New-York tribune., 1899-06-21
IR1sHMEN AND ANGLo-sAxoN UNITY.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The letter which appeared In your issue OF
Wednesday headed The Transvaal Question
drifts into attack against the mother county,
and the subject suggested by the caption Is lost
sight Of before the letter Is ended. The writer
OF the letter, Mr. Gaffney. who judging by his
name, is an Irishman either by birth or descent,
is one of those OF that nationality who do not
like any friendliness to exist between this country
and Great Britain and to whom an exchange OF
courtesy between the fleets of the two countries or
an international marriage between a prominent
American girl and a Britisher titled or otherwise
Is as gall and bitterness Ever since the begin
ming OF tho war with Spain last year. which
brought about such good understanding between
the two countries men Of Mr.. Gafneys kind nave
not been able to keep their rufied feelings to them
selves but have vented them now and then IN
rancorous letter such as the one on The Trans
wal Question" or In speeches in such organiza-
,,ona as the New-York Board OF Aldermen, the
Clan-na-Gae and the like in which the Britlsh
Government, Queen Victoria and everything there
unto belonging in any way appertaining are De-
rated and traduced In language neither decorous
nor grammatical.
great and good object Is to be gained by making
such earnest efforts to embroil the two great Eng
lish-speaking countries In a quarrel? When mis-
understanding has occurred In the past az IN the
case Of Venezuela, the Canadian fisheries. or what
NOT a certain class Of Irishmen shake their iists'
scoul and make faces at "ould England" but when
the scene changes, and John and Jonathan snake
hands and embrace each other. Pat becomes wroth
again and his countenance falls. What wouh ne
have and what does he think he would Ike? The
feeling of anImosity which he would Ike to see
and which he deems 1t his mission to foster mas
gone out OF fashion and IS, in fact. "a back num-
her Sensible Americans who, as boys, read IN
story books (and sometimes in school books also)
extrava gances now laugh at 1t all ana
M CARNEY intimates that there are large
n,assesi of Irish voters In the Republican party;
We'll | have been Republican all my pohtlcal
ceniage Is an exceedingly small one, and let me say
here that politicians IN the Republican ranks act
very unwisey when in campaign speeches tney
snecr or make disparaging remarks. az HIeae
Rritaiu simply to please small HANDFUL OF irish
,nar They ought to know that while doing this
,hev arc perhaps antagonlznB n far greater num-
her ~ natives OF Great Britain, who naturally
pravitate into the Republican party, and stay there
3inless driven out by such unwary speeches. ana
Mr. Carney indicates, the Irish Republicans are
likely 10 be lured into the Democratic ranks II we
don't stop admiring the British and being irlendy
with them why. let them go, II they want To-
There Is not such number or them as 10 cause
any great regret. And let me say before closing
mar while an era Of good feeling IL DelnB
siren gthened between the two great ana progress,
i've TngIish speaking nations. Mr. Carney snould
use mis- talents better purpose thsn 10 write ana
P'e ' BRITISH-AMERICAN.
Naw-york Tune