Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-23
HARRISON IN INDIANA.
He DenOunces the Irish in
Set Terms.
A DOLLAR A DAY FOR LABOR.
What HOOsier Politician Says About
How the State Will Go in
November.

1t has been denied that General Har
rison denounced the Irish, or that h'
said 81 day was enough to pay for labor
A few days ago the HERALD gave fully
the record of the Republican candidate
on the Chinese question. 1t presents
here his record on the Irish question in {
complete form. 1t is from the Kansas
City Times, under date of September IA
and reads thus
HARRISON AND THE IRISH - DENoUNCINt
THEM BITTERLY IN PUBLIC SPEECH.
The following correspondence. which
is self-explanatory, is of great impor
tance as showing Ben Harrison's feeling
toward the Irish race:
Hon. Morrison M,rford, Editor Kansas
City Times, Kansas City, Mo. -
LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, September 49,
DEAR SIR inclose first a copy of ar
article published in the Leavenworth
Standard of September 8th. Hardly be.
lieving it was possible that any public
man, much less a candidate for Presi
dent of the United States, could have
used such language regarding race Of
people whose gallantry and devotion to
the principles of this Government have
been illustrated upon every battlefield OF
the Nation, and not knowing who Mr..
Condor was, wrote the letter, which
also inclose you, to the postmaster at
Bloomington, Ills, and also inclose you
his reply. 1t is but fair that every Irish
man in the land should read this as well
as every intelligent and fair minded man,
whether he be an Irishman or not. Re-
spectfully yours, THos. P. FENLoN.
THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE.
An interesting contribution to the
literature of the campaign is furnished
by William Condor, Sr., a resident OF
Bloomington, ILL.,, in the following letter
addressed to his friend, r. r. Jones, OF
East Randolph, N. Y, and sent by the
latter to the Buffalo Courier. The letter
is as follows:
Mr.. K. r. Jones, East Randolph, N. Y:
BLOOMINGTON, H., July 20.
DEAR SIR-Your note of inquiry re-
garding a letter l wrote to friend at
Golden, Col, has been received, and l
wish to reply that Ben Harrison, the Re-
publican candidate, used the language in
question at Durly Hall, in this city, few
days before the November election in
1876.
In my letter to Golden made merely
incidental reference to the matter, not
being particular as TO the exact date of
Harrison's speech, but since my letter
received publication l have talked the
matter over with another gentleman who
was also present, and likewise remem-
bers the vile remarks. 1t was not eight,
but twelve years ago.
Harrison and Colfax were here on the
same day, the former speaking in the
afternoon to large audience, among
whom were few Democrats and fewer
sh-Americans, including myself. Har-
rison on that occasion referred to the
composite character of our population,
and in glowing rhetoric dwelt upon the
patriotism and heroism OF our different
nationalities, except the Irish. AS Har-
rison was leaving this part of his ad-
dress, an old gentleman, with a strong
Irish accent, asked:
"How about the Irish, and where were
Meagher, Sheridan, Shields, Mulligan
and the others?"
The crowd hissed the question and
shouted, "Put him out" While they
were eiecting the old gentleman from the
building Harrison said exactly, or almost
exactly, the following words:
cit is easy to know that mans race !;
YOU all know what they are. If it were
not for them we would not need half our
penitentiaries, which are nearly full Of
them. They have no intelligence. They
are only good to shovel dirt and grade
railroads, for which they receive more
than they are worth, as they are no
acquisition to the American people,"
have mentioned this language often
to my acquaintances and long before
Harrison was prominently discussed as a
Presidential candidate, and therefore it
cannot be said that l revive the matter
now for mere partizan effect. Harrison's
attack was the most bitter have ever
heard since the time of Know-Nothing-
ism, of which he is relic, unless the
leopard changes his spots faster than
formerly. People who know me will
not ask for my affidavit, but if it will
give you any stronger assurance l will
promptly furnish an affidavit as to the
above expressions having been uttered
by Harrison. The words hurt my feel
ings. 1 have no prejudice against other
nationalities; indeed, it is pleasure to
remember that all nationalities have con-
tributed to the growth of the country,
and that in the terrible conflict for the
maintenance of the Union the American
born fought side by side with the exiled
,Celt and the German heroes from the
Fatherland.
Like every individual, every race hal
virtues and faults-none wholly good OF
wholly bad-and therefore 1 protes
against Harrison's sweeping vilifcatior
of the Irish people, who usually come
here to obey the laws and help develop
the mental and physical capabilities u
our common country. hope narrow
rancorous bigot like Harrison will never
be elected to preside over this free ant
generous nation. The false clamor O
those who say the Democratic party
favors free trade to the beneG
of England and our detriment should
blind no manly Irish-American to tn,
fact that savage hater of this race il
running against Cleveland, a superb
statesman whose principles are calcu
lated to bring cheap food and clothing tt
the poor and to preserve the blessings o
our constitution for Americans yet un
born. dislike to drag nationality int,
politics, because we all are or should b,
Americans for American progress; bu
Harrison by his own vile words has pro
yoked this matter. He first brought
out on the stump. l am Democrat
but neither officeholder or officeseeker
Yours truly, WILLIAM CoNDoN, Sr.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.