Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-15
ALI CAN AFFORD TO WATT.

the democratic press of the country to ! accept the finding of Coroner Hertz's | jury a conclusive evidence of the guilt l of Alexander Sullivan. In their con-
 ments on the case there appears to be a keen hatred of Sullivan based on the ! l fact that he has been republican ill politics and has been influential in lead l ing many of his Irish fellow citizens to the support of Blaine in 1884 and Harri- l son in 1888. We respectfully submit | 1 that this is unfair, unjust and likely to | | do jury to themselves more than to MT Sullivan or the cause in which he has l enlisted the best efforts of his life.
 The DEMOCRAT has no sympathy with 1 Alexander Sullivan's politics, simply l because it has no confidence i'll the prln- l ciples and policies of the republican
 party. But we recognize his right, as
 we do of every other American citizen,
 to dissent from our views and to train with whatever party he may choose. And in according him this right we freely pay him the tribute of believing him sincere in his professions and prac- , tices. His whole life, and especially his connection with the Irish cause, has been indicative of sincerity, honesty and straightforwardness. It cannot be maintained, by anyone who is not blinded by false prejudices, that
 man who has been lifelong republican
 has become so from ulterior motives or that he is not actuated by sincere and l -1,,fr fn hpi,,,
 others over whom he may have an intlu-
 ence to his way of thinking. Nor can it
 be claimed that a man who has the
 ability to push himself to the front,
 whether in political or a patriotic
 movement, is doing other than right
 when he does so. To offer such propo-
 sition would be to discredit the theory
 of American citizenship which is pre-
 stunned to honor men for what they are
 and what they attain. It would be to
 discredit the lives of those great men in
 this and other countries who have gone
 to the front of every movement that has
 left it's impress on the pages of history.
 It would be to defame contemporaneous ; leaders in politics, business, military and l social life-aye, the very ministers of religion whose zeal and ability have pushed them into the highest dignities 5 of their sacred calling. It is an entirely
 gratuitous assumption, but one we re- ? gret to see that is quite common, that a man cannot be a good lrishman and at
 the same time an honest republican. The
 DEMOCRAT is not ready to accept any
 such doctrine. We have known and 2 now know Irishmen-and we believe there are very few of our readers who have not
 a similar eNperience-tow whom insincer- ity or hypocrisy would be as foreign as
 disloyalty to George Washington or
 Daniel O'Connell, who have been drawn
 by inclination, conviction and a profound
 belief in its principles to the party of n It is not right, therefore, it is not fair @ or honest to insinuate that because q Alexander Sullivan has identified him. l self with the republican party he must t of necessity be insincere, corrupt and a murderously inclined. We submit that
 
 l departing very far from the true and D legitimate mission of journalism.
 In this connection it is refreshing to
 turn to the comment made on this case
 by the Boston Pilot, whose editor, John j. Boyle O'Reilly, has been one of the > staunchest and most uncompromisine Il advocates of democracy since he came a fugitive from British injustice and e cruelty to the shores of America MI o O'Reilly, too, has had opportunities en joyed by few to know and understand e the real character of Alexander Sullivan the character as possessed by the man " rather than as painted by hostile mug | wump and democratic press. In this n weeks Pilot Mir O'Reilly says:
 It is profoundly to be deplored that ; }. man so well known and widely respect fl ed as Alexander Sullivan should b,
 charged with complicity in such an ap palllng crime. But it Is clear to thos, o who see with unprejudiced eyes that a. though there is much cause for doubt B. there is very little or absolutely no di ,t rect evidence against him. That ht
 was Dr Cronin's enemy ill life does no 50 make him guilty of his most cold-blood ' | ,e of other men in Chicago were Cronin's m bitter enemies; and that they had threat
 ened his life often. The unsupporte, y charges made against Alexander Sulli of van by witnesses before the corone SO would not have been allowed in cour , of justice. They were hateful an, S passionate, and they ought to have bee. 5h suppressed. In this hour of hls trouble IS the high character and noble work O " the man must be remembered. It i 70 another lnfamy on top of the murde ie to assassinate mans character in tn, 5e newspapers before he is called for tria n in court of justice.
 Il, 1rishmen and the friends of Ireland n- yes, and the vilified and defamed. thu a. doubting and uncertain members of thu 'n Clan-na-Gael-can we'll afford to wait De before passing judgment on man lik r. Alexander Sullivan until SOmetbip,