Hibernia

Brown and Clinton Come Out Swinging on Irish Issues

Washington’s policy towards Ireland and Irish-related issues could be drastically changed after the November election, if either one of the Democratic presidential contenders has their way.

A specially-formed peace envoy, similar to those sent to other “trouble spots” such as Central America or the Middle East, was just one of several issues which the two leading Democratic contenders, former California Governor Jerry Brown and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, said they were in favor of when they spoke at the 1992 Irish-American Presidential Forum, held in New York City on April 5.

“The violence in Northern Ireland doesn’t get the same presidential attention that other, similar situations do,” said Brown.

Said Clinton, “We’ve been a little too reluctant to relay our interests in a positive way because of our long-standing relationship with Great Britain.”

Both candidates said that, as President, they would point out the human rights concerns in Northern Ireland, as documented by groups such as Amnesty International and Helsinki Watch, and call the matter to the attention of the British Prime Minister.

Despite the fact that the two candidates have little experience in international politics, and hardly a trace at all of dealings with “Irish issues,” they dazzled the group of Irish-American leaders gathered at the forum. As witnessed by the 84-year-old veteran Irish activist, Paul O’Dwyer, “those two guys said more for Ireland than any candidate I’vceverheard, and I’ve heard a lot of them.” Brown and Clinton agreed that there should be an end to the State Department’s policy of “censorship by visa denial,” which has barred Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and others from visiting the U.S.

They also said they would, if elected President, support the MacBride Principles for fair employment in Northern Ireland.

And added that if they had been in power, they would have supported Joe Doherty’s right to have a political asylum hearing. Should a similar situation arise again, both said they would “let the courts decide,” rather than use their executive force to override judicial decisions, as was done by the Reagan and Bush administrations.

Immigration has been a big issue with both campaigns, with both candidates saying that they would install a liberal, open-door immigration policy. Clinton in particular focused on the efforts made by his old college friend, former Congressman Bruce Morrison, and said that he would support any further moves to “Legalize the Irish.” The forum, which was put together by New York State Assemblyman John Dearie, was similar to the equally-successful one held during the 1988 presidential campaign in that it succeeded in bringing attention to issues that are often overlooked, particularly those regarding Northern Ireland. The likely Republican nominee, incumbent President George Bush, as well as his dark-horse competitor, Patrick Buchanan, declined to attend.

Said Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, “With the two Democratic candidates putting such a focus on Irish issues, this should put some pressure on – the Republicans and George Bush to do the same.”

Luxury Hotel for Ellis Island?

There is a strong possibility that if the ghost of Annie Moore from County Kerry were to come back to Ellis Island in five years’ time she would be whisked off to a grand hotel for lunch and given a badge to allow her to enter the conference center. On second thought, Annie Moore might not be considered important enough for these venues. Being the first person through the Ellis Island immigration process will hardly count as significant in a world where Ellis Island is earmarked for Big Business rather than expansion as a historic site. Developers plan a bridge from New Jersey, an exclusive hotel, and a conference center, and unless there’s a howl of protest and some action they may well get their way.

Big Business is not what Ellis Island should be about. Forty percent of Americans can trace their ancestry to people who came through the island in the years of operation between 1892 and 1954.

These were not the fat cats of Europe but as every schoolchild knows, the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses-some twelve million of them. These immigrants are remembered in the wonderful museum that is now housed on the island in the buildings that were originally the power house.

If you were to stand at the doors of the museum and look across, you would see the deserted buildings that housed hospitals and dormitories, where now windows gape and ivy raps against the mellow red brick. These are the buildings that are scheduled to be restored and turned into a hotel complex.

Were you to walk through these buildings and around the other side across green grass where still a tennis net hangs limply and garden furniture sits as if waiting for weary bodies to rest, you would see a row of beautiful red brick buildings fashioned in a manner reminiscent of British colonial architecture. The building nearest the water is the fine square house where the governor of the island lived with his family; adjoining it is the contagious diseases hospital, a long building with a warren of small rooms, since patients had to be kept in isolation, and windows looking unto the water. At the extreme far end of these buildings is the house where the resident doctor lived.

Although the buildings on Ellis Island went up at different stages to accommodate the growing numbers of immigrants, the architecture has a symmetry and an over all beauty. Now two-thirds of these buildings are scheduled for demolition. It is tragic to think that its character should be laid waste to accommodate short sighted business ventures. The island is more than a museum, it is a symbol of courage and of a desire for freedom. The Municipal Art Society of New York City, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are among the many bodies that have called on Congress, the National Park Service, and the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation to help save this crucial part of American history. But the feeling is that the developers will win if action isn’t taken soon.

Katherine Ridley of the Preservation League of New York State told Irish America that they are waiting for the National Park service’s response to the public hearing in January when many protested at the idea of the planned development. “This is a vital issue of concern to every American,” Ms. Ridley said.

“It has a significance far beyond the state level, it is a nationwide issue.”

Too often in New York does one hear the elegiac, mournful tones of “I remember this city when….” And indeed there is much beauty that has vanished with the past. If every person who cared about the courage of their ancestors and the history of this country were to lobby politicians and the National Park Service, Ellis Island might yet be preserved in a manner fitting to its past. And Annie Moore and the ghosts of her fellow immigrants could walk the land in peace and recollection, and the living would have a fitting monument to the past.