New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-09
An American Centennial Book.

Hon. William E. Robinson, for many
years one of the editors of the New York
Tribune, widely known over thirty years
ago as the Washington correspondent of
that paper under the signature OF "klche-
lieu,' and recently member Of Congress
from Brooklyn, has been engaged for some
time in writing, and will shortly publish 8
book on the origin and source OF the Amer
ican people, in which he will endeavor to
show that Irishnsen and their descendants
now form q decided and overwhelming
majority of our population, and that a
large majority OF the immigrants to this
country, prior to the revolution as well a.
since, were from Ireland. That the Irish
element is and has been foremost and
truest in the American army and navy, in
the pulpit, at the bar, on the bench, in
medicine, on the press, the stage, the art,
invention, discovery, literature, legislation,
commerce, science, music, architecture,
schools, colleges and public works. That
the revolt OF our colonies, the declaration
of independence, the victories by sea and
land, the thinking and the fighting of the
revolution, the formation of our constitu.
tions. and the inspiration of oar govern
ment, we're largely and chiefly the work Of
Irishmen and their children.
In lS4l, in an Grafton delivered at New
Haven; in 1851, in an oration delivered at
Hamilton College; in a speech in Congress,
in 1869, and in numerous lectures before
literary associations; and in letters and
essays published in newspapers and re-
views from 1886 to the present time, he has
asserted this claim, and has accumulated a
vast amount of facts which, if they do not
secure general ac4uiescence in his views,
will, at least, prove interecting and in
structive to all students in American his
tory, biography and ethnOlogy.
In order fO make his hook "a fhOrOn oh aa
possible, he solicits information, by letter
or otherwise, from all persons in the United
States and Ireland whose ancestors or kin
dred emigrated from Ireland to this coun.
try, and whose names deserve mention in
such q work. Members of Congress, Gov
ernors and officials of the several States,
officers Of the army and navy, editors, mem
bers Of the bar. judges of courts, clergymen
OF all denominations, mayors and other
officers of cities, presidents and professors
Of colleges, teachers of schools, and all men
who have made their names hOn0red in the
United States, and who were born in Ire
land, or inherit Irish blood either on the
father or mothers side, however remote, or
their friends, will confer favor by sending
to Mr. Robinson the name, the yesr of emf
grafton and county or place Of birth in Ire
land Of himself or ancestor or kindred SO
honored.
XuO UUVh Will UO puUISucu III D CEOWu
octave volume of about GOO pages, with H.
lustrations, and will be divided into some
thirty chapters, showing what Irishmen
have done in as many departments Of
American life and history. The volume
will be remarkably valuable, from the fact
that it will contain about 100 original let
ters never yet published, received by Mr..
Robinson from Henry Clay. Daniel Web
ster, John c. Calhoun, General Scott,
William H. Seward, Archbishop Hughes,
William A. Graham, John Quincy Adams,
Washington Hunt, James Buchanan,
Horace Greeley, George w. P. Curtis, w.
C. Prescott, j. j. Crittenden, Zachary Tay-
lor and others.
It is the authors wish and hope to make
the work a worthy contribution to the CEN
tennial of country whose early history
was illumined by, and whose future life
and hope largely depend upon the race
whose history in the United States he is
writing. And for this he solicits the aid of
all who have valuable information to com.
municate.
Mr.. Robinson proposes to lecture on the
subject in the principal cities Of the Union
during the coming winter.
All letters to be addressed w. E. Robin
son, Brooklyn, New York, postotice box
No. 269.