Only one editor defended the Irish in the era of “No Irish Need Apply”

You will search in vain for any notable person defending the Irish, with the exception of the great Frederick Douglas, in the era of “No Irish Need Apply.”

Thomas Nast, the darling of the establishment, drew the Irish as apes, savages and monkeys and it was clear many of his fellow artists and powerful interests felt the same way. Newspapers like The New York Times were unremittingly hostile to the new immigrants.

It was left to a Scottish Catholic emigrant, James Gordon Bennett (1795 -1872), one of the great figures in American journalism, to speak out on behalf of the Irish. He did so in the New York Morning Herald, later the New York Herald.

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James Gordon Bennett.

Bennett had a remarkable career and died publishing the most popular paper in America. Alas, his son was unable to match his genius and the newspaper eventually disappeared.

The New York Herald will be best remembered for taking the lead in creating the legend and promoting the historical importance of Abraham Lincoln.

Bennett revolutionized newspaper coverage, covering speeches word-for-word rather than brief summaries, he hired 63 journalists to cover the Civil War, and he was the first to write financial articles covering Wall Street issues.

Bennett clearly remembered his own days as a penniless immigrant and the No Irish Need Apply signs he saw everywhere in 1830. Also, receiving advertising with No Irish Need Apply statements upset him greatly.

His anger at the ethnic hatred saw him put pen to paper in July 1830, a clear indication the offending signs were prevalent even then.

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No Irish Need Apply sign hangs in a shop window.

Here is how one lonely voice, as far back as 1830, stood up for the Irish:

New York Morning Herald, July 12, 1830.

“Several advertisements with this insulting appendage have been from time to time left on our hook for insertion, but which we rejected with disdain for their authors.

If one Irish servant maid commits a fault, is that a reason that all other Irish girls must be bad? Surely not. Those who write those illiberal and foolish advertisements must remember that the misconduct of a few can afford no ground for insulting a whole nation; and a nation like Ireland - renowned for the virtue of her females, and the genius and generosity of her sons.

Know that America cannot be patriotic who would offer a deliberate insult to the country of General Montgomery and Commodore Barry.

When we were making the great struggle for our liberties, were we not nobly assisted by IRISHMEN?”

Niall O' Dowd