The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-08
THE IRISH CHARACTER.

THE IRISH CHARACTER.
The recent occurrence of the anniversary
of lrc'and's patron saint reminds us of a
long cherished, but hitherto forgotten design,
to make some few remarks upon the Irish
character.
In this country as we'll as in England we
arc strongly inclined to look upon an Irish
man in u ludicrous light, and whenever he
is spoken of or represented, he is thrown
into an attitude Of gross over-clarged carl
cature from which it would be as impossi-
bic to estimate his true character, as it
would to Judge Of a mans size from his
shadow. Among writers the lrishman is
invariably introduced in the character of
grotesque bunderer, speaking in "bulls,"
and acting with headlong folly or cool af:
'rontcry. AS represented upon the stage,
especially, he is a miracle of coarscncss,
vulga'ity, proximity and nonsense. Such
Irishrnen as Barney Williams and Billy
Florence are accustomed to represent, never
had any existence, save in the imagination
Of men utterly ignorant Of the Irish people
and their character and feelings. In the
drama, the lrishman is invariby made the
clown of the performance. lie is drawn
as an object Of ridicule, and consequently
Of contempt for what you laugh at you
soon come to dcspise. This feeling in a
measure passes from the stage and from
books, where the !rshman is made to figure
to the public generally, and the tloughtlcss
are too apt to look upon the Irish character
AZ compound of absurdity and cunning
Il conglomeralion Of knave, fool, ignorance
and whisky.
This is not the true Irish character-far
! from it. The Irisl,nan, even with little ed
ucat'on, is naturally generous, open hearted,
friendly and polite. In domestic he is in
variaLly aifectionate and kind. Nationally
lie has warm heart, and an active love OF
his country. lie Is brave, generous and
hospitalhc, ,-magnanimous both in prosper
iiy and adversely. The tendencies of the
Irish disposition arc to refinement,- the re.
finement which appreciates what is natural
and good. The toughest specimens, male
and female, who emigratc from the Emerald
Isle to this country, adapt themselves with
the utmost facility to their new relations
social and political. They learn quickly
and practice promptly, the manners and
customs of those who surround them. They
make good citizens under republican gov
ernmcnt, in less time than the people O
any other nation. The English cmigrant i:
always an EngIishman, tho German retain.
the peculiarities Of the Faderlapd to thu
very last. but the Irshnan almost at once
becomes an American in feeling and il
practice. Crushed and down .trodden n
this nation has been, the r rdividual Irishmar
possesses an elasticity of temperament which
is sure to elevate him. Who ever knew a,
Irishman 10 refuse to reciprocate kindness
or forgive an injury when the, hand of friend
ship is held out to- him. The educated Ir
ishman isalways a gentleman, and thos
who have not enjoyed the advantages of ed
NC ,ional culture are by nature courteou
and polite without 'subserviency. ~,
In Western Pennsylvania, the Irish an,
their descendants form our best population
They are honest, industrious, frugal, gener
Gus, pious and emineptly useful as a class
Tho:e who form, their estimate of the Irisl
character from the travcsties presented npol
the stage, or the Interpretations Of in
,crested political newspaper writers; do t
the Sons Of St. Patrick, huge injustice
We are glad, however, to observe that 9th
prejudicss of ofanationality. and of religion
intolerance, ike the snakes and tosds whic
T were expelled from the Green Isle by ii
patron saint, are in this country fast sue
cumbiug to good sound American commo
sense, and that the fine points of.fhe Iris
;. character are daily becoming better Appp
= cjated by those whose tenure, of>nativit
|, npon the generous soil of our country,
liEpsfhaps q hundred years older than our i
j ish American population can boast PHI
j ItasgE 81 asslts TO- =. T, II