The new North-west., 1888-09-21
GEN. HARRISON TO THE IRIsH-AMER.
ICANS.

On Saturday last 800 members Of the Irish
American Republican Club, Of Chicago
went by special train to Indianapolis to pay
their respects to the Republican candidate
for President. John F. Baggs acted u
spokesman. After touching upon political
issues, he concluded: "Gen. Harrison, by
your noble utterances in behalf Of the down
trodden people of Ireland, you have assisted
much in building up strong public opinion
which exists to-day in America and which
beyond doubt will in the near future solve
the question Of the right of the Irish people
to government, and for this you are en-
titled to and have our most grateful thanks" }"
General Harrison in response said:
My friends ofthe Irish-American Republic
can club of Cook county, Illinois: You are
Americans, Irish Americans, and though
you have given the consecrated loyalty Of
your honest hearts to the flag of your
adopted country, you have not forgotten to
love and venerate the land Of your birth.
What If sprig of green was found upon the
bloody jacket of union soldier who lay
dead on Missionary Ridge? The flag he
had died for was his flag, and the green
was only = memory aud an inspiration. We
native or Irish born, join with the Republi-
can Convention in the hope that the cause
Of Irish home rule, progressing under the
leadership of Gladstone, Parnell and others
may yet secure for Ireland that which as
Americans, we so much value-local home
rule. am sure you will not falter in
this great civil contest which your spokes.
man has so fittingly described. Who, ifnot
Irish Americans, versed In the sad story of
the commercial ruin of the island they love,
should he instructed III the benedcent influ-
ence Of protective tariff? Who, if not
Irish-Americans, should be able to appreci
ate the friendly influence of protective
system upon their individual and upon their
home lives? Which Of you has not realized
that not the lot of man only, but the lot of
women, has been made softer and easier un-
der its influence. Contrast the American
mother and wife, burdened only with the
cares of motherhood and of the household,
with the condition of the women In many of
the countries of the old world, where she is
loaded also with the druggery Of toll in the
field. / know that none more than Irish
men who are so characterized by their defer
ence for women and whose women have 80
finely illustrated that which is pure in female
character, will value this illustration of the
good effects of our American system upon
home life. There are nations across the sea
who are hungry for the American market.
They are waiting with eager expectation for
the adoption Of free trade policy by the
United States. The English manufacturer
is pursuaded that an increased market for
English goods in America is good for him,
but think it will be impossible to persuade
the American producer or American work
ingmen that it is good for them. believe
that social order and national prosperity are
bound up in the preservation Of an existing
policy. do not believe that the Republic
can live and prosper whose wage earners Go
not receive enough to make life comfortable
and who do not have some upward avenues
Of hope open before them. When the wage
earners Of the land lose hope, when the star
goes out, social order is impossible, and after
that anarchy or the car. I gratefully &C
knowledge the compliment Of your call and
will be glad to take each member Of your
club by the hand"
At the conclusion of the reception the
visiting clubs marched to the Tomlison Hall,
where largely attended mass meeting was
held tonight. Ex Governor Porter and sew
eral members Of the visiting delegations
spoke on the issues Of the campaign.