New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-08
DJVIDING THE IRISH VOTE.

There are finical people who are greatly hor-
rifed by the idea of encouraging lrishmen 10
vote for Republican candidate for the Presl-
dency. It is, perhaps, needless to say that these
directors are in the main recreant Republicans
who are aiding and abetting President Cleve-
lands reelection. They delighted in 1884 IN
reviling Mr. Blaine as Pat Ford's man." or as
"the Dynamite candidate" and they are very
quick now to repeat the phrases when the Edl-
tor of "The Irish Worldn gives his reasons for
believing that the Republicans will have bet
ter prospects of success under the same leader
shin than with any other candidate. They are
loud in their criticism of the policy of nomi-
mating any one who will be likely to draw off
Irish support from the Democratic party This
they consider the lowest and most degrading
form of partisan politics. Republcanlsm, they
assert, must have passed into Che last stage OF
corruption, if it deliberately seeks to concilate
the favor Of Irish voters.
1t will be interesting to ask these cavaliers
what policy the Democratic party has uniformly
adopted in this respect during the present gen.
Grafton. Until 1884 it had Systematically
monopolized the Irish vote. In all the large
cities of the nation the Irish quarters were rec
ognized as Democratic strongholds. Without
the solid Irish vote of New FORK City the party
never has had the remotest chance Of success in
State or Nation. Yhe party with which these
6nical people are now allied has nursed and cod
died the Irish constituencies year after year and
persistently depended upon their support. In
1894. when signs Of revolt from the Demo
cratic party were multiplied the leaders made
hesperate efforts to prevent the dispersion Of
their Irish forces. They brought McSweeny
over from the island and sent him about the
country, with Mr. Parnelfs aged mother to in
troduce him, to misrepresent MIR. Blaine's con-
duct in the State Department respecting Irish
suspects. They avaied themselves Of ODono-
van Rossa's aid in whipping in the Fenians and
dynamite-fends Of his section Of the revolu-
tionary party to the support Of Mr.. Cleveland.
They made extraordinary exertions to save
overv Irish vote they could; and on the Sun
dav before the election they hired men TO stand
at the doors of Roman Catholic churches and
Distribute DR.. Burchards Rum, Romanism
and Rebellion.n The efforts put forth in that
carnpaien by the Democrats to influence Irish
voters were as determined as they were discred-
table. Yet in the face Of these notorious facts
these NlugWunp CdFllicio hnNO ehN OouIcTlll u
refer IN the " eifrontery" with which Republic
cans "worked the Irish line' and to the noisy
support which Mr.. Blaine received from " Pat
Ford and the dynamiters." 1t is SO convenient
for them to forget that Mr.. Cleveland got the
great mass of the Irish vote which from slavery
times had been cast almost solidy for the Dem
ocratio side. and that Mr.. Blaines supporters
of that race were only minority faction.
With Mr.. Fords record in connection with
dynamite funds or with Henry Georges land
theories THE TRIBUNE has nothing to do We
have found it necessary in the past to criticse
certain things which he has advocated or done,
but are disposed to believe on the testimony Of
Mr. Parnell and other Nationalist leaders that
the island never had a more earnest and indefat-
igable friend abroad than he has proved him
self TO be during the last decade. 1t is not with
the man. but with the ideas which he now pro-