The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-19
An Irishman on Intolerance.

Wy 1lUu. CoAi l. OuC vi GIt
ablest Irishmen of this country, who has
served in Congress. we find the following
article under the caption of "Intolerance
Rebuked." 1t will pay every Irshmen,
ard great many Americans to read it:
The average intelligence of the man who
writes stop my paper. because it differs
from his enlightened views of public
policy. is well illustrated by the following
note, which was received at this office on
Thursday morning:
ST. PAUL. MINI, Jay. 8. 1sss.-John F. Fin
e,ty, Dea Sir: Doant send mea yore Paper any
Longer as It's tow Ratical tow sout mea. Yu
Try r. H.
A man cannot help being unlettered, nor
does the Citizen wish to riGicule 1.-THE
broad and comprehensive ignorance dis
played in the foregoing note, but it is
most uni fortunate fact that people who by
their Requirements" are least capable of
judging are always first to sit IN judgment
upon others. Some of our people in this
country have been so long mortgaged to
the fetch called the Democratic party that
it is like pulling eye-teeth to get them out
of the old, Slavish rut. What they call
Democracy would seem to have become
asort of religion with them. 1t is the
worst form of moral serfdom to which his
tory bears witness. The Irish American
people. for years in this republic. have
done the hard work of the Democratic
party. and what has been their reward
When we first came to America the boss
Democrats thought they were compliment
ing the Irish element by sticking rep
resentative" of that nationality on the
very end of their ticket for the lordly
Office of constable. or something of that
bind Tho Ronnh1ioon ho
Irish, at that period. no recognition at all.
Why should it? Ninety-nine per cent. of
our race in America voted the Democratic
ticket straight" and, as a natural result,
more than half Of the American people
proper became our political enemies
After the close of the civil war several
IrislxAmerican military officers. disguised
with fhe stupidity of the old Democratic
party, which was responsible for the re-
bellion, became Republicans. and when
Gen. Grant was inaugurated President of
the United States, that great soldier, with
his usual clearsightedness, recognized the
Irish element, and appointed slch men as
Thomas Murphy and Michael Seaman to
positions of high trust and honor. He
also, IN his minor appointments. showed
how well he appreciated the loyal valor of
the Irish soldiers who fought under his
command during the civil war
The Republican Irish began to increase
in numbers. and large per centage of the
Irish Democratic element would soon have
attached themselves permanently to the
Republican party, had not the tyrannical
acts Of some of the most rabid reconstr c.
tionists, Thad Stevens and others, dis
gusted them. They voted consistently to
remove bayonet rule from the Southern
States, and, that accomplished, there was
really no difference between the Republi
can and Democratic parties except the one
issue of Tariff or Free Trade. The ever
increasing tendency of the Democratic
party toward the latter policy caused
thoughtful IriSh-AmericanS, who saw the
estrange themselves from the Democratic
banner. They became at first Independ-
ents. and, subsequently, when Blaine ap-
peared upon the scene as a candidate for
! the presidency. practical Republicans, but
not subServient slaves
The Citizen never wants the Irish-Amer-
lean element to become the political
property of any party, but it firmly be-
lieves in attaching them to that party
which it believes to be most progressive,
| most liberal, and most for the. good of the
whole American people. That party. it
honestly believes, is, at present, the Re-
publican, and it believes that the Repub-
lican- American principles which Irish
Americans most admlre-rational protec-
ton to American industries. extension of
American commerce, the maintenance of
the right of American fishermen to pursue
their calling on their native coasts, I'M
checked by mOnarchical fleets; the con-
struction of a suitable navy to maintain
the national honor, and to guard our ocean
trade: the building of Notifications. or the
supplying OF their most approved substi-
tutes on our SeabOard, east and west and
south,-are best illustrated, maintained
and represented in the person of the Hon.
James G. Blaine. The Citizen says this
not with any slavish devotion to the per-
son of Mr.. Blaine. although there is vast
deal of magnetism, as even his enemies
acknowledge in that paramount American,
but because it believes that the time has
found craftsmanship is required at the
helm of State. 1t has no faith in any
President endorsed by the foreign press,
and particularly by the ferocious London
Times, as Cleveland has been and is. Be-
ware of the ruler who is loved by the en-.
envy. Blaine will never DO beloved bv the
foes of his country This makes the great
difference between the two men.
At the present time fully third of the
lrlah- American people are in sympathy
with Republican policy. If Blaine should
be nominated, majority of the Irish ele-
ment would support him, because the
grand break has been made, and the Irish
Americans cannot sleep in the same polit-
ical bed with George w. Curtis, of Har-
per's Weedag Kepler of Puck. their most
atracious libeler. and the intimate friend
of Grover Cleveland the scoundrelly Lon
don Times; the bgoted New York Times
Thomas F. Bayard. secretary of state. the
''chummy-chum" of Lionel SackyiEle
West, British minister; the infamous
Joseph Chamberlain, and all the ragtag
and bogtal of IN Amerioaa, bigoted and
menacing com binations in this country.
Irish Americans will support Blaine from
no lust 70; office, from no belief that he
will treat them better than American citi-
zens of other elements, because that would
be unstatesmanlike and unjust. but be-
cause he is the foremost of living Ameri-
can statesmen and has the head and the
heart to maintain American rights and
privileges against all corners. and in spite
of all intrlgues. For holding these opin-
ions. The Citizen has no apology to offer to
IT. H." or any other narrow and preju-
diced subscriber. or to any Individual or
corporation In this country or elsewhere.