Year: 1869




A convention of Irish Republicans,
composed of distinguished Representatives
Of many of the states, was recently held
at Washington, D. G. David Bell, l.. L.
D., editor Of the irish Republican, of
New York, presided, and the convention
adopted the following platform of princi-
Piles:


WHEREAS, The Irish born inhabitants
Of the United States and thier children
constitute large proportion of the peo-
pie Of the country: and, aohereas they
were deprived of liberty in their native
land by the action of foreign tyranny,
and compelled to seek shelter and subsis-
tence in the American Commonwealth;
and, achereas they have found in this free
and generous country the rights and
privileges which were denied them in
land of their birth: and, a0hereas their
safety and prosperity as people depend
In no small degree on their support of
those principles of liberty on which the
American Republic is founded, therefore,
be it.


Resolued. ]. That the loyalty to the
American Union is the first political duty
incumbent on the Irish American people.


2 That exercising under the liberal
laws of this republic that liberty, which
it is the will of the Cleator that every
man should possess, we would consider
ourselves guilty Of the most contempt
BILE inconsistency were we to grudge or
deny it to any class or color of our breth-
eren of mankind.


g. That we most cordially congratulate
the colored people of America on the
prospect of their being speedily invested
with the rights of citizenship in every
state and section Of the Union, and we
demand that equal rights shall be extend
ed to all who are not guilty of crime, If
respective of religious or political creed,
or OF color, race or sex.


4. That the distractions to universal
suffrage with exist in the shape of prop
erty qualifications or religious disabilities
are, in themselves, oppressive, and ought
to be removed.


5. That as adults who have attained
lhe age of eighteen years are regarded fit
for the domestic duties of life, and, in the
male sex, fit for military service, we are
unable to see any good and sufficient rea-
son why they should be excluded from
the ballot-box.


6. That we respectfully express it as
our decided judgement that the system
of choosing our Presidents through the
action of electoral colleges is unfair and
Objectionable, and that these high officials
should be chosen by direct vote of the
American people.


7. That the time appears to have arriv-
ed when our National Legislature and
the Executive government Of the Repub-
lie should adopt such measures as may
appear most judiclous to carry into opera
ton what is known as the Monroe doc
trine. and that the further continuance
of European despotisms, asruling powers,
on any portion of the American CONT
nent, is an insult and danger, and
ought to be put an end to.


s. That we solemnly pledge ourselvesto to
sustain and advocate the cause of human
freedom in this Republic, and all over the
earth. and to labor to bring our country
men into the ranks of the great party Of
liberty in this country.


9. That in acting thus we are only do
ing our simple duty as loyal citizens, who
adopt the necessary means to instil into
the minds and hearts of their friends and
brothers those noble principles of impair
tial justice and equal political rights
which will, by the blessing of God, rem
der our countrymen the strength and sup
port Of the American Republic


10. That such course of political ac-
ton is most imperatively demanded of
US by our allegiance to the great country
under whose protection we live; by our
love to our native land. still in bondage
by the best interests Of our entire people;
and by the duty which we owe alike to
defend and support the liberties Of the
world


H. That in binding ourselves to such a
course of politicals action we enter upon
no new path, nor announce any strange
doctrine; but on the contrary PROFOUND
the principles and initiate the examples
Of the noble men who, when treason struck
at the lite Of the Republic, shielded it
with their swords and sealed it with their
blood, as well as of those grand and glo-
rlous spirits who, at an earlier period of
our history, fought and died on field and
scaffold to establish real republican insti-
tuition in the land which God has given
US as our inheritance.


II. That we rejoice to recognize the
immense progress which these God-like
principles have already made among our
people, here in America, where not less
than l00,O Irish votes were cast for
Republican candidates at the late Presi-
dental election, as well as IN Ireland it.
self, where hundreds of thousands of our
race are Inspired by the spirit of liberty
which enabled Washington and the faith
ers OF the Revolution to Danish the tyrant
and trlumphantly assert the country in
dependence


l3. That we most heartily endorse the
declarations made by Ulysses S. Grant
President of the United States, in the
inaugural address, delivered by him on
March 4, particularly when he announced
that he will "on all subjects have a poll
cy to recommend, but none to enforce
against the will of the people," that it
will be his aim to confer security Of per-
son and property, and of religious and
political opinion IN every part Of our
common country that every dollar OF
government Indebtedness should be paid
in gold, unless when otherwise expressly
stipulated In the contract" that he will
protect the lawabiding citizen, whether
of native or foreign birth, wherever his
rights are jeopardized OF the flag of our
country waves" and in an especial man
ner, when he expresses an earnest hope
that the NVth Amendment to the con-
stitution, which is intended to secure the
right OF citizenship to every man, ire
spective frace, color, or previous condi-
ton, may speedily become part of the
fundamental law Of the American Repub-
lie.


a. That full s4i efficient protection
to American indu try is question Of the
most vital importance to all the people
of this country, but to the Irish people
of America more thanto any other section
of the community, inasmuch as the vast
majority of them are obliged to subsist
on the wages of their honest toll, while
those protective measures which would