinctions and
and ultimately to monarchy. We know
as Irishmen where we stand and why
we stand there, and we are not going
away, either. We wouldn't go away
if we liked Blaine better than Cleve-
land. which, thank God, we don't.
AS Massachusetts, man, l suppose l
must say word about Butler. A year
ago he received the largest vote the
Democrats of Massachusetts ever gave
candidate. He was good governor
with some mistakes. The measure
Of his popularity is not, however, to be
judged by the vote he will receive for
President, for if General Butler pro.
ceeds to try and wreck the Democratic
party for personal vengeance, nobody
will be so severely hurt as General But
Ter. l say this with profound convic-
ton and profound regret For one, |
have supported him as Democrat, but
! shall not support him now, for his
position is absurd. A Butler vote is
simply vote for Blaine Irish-Amer-
leans, hope and believe, are not in
any considerable number going to
leave the party to which they have
been loyal for generations, or help
wreck and destroy it, either through
following any individual desertion from
from their own party, or because they
have been told by charlatan and big
ot-I mean Blaine-that he is going to
be what he never yet was, for the leop-
ard has not changed and cannot change
his spots.