The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-18
GEN. HARRISON ON THE IRISH.
Complete Denials of William Condon's Roor-
bach Respecting One of His Speeches.


Bloomington (Il) Paragraph, Aug g.
The Bulletin Of yesterday publishes the state
ment Of a number of persons as to what General
Harrison said in his speech in this city in 1876
Most of these simply speak of what they heard
Mr.. Condor say, and do not claim to have heard
General Harrison. We give below the state
ments in their own language Of . number Of
well-known citizens who were present and heard
General Harrison through, and whose testimony
positively contradicts Mr.. Condor.
As We have said before, the charge brought
by Mr.. Condor at this late day seems almost too
ridiculous to merit serious attention. In the
midst of a heated and desperate political cam
paign, when the two parties were on the alert
for any possible advantage, Mr.. Condor hears
General Harrison use language which would
have caused the defeat of his party in this city,
and probably in this county. had 1t been pub
lished. and yet no paper. Republican or Demo-
crat, OF that time mentions It, It was never
repeated from the stump by any Democrat in
this section. IL was kept as q sort of confiden-
tial secret among few of Mr.. Condon's friends
until General Harrison was nominated for
President.
IL this story is not deemed too utterly ridicu-
lous to need answering, we submit the follow
ing:
Luke Nevin--I was there from the fret to the
last OF General Harrison's speech In Durley
Hall, and heard him through. There was
Interruption except by one Irshman and ore
American, both Democrats In each instance
he went on with his speech soon as the dis
turoers were removed, and paid no attention to
them whatever. His speech was argumentative
and logical and such as every sensible Demo
crat could listen TO without taking offense /
will say that am an Irishman, and think that
L am as jealous Of the rights and honor OF my
people as Mr.. Condor, and would be as quick TO
notice and resent an insult TO them he IL
General Harrison bad used the offensive lam
euage attributed to him, L would not have
waited till he was nominated for President be-
fore publicly denounciug him for it.
Ed OConneil-I attended the meeting in this
city IN 1876 at which General Harrison spoke,
and am sure he did not make use of the ex-
preston attributed to him by Mr.. VIM. Condor,
ST. am also sure that General Harrison did
not, In that speech, use any language that was
at all like the language Mr.. Condor now says
General Harrison used. have always taken an
active part and have been deeply interested In
every movement for the benefit Of Ireland and
the Irish people and would be as ready and
anxious as Mr.. Condor Is to resent any insult to
lrishmen.
Ira Lackey--I have known General Harrison
all my life, personally. / always 60 to hear him
speak when have an opportunity, and listen to
what he has to say. heard HIM here 10 1876
and have no hesitanoy in saying that in that
lrishmau or citizen Of eny other nationality
could take offense. General Harrison 10 not
that kind OF man. He has too much common
| sense. There was occasion for his uttering
such language. and besides / know he never
said it. II is all bosh
Fred Bach heard General Harrison in 1876,
and il he had abused the Irish or any other
race | would certainly have remembered it. l
bave never heard such thing mentioned
I'll MIR. Condor mentioned 1t In the Bulletin
few days ago. 1t 10 the thinnest campaign
story that has been started thus far this year.
Capt. W. q. Boyee-If hs had said any such
words | should have remembered it. heard
him throughout his speech. He said nothing of
tie kind The truth IS that he made q very
temperate speech. and impressed me as being
dignihed gentleman.
Judge Tiptop-I heard General Harrison's
speech at Durey Hall in 1876 but { be first in
timstion ever had that he insultsd any race in
that speech, / got recently from Mr.. Condor.
was at that time candidate for Congress, and
bad been promised the support of a number of
Irish-Americans in this city. aud had any such
language as Mr. Condor attributes to General
Harrison been uttered that occasion GER
taiuly should have noticed It, and would have
heard Of 1t before the election. But. rs said,
this 10 the frat and only intimation have mad
that such language was used. The tone of tue
| speech was diguifed and manly.
NJ b. Jeier-I heard General Harrison's
| speech, but heard no such language IS Mr.. Con-
| don attributes to him. or anything that could
be tortured into it. / remember the speech
| well. 1t Was mainly on financial subjects and
| certainly as free from anything like abuse as
| any speech ever heard General Harrison was
Interrupted once or twice, but he stopped in
each case until order was restored and resumed
his argument without any show OF temper on
| that account.
Col John Reed was on the committee Of
reception to General Harrison whom he spoke in
| Bloomington In 1876, and sat near him during
| the entire speech. There was no question put
| to him by anyone, rs represented by Mr.. Con-
| don, as to why he bad omitted to make compli-
| mentary reference to the Irish nationality for
| the part they took in the war, and there
was such answer by General Harrison 40
| MIR. Condor states. The speech was free
| from abuse, and was remarkable as logical,
clear and dignified effort; and such WAS the gen.
eral comment at the time. Had he made use OF
| the language Mr. Condor says he did. there
would have been q great commotion and no end
of comment over it at the time and from that
| day to this. On the contrary. never heard the
least ntimation that he had given offepse to any
| nationality until read what Mr.. Condor said
iu the Bulletin yesterday.
Capt j. +. Bentley remember hearing the
speech and recollect that there WAS o disturb
| snce created by drunken man. but heard no
abusive language from General Harrison.
NJ Fl. Newton-I heard every word General
| Harrison said. His speech was as dignifed and
| temperate in tone as | ever heard in political
campaign. He abused no
| Ex Mayor B. T. Funk have no recollection
| o. any such language being used by General
| Harrison as Mr.. Condor speaks Of, though
| heard his speech through. A drunken man Gre
| ated some disturbance, and /, with others,
| helped to restore order, but General Harrison
| paid no attention to it. His speech was argu-
nentative and not abusive.
Frank Rowell-I never heard Harrison make
| any such remarks Never heard before that he
had been charged with making them. 1t GER
| tainly would have raised . Tow but there was
no Irish kick at that time.
| w. NJ Grier-I came down from Lexington
| to hear General Harrison. Heard him through
out During the speech some man jumped up
| and commenced 10 talk. He was intoxicated.
| The cry was raised, 'Pnt him out" Lincoln
| boy, rs was told, jerked him down, and there
| was about to be . fuss when General McNulta
stepped off the stage and ouieted matters down,
| and apologized to those round him for the man g
| conduct Afterward some other man spoke out
| from the audience TO General Harrison, and
| there some disturbance. But General Har
| rison took notice of it, and went on with his
| speech. / did not think there abuse of any
| body in the speech. 1t was dignifed, and free
| from abuse.
T.. G.. Kerrick-I heard General Harrison s
| speech made here in November, 1876 was near
| the speaker and am certain that nothing ne said
| escaped me, am very sure he did not use the
| language, with reference to Irishmen which has
| been attributed to him by Mr.. Condor heard
the speech from first to last. / remember
| that twice during the time General Harrison
| persons in the audience. / was quite near the
- 41~ 81 49,