Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1888-10-26
the 1R1sH IN rms CAMPAIGN.

= Il ".
EDITOR REVIEW: An industrious, |
and / might add, an indecent scramble |
is being pushed by the Republican
bosses in this campaign to appropriate
what Mr.. Patrick Ford styles the
Irish vote," and which, one must con-
clude, he has promised to deliver as SO
many chattels, to the party which can
boast an unbroken record of hostility
to the Irish race in this country.
Mr.. Ford furnishes an article which |
is printed in the North american
Revie,c, in which he pretends to de
plore the fact that Irish American
voters have, in the past, allied them
selves almost in body to the Demo
cratic party and disingenuously essays
to be at loss to account for the phe-
nomenon! If Mr.. Ford insists upon
an explanation of the reasons which
have impelled Irishmen as practically
solid phalanx to adhere to the political
fortunes of the Democratic party; if
he insists that such solidity of political
action has. been without sufficient cause
and is inconsistent with intelligent
citizenship, | shall, and with greater
reason, insist that he explain the ap-
parent phenomenon of the greater and
more steadfast unanimity with which
the better and more intelligent class of
Irishmen and Irish women have cast
their religious fortunes with the Catho-
lie church, on principles inimical to
patriotism and good citizenship. Pat
rick Ford is himself an adherent of the
Catholic faith, and cannot be insensible
of the causes which have conspired to
make his countrymen one in the faith,
hence, for him to deplore and con-
denim and disparage the political unity
of these people, is to cast reproaeh up
on himself and co religionists, of Irish
birth or nationality; is to befoul his
own nest, as it were, which we may
well be convinced he is quite capable
of doing for "spot cash"
To be at a loss to account for the
procliYities of the Irish people in this
country Is to argue ones self ignorant
alike of the Irish character and the po-
lltical history of the United States.
The Democratic party was spoke into
being by the great Jefferson in mighty
contest in behalf of the liberties and
continued safety of the Irish people in
this country; and however true other
shortcomings may he charged against
Irishmen, baseness, ingratitude and
cowardice can never be alleged
with truth. Indeed, reciprocal obliga-
ton with the Irish race has the force
of tenet of faith. Naturally shrewd
and sagacious, without any OF the sub
Titles of cunning and disingenuousness
and dupllcity, the Federalist or mon
archical party were not slow in discov-
ering during the administration of the
elder Adams that the '1rlsh element"
In the union would be dangerous to
the success of the ambitious designs of
the cohorts of said administration, to
subyert our free institutions and rear
in their stead an aristocratical govern
ment il which only the "high born"
might aspire to participation on terms
of equality and as matter of right.
With the end in view of the founding
Of monarchy on the ruins Of the fab
rlc of freedom then undergoing expert
ment, the Alien and Sedition laws
were enacted. Under these laws it
was hoped to rid the country, of all
antagonistle elements, ana the "1rlsh
element" as it was stigmatised at the
time was the most powerful, and i'm,
placable hostile to the designs of the
, despoilers. Under the "Alien law,
any foreigner could be arrested and hned
and banished from the country; while
the s'Sedltion law" denounced pains
and penalties against any person guilty
of criticism or calling in question the
infallibility of persons occupying otfl
cial place and authority. So the ma
chinery for prosecuting, annoying, ant
if possible subduing the patriotic re
sentiment of the Irish, was made com
, plete and effective until Thomas JeffeT
son came upon the scene with an OF
4 ganized, courageous intelligent follow
ing and put the conspirators to route
horse foot and dragons.
In the light of this history, of thes
doings, what must be said of Mr.. Pat
/. rick Ford for his affected wonder a
and disaprobation of, the "soliditv" o
t the Irish vote for Democratic men ant
Democratic measures2 And let tn
fact not be lost sight of that the wa
on the Irish did not cease here. TIL
opponents of the Democratic party uu
: der whatever name, and the names hav
, been many, up to and including the RI
publican party, have been actively ho:
tile to foreigners generally and of til
2 Irish people in particular. The Repul
S lican party absorbed and succeeded tn