Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-24
THE IRISH.
An Unjust Asper.Ion Rebake0.

An Unjust AspersIOn Reboked.
To the Editors of the Union and American.
| The Irish people Of this country bepar
iondly to think that the old and oft re.
peated ISLANDERS of their country and re.
ligion were falling into bad taste and be.
coming obsolete.
| In reading the Press and Times O
this morning, find the following passage
in what purports to be report Of . lee.
ture delivered by q Rev. Mr.. Van Meter
at Baptist church in this city last night
| Prom Queenstown he radiated over
the island. Not content with seeing life
IN the cities, he went into the country,
talked with all grades and conditions Of
the people, and formed his opinion Of the
inhabitants from actual experience and
observation. Never, he says did he see
50 many beggars, young beggars and old
Deggars, not even in Naples, the paradise
Of Lazzaroni, as in Ireland. They met
him everywhere, with all sorts of stories
to excite the pity and draw aims from the
stranger. The opinion he arrived at,
from careful observation, was that the
people were not wretched and degraded
as much from the government of England
IS they were from certain other causes,
chief among which were Roman Catholi-
cism, whisky and laziness-three great
evils sufficient to damn any people,
The reverend gentlemen must have
known he was far from the truth when
he talked thus-ifhs did talk 50. But we
regard the Misrepresentation of the poor
Irish as part Of the business of some
men. We have been used to it, and we
can hardly expect any thing else.
The great characteristics of the Irish
people in America ought, with reasona-
bic people, to be sufficient disproof of
these statements. Here they are all
workers; they are not beggars, either |
common or fashionable; they rely, with |
bold and manly independence, on the |
abilities muscular or intellectual as
they may be) with which God has en-
dowed them for obtaining living. And
this is the general character of the very
poorest class OF Irish, for, generally |
speaking, none others have occasion to
come to this country. We do not, re-
peat find so much fault with the asser,
tons Of this itinerant clergyman, as with
the narrow bigotry Of the Press and
Times in reporting it.
Catholicism, whisky and laziness, in
deed 1t is the vilest sort of SANDER to
say that the Catholic religion produces
fruits such as he ascribes to it. 1t was
that religion which enabled the Irish
beggar to withstand the crushing
influence Of seven centuries Of unpar-
llleled persecution and left them
1t the end numerically double as
strong as at the beginning. 1t was that
religion which makes their women the
most chaste on the earth, and has kept
heir men, in spite Of continued degrada>
ion, bold, generous, brave, faithful and
rigorous. 1t was that religion which
enabled the little island to place seven
Millions Of her children on this continent,
who are all workers, and who did more
o build up this nation than all the
PREACHERS that ever Illuminated against
hem from pulpits.
As far the whisky charge, it is q statis-
ical fact that Scotland with only half the
population of ireland, drinks more
whisky. Besides, it may be truly said
aid that little drop of liquor would not
,s objected to by many reverend gentle
men, if they were after performing an
IRISH days toll. The small charge OF
,egging is evidently false. The attempt
lie makes to exculpate the English gov
'rnment from any blame in bringing
bout the condition of Ireland, only
hows the mans gross ignorance Of what
he pretends to lecture on.
repeat again that the Irish people
would be perfectly content to let such
men spread their ISLANDERS as far and
vide as they wish. We only complain Of
public and prOfessedly liberal journal
living publicity to, and endorsing the
We complain of this, and l
hink justly. Hence l trouble you with
his communication. D. s. MUNDY.