The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-07-10
ftla. II 70 TT = =
"CIYILIZED IRISHMEN.ss

We give below large extract from letter to the New
4 York Herald by Hon.W E. ROBINSON of Brooklyn,
w. which will repay careful reading 1t is addressed
/ to Professor John W. Draper
DEAR SIR1n your speech at the dinner given to Pro-
or Tynda on Tuesday eyeningyou reported to
have said =
| Another friend ofmine, Mr. Froude, has set us all
talking about Ireland. We can show DR.. Tyndal how to
take the Irish emigrant in his corduroy kneebreeches
and smashed down hat and his shelah in his fist and
IN generation or so, turn him into ornament OF
professional life, make him successful merchant
famiiarize him with all the amenities fcivized soci
ETY.:
Who are the "us' and 1--WE" you mention? presume
you refer to the American peoples and you can't mean
the Indians you refer to the descendants of imm
grants for the entire people of the United States except
the Indians, are immigrants their descendants. You
seem to infer that Engshmen and their descendants
alone the "us' and we" who can work such won
derul chemical changes the material of other
races IN the alembc Of American society.
Can you show services from any other race rendered
to the United States equal to those rendered by the Irish
men? 1t was an Irshman from Maghera, charles
Thompson, who was the guiding spirit Of Congress
and Convention that adopted Declaration of indie
mans from Wexford John Nixon, that first read
the Declaration of independence in public to the people
John Dunlap that first printed and published that Dec.
laration 1t was an Irshman, this same John Dunlap,
snat y tne daily paper printed the United
Richard Montgomery that first fell while Commanding
an army fighting for our Independence. twas Irish
manifrom Wexford Jno Barry. who first Commodore
of the American Navy. 1t was lrshmans son, Cen
era Henry Knox that fought in every battle in which
Washington was engaged, and first Secretary of
War It was an Irishman that wrote the first history
of the United States. 1t Irshman's son. Robert
Fulton that gave America the credit ofinventing
navigation. It was an Irishman's grandson (Samuel
Breese Morse) that invented elegraphy. 1t the de-
scendan of an lrishman, McCorme) that invented the
reaping and moving machines, and another descend.
ant OF an Irish immigrant (Horace Greeley with a
roys, that founded the Tribune It was lrishmen and
their sons in Philadelphia merchants and soldiers he
roes and patriots who the darkest hours Of the Rev
ouon. when the English element were rejoicing, over
the disasters of Washington and his army that gave
their money and their swords to the cause which With
out them. might have been lost They we're mostly
members ofthe Friendly Sons ofSt. Patrick, society
Moylan of Cork and his three brothers George Meade
one of whose descendants commanded and conquered
at Gettysbnrg Matthew Meade, who fought with Paul
Thomas Fitzslmmons one ofthe trainers ofthe consti
tution John Nesoitt whose timely efforts sending
provisions saved Washingtons army from starvation;
Thomas Barclay who IS 900 sterling for the rehef
Of W Vas army slar Mecle1aghen who gave
phia Colonel Ephraim Blaine, John Bleakly wealthy
citzen and public benefactor General Richard Butler
Captain John Green, who commanded the first Ameri-
can vessel sailing to China General Edward Hand who
called the
RIsHT-HAND OF WASHINGTON;
General William Irvine George Later Speaker of the
Pennsylvania Assembly; James logan son of the con
fdential friend and advisor of William Penn; Colonel
Marshal of the District Pennsylvania; Oliver Pollock,
VINO seen nera mey Supply Of gunpowderte Washing
art 1.-The Boy Colonel;" General William Thompson
General Anthony Wayne. All these and many more who
Of Washington were members thissame Irish society
4The Friendly Sons of St Patrck) composed exclusive
himself was member. becoming a naturaized or adop-
ted lrishman to qualify him for membership These
lrshnen were among the refined and elegant
tlemen with whom Washington associated in Philadel
pha, whose population then was lily Irish AS
province were irish twas much the sane IN vraga
IN the Carolinas in New York and in New England.
These men and thousands of.others whom might men
ton might have set you talking about Ireland if Froude
who is probably himself IrIshman had never
bed US with his lDanities, nor conspired against the
truth OF history in the interests Of despots1n
But think my dear Professor, of your surroundings
when you made this speech.
AT THE TABLE WITH WERE TWO JUICES,
DAILY and Brady. Did you see any smashed haor shil-
leah over theIr corduroys? You may have met James
L. Brady or Charles OConor OF David Graham If YOU
say that 1t took generation orso to turn them into
ornaments peg to say that you had only to look the
avenue five blocks and you would find the Pastor of the
f'fth Avenue Presbyterian church CDR. HAIL. who
scarcely etlongenough from Ireland to get naralized
yet he does not require much to turn him into
ament Of professidnsl life you would go further up
the avenue you would passsthe house of freshman,
lMr. A. = Stewart or ifyou would down Broadway,
YOU could not help seeing ofhs stores 1t does not
require regeneration to famiiiarize him with the
amenities of civilized society Ireland produced chill
,iren ike Sir Hans Sloane: Joseph Black, Edmund
Burke, Richard Brinsley Sheridan Thomas Moore,
Daniel D'Connell, Oliver Goldsmith Dean Sswit-some
OF them sons OF peasants, yet not requiring
generation fit them for society as refined as our own
have many other names connected with America
Rowling upon me for mention Bishop Berkeley
Crawford the sculptor; Vincent Wallace, the composer
n1nent writer's editors, professors. merchants, law
Ners physicians orators, statement soldiers; the high
est but one in rank IN army (sheridan) whose par
seond in command of our navy lRowah), is native
IF Ireland the first command Porter lis descend
tft of an Irishman.
But Imust confne myself to one single, observation
more. Is it possible that you frget that your guest John
Fyndail, is himsefan Irishman, born of worthy and
humble parents, the banks of the Barlow at Leigh
I'm Bridge, in the county of Carlow, and whose family
there are now probably wearing their corduroy knee
breeches, ifnotwith smashed hats and shelahs Did
ureqnire generation to fit this Irish emgrant
tor professional life familiarize him with the amen
tiles Of civilized seciety7 Very respectfully.