Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30

liant and meritorious service. He was
regarded as one of the ablest of all
the generals of Irish descent who
served in the Civil war, and he gain
ed great personal popularity, not only
among Irish-Americans, but with men
of all parties
After the war General Carr became
manufacturer at Troy, N. Y. He
was elected secretary of state upon
the Republican ticket in 1879, and was
a candidate for reelection in 1888, the
year after Grover Cleveland had car
ried New York for governor by the
unprecedented plurality of 10000,
Many Republicans were faint-hearted
in the Carr campaign; they felt that
it would be impossible for their party
to gain triumph at the polls after a
defeat SO benumbing as was that
which the Democracy had admins
tered to it the year before. Yet after
the votes had been counted it was dis
covered that General Carr had been
elected secretary of state by about
Is, 900 plurality.
HGuCI d1 Cd1l, hOWSNSIs SdlncO d
greater triumph than any which his
political carer brought him, for it
was a moral triumph, and one now
recognized as having been of meal
culable benefit
After the Civil war passion and ex-
element for some years prevailed gen
orally throughout the country This
feeling was especially manifested
among Irish-Americans, who were in
antagonism by reason of the fact that
some were Orangemen while others
were Hibernians, or of the opposing
Irish association. The intensity of
this feelings led to tragic riots in New
York city on July u, 1872
In Troy, also, in the same year, this
feeling Of intense animosity had full
sway. The Orangemen purposed parad-
ing through the streets of the city. The
Hibernians and other opposing associa-
tons asserted that the Orangemen
would not be permitted to parade.
General Carr, who at that time was in
command of the state militia was
sought out for counsel by the Hiber-
mans as to the best manner in which
to check the plans of the Orangemen.
Gentlemen" said General Carr,
when he had listened to his callers. 81
am of Irish descent, and l am a mem
Der of the Church of Rome But
also am an American. l fought for
freedom and received my wounds so
fighting. l know that freedom does
not mean license. You men think
that freedom means license. In
free country every organization has
right peaceably to assemble, peaceabIy
to parade. Freedom would be a sham
if this were not the case"
We'll, what do you propose to do in
case there is trouble?" General Carr
was asked
You will see" was the reply. And
that was the only answer Gen Carr
would make.
On the 12tr of July the Orange
men of Troy assembled and began
their parade-and at the head of the
column rode General Joseph B. Carr,
and behind him rumbled a battery of
state artillery With that battery he
was prepared to sweep the streets in
the event Of riot. There was no riot.
The Orangemen paraded peacefully
and then dispersed. And in the les.
son that Gen. Carr then taught the cit.
liens of Troy is to be found the seed
Of that new understanding of the
meaning of freedom which has forever
terminated the spirit of vindictiveness
that formerly characterized the reIa-
lions of rival Irish-American organ
izations.
Copyright, 1910, by E. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)