Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
IRisHMEN AND PROTECTION.
In Voting for the Free Trade Party They
ye,te Against Their Own Interests.

In Voting for the Free Trade Party They
vete Against Their Own Interests.
The members of the Irish National
league in America at the convention held
in Philadelphia in 1888. when it was de-
c,ded to change the name of the old land
league to that of the Irish National
league, and which would include the
members of all other Irish societies in this
country, struck the keynote in the adop-
ton of their platform when they inserted
plank pledging themselves not to pur-
chase any English manufactured goods.
This was followed up at the state conven-
ton, held at Syracuse in the spring Of
1884, by the introduction of the following
resolution by Rev. Father Cronin. editor
of The Catholic Union and Times, of Buff
falo:
THAT as the manufactures of Great
Britain are the chief source Of her ma
teriai greatness. already declining under
the influence of American competition, we
earnestly counsel our countrymen in this
state of New York not to use English
manufactures themselves, and discoun-
tenance their use within the sphere of
their influence, and that pledge to this
effect be a condition Of admission to mem
bership in the Irish National league.
This resolution was adopted unani-
mously-
At the last national convention of the
Irish National league of America, held in
Chicago on Aug IS and 19, 1886, the fol-
lowing clause in the platform was
adopted:
40 hurt the enemy where he viii feel
it most by refusing to purchase any ar
ticle of English manufacture. and by
using all legitimate influences to discour-
age tradesmen from keeping English man
ufactures on sale"
An effort was made by President Cleve-
lands followers in the convention to have
this section eliminated, but it ignomin-
iously failed In view of the above facts
how can Irish-Americans, the great ma
iority of whom were members or sup
ported the Irish National league, support
the Democratic party in the coming con-
test, when that party has now committed
itself to the policy of free trade to help
the enemy which has destroyed the manu-
features of Ireland and driven her chill
dren exiles to the four corners of the
world!
Redpath's Weekly. edited by James
Redpath, commented fully upon these &C
tons, Following are some of Mr., Red
paths remarks:
Protection and free trade are neither
party nor sectional policies.
AS long as there are free trade Demo-
Gratis and protectionist Democrats the
Irish voters can hold the balance of power
and insist on a policy that is at once bene-
fetal to America and prejudicial to Eng
land Ought they to be sof From this
point of view of their interests as
a class in America the Irish voters
should support protectionist can
didates only because nine-tenths
of them are either directly or Indirectly
supported by American manufacturing
interests 1t Is cities and villages that
receive the first fruits Of the benefits CON
ferred by protection, and the overwhelm-
ing ma ority of the Irish in America live
in cities and villages or In their immediate
vicinity Self interest controls the action
of other voters, and self interest should
be consulted by the Irish voters But
race interests exert an equally potent in
fuence on the Irish voters. AS long as
their race is maligned the Irish ought
never to lose sight of race interests. be-
cause their social interests are INSOFAR
ably interviewer with them. Are there
any Irish patriots who would aid England
in her commercial policy? Not if they
know it'll But do they help England I'M
Intentionally"
Mr. Redpath then quotes from an ad-
dress delivered by Thomas H. Dudley,
who was American consul at Liverpool
during the administration of President
Lincoln. Mr.. Dudley in the address said
that while dining with a number Of dis
tinguished men in London the question
of the rishnan was discussed. and one of
those present said that the only time
when the Irishman was of any service to
England was when he eInigrated to
America. joined the Democratic party and
voted for free trade. After the quotation
MIR Redpath continues:
There is no phrase that so quickly
excites the merriment of the pro- British
free trade press in America as British
gold. when Irish patriots speak Of it as q
force In American politics. Yet the Cob
den club. one of the wealthiest and most
aristocratic clubs In Europe, admits that
it distributed IN America last year no less
than $50. go books and pamphlets free, to
create sentiment In favor OF British free
trade They offer prizes in colleges and
subsidize presses and professors. Does
! England thus act for love of us2 No 1t
Is because she desires 70 crush our indus
tries and make herself the great absentee
I manufacturer of America Absentee land
+ lords twho take the rent out Of the coun-
try have ruined cid Ireland. and absentee
manufacturers (who would take all the
profits out Of the country would speedily
ruin our America"