The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-04
1The Anti-AGonopo1ist-

rreach them. These people are num-
bered by the hundred thousands i'll
our eastern cities. They are princi-
pally Catholic. They are largely
Irish.
Occasionally some philanthropic
and patriotic gentleman, like the pro-
prietor of McGee's Weekly, offers
$500 or so, to form fund to aid these
people to make homes on the free gov
eminent lands. The offer forms a
days or weeks wonder, the papers
speak of it with praise, but there it
ends-in smoke. We need not trust
to those Catholics whom God has per-
mitted tt. become rich. Like all 9TH
er rich men, they are concerned about
many little things and pay no heed
to the great questions that are press
ing about them. Many of them are
kindly-nay more, charitable the
pennies of the poor, must lead the way
for the pounds of the rich to follow.
There is no feeling SO undying as
that of patriotism in the hearts Of
Irishmen. It is the perennial flower
it is the rebel plant-the more it is
trampled the better it flourishes.
This feeling, honorable to head and
heart as it is, Oftens betrayS the Irish
into many foolish enterprises. Wit
ness the outpouring Of Irish money in
aid Of the Mahony- Fenian
business years ogo. Witness the
the steady. if slow, growth Of the o.
Donovan Rosa ''Skirmishing Fund"
now amounting to $4,000. The
many thousands sent to New York un-
der the first Fenian movement, went
up the spout: and this last will some
day elbow up" upon the guileless and
we'll meaning donors, before it will
injure any of Her MajeSty's shipping.
Take that for a prophecy. The
Irish love their mother country we'll.
Do they love their cOuntrymen less I!
How much better for all concerned to
set on foot the gathering of real Ma
tional Irish fund. \ fund to which
all may contribute knowing full we'll
that it will be religiously applied to
the last cent for the object intended.
\ fund that will lift thousands from
the slough of despond into the sun
light of independent manhood. And
to this end, we respectfully suggest
that if the Et. Rev. Bishops unitedly
could see it as becoming their dignity
to lead in this mOvement-to lend to
it the powerful influence of their ac-
tive cO-Operation--that their Jealous
priests and the laity will follow in such
numbers as to give to the enterprise
such successful inauguration as the
most sanguine could hope for. 1t is
the way-the only way. under God, to
get the poor from out their wretched-
ness.
Some may say that the present
eastern. exodus will relieve the CEN
ters there of their surplus population.
Not so. From those who have seen
with their own eyes we are credibly
informed that the relief will scarcely
be felt. No one who has not seen can
imagine the distress in the large man
ufacturing districts. Not alone has
the hard times been felt but the i'm
provement in machinery constantly
going on, making one hand do the
work of twenty and more. is cOntinu-
ally swelling the ranks of the unem,
ployed. SO that ordinarily, under the
most favorable circumstances the
east must bear mighty burden of
half employed and half starved men.
This is not pleasant outlook. 1t is
not pleasant outlook to men of prop
erty-for a hungry belly makes very
rebellious conscience.
These reflections are called out by
the suggestion contained in letter
elsewhere printed. from our honored
and esteemed friend Dillon O'Brien,
Esq. Mr.. O'Brien has spent the win
ter in the eastern states. He has
been eye witness of the misery of our
Catholic laboring men there. of which
we have often spoken of in these col.
umns. He bears us out that we have
painted no over wrought picture-we
could not. Human language is too
powerless in expression. Mr.. O'Brien
says truly in his letter that these
friendless and hopeless men none have
reached. They need help most-they
receive it least. \ convention--ar
Irish national convention is suggested
to formulate some plan. We suggest
here--as we had the honor to urge in
other quarters years ago-the forma
ton of the Catholic Union of America
to embrace all Catholic societies. ant
to take cognizance of this as we'll az
other national Catholic questions
To this end a convention of delegates
representatives of these societies
might meet early in the summer. a
some suitable place to be agreed upon
and put in motion feasible plan O.
Catholic immigration that will reach
and help the very poor among us
And that too without making the act
SAVIOR in the least of n gift-inform,
pdaDeris. 1t may be. and should be I
loan.
Whatever is done must be done now
The free land is being rapidly takey
up. We have heard excellent judge.
say that one year more and Minnesot;
will not contain single unclaimed
homestead that is worth taking
Whether this be in one year. or TIVE
years, or five. the time is short: and i
those of our brethren reap any of thu
harvest we must bestir ourselves
What is true of Minnesota is true OF
al 81 he ~