The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-18
BLAINE AM THE IRISH VOTE.

The only object that Whitelaw Reid and
his friends had in putting up job on
poor Mr.. Blaine by inviting him to what
was apparently private dinner, but In
reality political gathering, was to force
him to speak. The action Of such men as
Judge Gresham. Wayne MacVeagh. Judge
Cooley and others had alarmed them to
such an extent that they feared that even
Blaine might be getting ready TO follow
their example, because they knew that
he did have some preference for principle
as opposed to corruption. 1t was alb
solutely necessary. therefore, to compel
Blaine to speak. and so clinch his loyalty
by making him commit himself to the
Harrison and Reid Ticket.
The scheme worked, and poor badgered
Blaine spOke-that u.s. he read short
manuscript which he had hastily COM
piled between the sherry and the cham
pagne. when he realized that he had been
caught In a trap baited with tempting
delicacies and wines furnished by Reid
and his rich father-in-law. But what
kind OF speech was 1t? Not one Of
the fiery outbursts Of eloquence with
which Blaine Of the olden time was wont
TO magnetic his audience-whcther com
posed OF learned statesmen or the masses
OF people gathered together from hamlet,
village and settlement-but dull. prosy
effort full OF old stereotyped and ex-
ploded arguments In defense OF a tariff
which imposes heavy tribute on the work
ers for the benefit Of few wealthy con-
tributors to the Radical corruption fund.
He gave the tail of the British lion its
accustomed witch, by declaring that this
tariff question is canvassed as much In
England as In America, and he
urged that the Irish vote should be on the
side Of Protection, because Great Brit
ain, over 300 miles away. was against
that policy.
Now, let us see what effect that weak
and puerile appeal for the Irish vote has
had. That II is considered an insult to
the intelligence Of the Irish is shown
by the expressions about il Of the Irish
leaders. For instance, Lieutenant-Gov-
error shehan, Of New York. said: THE
Irish voters were intelligent enough to
know how TO act without any dictation
from Mr.. Blaine" While Hon. Bourke
Cochran said:
"Air Blaine's conception OF the cam
pagn seems to have broadened with its
progress. In his letter 10 Manly he in
sisted that the discussion OF the canvass
be confined 10 three subjects. He has
evidently learned that the position OF the
Democratic party on these questions rs
invulnerable and he has now apparently
determined to inject a fourth issue. This
is an appeal TO the Irish voters. Mr..
Blaine seems to assume that on the ex-
ercise OF suffrage Irishmen are controlled
by prejudice, rather than by judgment.
At this stage Of the canvass 1t is fair to
assume that voters OF ordinary inteil
gence have reached a conclusion upon the
public questions which vitality affect their
own interests. The Irish voters are no
exception to the rule, and Mr.. Blaine
will discover that in American politics
and in all questions affecting the Ameri-
can people, the voters OF Irish birth are
essentially and emphatically American
citizens"
Mr.. Blaine remains a Republican, 1t Is
true, but from the above utterances OF
prominent Irish leaders 1t seems plain
that his influence has gone. Reid, De
pew & Co. cornered and captured him,
but so far as any effect on the coming
election is concerned, they had their
labor for their pains.