The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-19


population. The vast numbers who march
in the PROFESSIONS which enliven American
streets on st. Patrick's Day do not fully
represent the Irish element of our popula-
ton. There are many who look upon st.
Patrick less as a symbol of Irish unity than
as Christian saint, and who think it
more fitting mark of respect to his
memory to commemorate him in their
churches than to join in holiday pro-
cessions decorated with green banners
wherein the Harp of Erin is blazoDed.
There is an increasing tendency to mark
the day by other methods than street
parades, many Irishmen whose piety does
not direct their steps to the churches pre-
ferring to celebrate it by meetings, which
afford scope for the oratory, wit and senti7
ment, in which no people have truer or
more entertaining vein than the Irish. We
trust this tendency may grow, since Irish
wit, intellect and song do more credit to
that interesting people than the strength OF
Irish legs in fatiguing professions.
But the St. Patrick's celebration suggests
larger topics than the amusing or edify-
ing ways Of spending an annual holiday.
What is to be the future of the remark
able Irish race? In putting this inter-
esting question we make o deliberate
discrimination between the future OF
Ireland and the future Of the Irish people
There are more Irishmen outside of Ireland
who will never return to that green and
beautiful island than the whole body Of its
present inhabitants. The future Of the
Irish race is much larger question than
the future of Ireland. AS General Shields
Remember that this transatlantic Ireland"
(meaning the Irish in America) 'has more
than double the numbers and quadruple
the wealth of the ancient home of the race
itself" The majority OF Irishmen are per-
manent residents in other lands, and the
future Of the Irish people is a much broader
question than the future of the island from
which they spraDg.
1t may be safely assumed that the best
part OF the Irish people is the part which
will never again make Ireland their home.
Those who emigrated were the most ener-
getic and enterprising part of the popula-
ton. They were superior morally, intel
lectually and physically to their fellow suf-
ferers whom they left behind. The en-
igrating inhabitants of Ireland we're those
who were too proud spirited to brook OPP
preston; those who preferred to be men
abroad rather than submit to be slaves at
home. The vast Irish emigration operated
as sieve-the -four escaping to America
while the bran was left in Ireland.
Had the island been encompassed
by Chinese wall, preventing egress,
the history Of Ireland might have been diff
ergy and enterprise been confined at home
they might have marshalled and trained
their fellow subjects into an attitude of re-
sistance before which their English oppres-
sors would have quailed. That part of the
Irish people who have not emigrated is the
part which oppression could make its easiest
victims. The future of Ireland rs an inde-
pendent political community is therefore
altogether less hopeful than if the most
energetic and capable part of its population
had not emigrated to other lands,
leaving the feeblest and most sub
missive portion to the tender mer-
cies of their English oppressors. No
discussion of the Irish problem is intelli-
gent which leaves out of view the fact that
a majority of Irishmen, consisting of men
who carry in their veins the best Irish
blood, have bid final farewell to their
native country. The majority Of the Irish
race, comprising its best ability as we'll as
preponderance of numbers, have no longer
personal but only sentimental interest
in Ireland. The ''greater Ireland" is in the
United States, and has formed indissoluble
ties with its adopted country. 1t is only
minority of Irishmen that still dwell in tho
land of their birth, and this minority con-
sists of the bran which is left after the most
valuable part of the population has passed
through the emigration sieve.
We therefore incline to think that the
political independence of Ireland is vain
expectation. The genuine virtues of the
Irish race will find different field of exer-
ton. That larger part of it which has wisely
cast its lot in America will, in the course of
two generations, become SO com pletely as
simulated by intermarriages and otherwise
with our other population as to be undis-
tinguishable from our native inhabitants.
They will be in fact native inhabitants with
American sympathies. But if our Irish immi-
grants are surely destined to coalesce with our
Anglo-American population, what insuper-
able obstacle can there be to cordial union of
the Irish who remain in Ireland with the
British Empire, il the government of Great
Britain shall at last treat them with fair
ness and justice2 The Scotch do not find
the union with England oppressive, and
there is no reason why the Irish should if
they ever come to be treated with the same
anuitu md consid arntion which hnya nlways