The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-31
REFLECTS ON IRISHMEN.
Sickening Support of Hearst BY the
Rhode Island Democracy.

Gaelic American.
The action of the Rhode Island Demo-
cratic convention in electing a majority of
Hearst delegates to the national convention
of the party is unimportant from an Amer
lean political standpoint, and will exercise
no influence whatever the presidential
campaign. Rhode Island will have no cleo
toral vote to give the Democratic candidate.
Whatever hope there might have been of
swinging the State into the Democratic col
ump-and it was only slight-has been
dashed by the action of the State conven-
ton, for it cannot fail to disgust stalwart
Democratic voters and to repel such Repub-
licans as may be sufficiently dissatisfied
with their party to vote for a Demo-
cratic presidential candidate. vote cast
for the Democratic presidential electors in
Rhode Island next November would mean
an Endorsement of the senseless action of
the State convention and of the action since
taken by the delegates to the national con-
vention. 1t would lie an insult to the intel
ligence of thousands of Democratic voters
In Rhode Island to suppose them capable
of such Endorsement.
From Irish point of view the action of
the Rhode Island convention is the most
deplorable incident that has occurred in
generation, IL, indeed, there has ever been
anything quite so bad Nearly all the chief
actors in the bad work were Irish-Ameri-
cans, and the leader, in the interest OF
whose political advancement the action was
taken, is of the same blood. Worse than
all, he and most of his followers call them
selves Irish NatiOnalstS, and many of them
have given proof of their sincerity. Yet
between them they have done more in one
day to bring discredit on the Irish name
and TO injure their race in the good opinion
of the American people than all the enemies
or that race could have accomplished in
twenty years. This man Hearst is the
owner OF a number of papers which
disgrace to American journalism, which are
bitterly opposed to all the highest
Ideals of the Irish people, in the
old land and here. and which are among
the strongest supporters of that British in
huence in America which Irish National
lists must destroy or the movement for
| Irish liberty will be DESTROYED.
Mr.. Fitzgerald asserted in the convention
that he did not believe the stories against
Mr. Hearsts character" What does the
behe1 or man who knows nothing OF
the subject and who has made no nvesti-
CATION amount to? II is not necessary to
bring Mr. Hearst's personal character into
the matter e. IA: at all: The character of his
| that Irish Nationalist are opposed to. and
they are opposed to every essential feature
| of American public policy for which Irish
men stand. III by any misfortune this man
| Hearst could be elected President the Eng
| lish influence which he represents and
which his papers foster would be predom-
hope for Irish liberty would be gone 1t is
| not because of any fear of Hearst's NOM
| nation much less his election, that we
| cry shame on the Irishmen of Rhode Island
| who have used their American political
| influence against the cause in which
| they believe, but because of the injury
they have done the character of their
| race for good citizenship. No man who
| knows the methods by which Hearsts
agents secure support for his absurd can
| didature will give them credit even for
| sincerity In their support OF Hearst Their
| action will be put down to the lavish of
| money which has characterized the Hearst
| boom everywhere.
| Mr.. Fitzgerald is a promising young man.
but he appears to be in hurry He doubt
| less wanted TO get control of the machine
and forge rapidly to the front and found
| the Hearst boom handy lever He had
| better halt and make up his mind that even
! in American politics, some regard for de-
| cency and principle accomplishes more in
| the end than the ill-gotten support OF rich
men or the dearly bought favor of dsreput-
| able papers. If ne does not retrace his
| steps and throw this Hearst Jonah over
board his political ship will sink and ought
| to sink. If he stands by Hearst he will
| fling down a challenge to every decent
| Irishman in the country, and he will 20
| down to defeat and dshonOr.