The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-05-05
THE IRISH IN POLITICS.

L
ARD commented in plain language on the
contribution of John Paul Bocock, New
York lawyer, to the Forum magazine on
"The Irish Conquest of our Cities" in
which that writer declared that the mu-
nicipal control Of the leading American
cities is in the hands OF Irishmen and
their sons. Though he made no specific
or direct charges of dishonesty or incom-
potency against Irish: Americans in mu-
mic; pal Offices, the tone of his article left
the impression that they should not be
entrusted with political power in this
country He admitted that they had q
genius for municipal government, and
referred to the fact that "John Y. Nc
Kane, the recently convicted tyrant of
Gravesend, now in Sing Sing prison, was
born IN Ireland" but he refrained from
giving the additional information that he
is merely an Irishman by che accident Of
birth and is devout follower of King
William of Orange and Of John Knox
McKane is an anti-Irish Irishman who
has 20 more regard for his countl ymer
of the ancient creed and of nationalistic
Irish principles than has Mr.. Bocock
himself. But it appears that Irish
Americans are held responsible by this
disciple of Blackstone for she deeds of
such men as McKane. For political in
tegrity and efficiency in the discharge of
their official duties, Americans of Irish
birth or descent are the equals Of any
other citizens, whether native or adopted.
After conceding that the Irishman in
America is patriotic and entitled to his
due share in our government, this CEN
serious writer finds fault with him be
cause he is smart politician who has
the faculty of getting into office In the
cities of the United States he says that
"a minority has so long been in control
that it will require veritable revolution
to shake off, even for time, the domin-
ion of our Hibernian oligarchy." Bocock
must be in hearty sympathy with the A.
P. A. movement, for it's primary object is
to keep Irishmen out of office entirely.
and give them no share whatever in the
of political affairs.
A writer in the New York Sun does not
agree with Booock in his structures on
Irish Americans, and says that the cities
in which they are the most numerous are
we'll governed. SIT is difficult" he says,
'tc find any more absolute form Of bosh |
;han that which represents the Irish
politicians as caring nothing about what !
We ordinarily call good government. The
Irish politicians in the big cities of this
country are, almost without exception,
,ery clever men. It is impossible That
hey should not see that good govern
nent must he their chief title to conf
lence. In addition to this it must be re-
rendered that they are citizens them
elves, and their material prosperity is
,ound up with that of the communities
n which they live. In point of fact, the
titles in which Irishmen are prominently
ire the most fourishing in the country,
fact which is an ample reply to any
harges of misgovernment." i
The New York Sun writer goes on toll
ay that according to the last census.
here were 100000 Inhabitants in the
American metropolis who were born In
Ireland. There we're 10000 Irish born
inhabitants in Philadelphia, 5000 in
10000 each in Boston and Chi
ogo, 10000 IN San Francisco, 25,0OO in
IT. Louis, q, 900 in Pittsburgh, and more
han 10000 each in Baltimore, Cincin-
lati, Cleveland, Buffalo, Newark, Provi &