National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-07
THE IRISH CATHOLIC EXODUS.

The Irish Catholic Colonization Society,
which has rec cently come into public notice,
seems to have caught the exodus fever and
is preparing the way for large emigration
of the people of that faith from the crowd
ed cities into the Western section of the
country where there is plenty of land to
furnish homes, fields of industry, and a
fair return for the labor bestowed. The
purpose of the association is ostensibly
philanthropic. 1t may have ultcrior pur.
poses, but they have not us yet developed,
and il will be time enough to deal with
them when they come to the surface, if
they ever should. The apparent purpose of
the association is to place Irishmen where
they are most at home and best adapted to
service-at the plow and the spade-where
they can assuredly earn livli-
hood aud add something to the
aggregate industries and wealth of the
nation. 1t has business object, which is
to raise capital by which the colonists
shall be guaranteed against suffering in the
early history of the enterprise and prove
safe investment in the end. If it has any
distinct religious aim or race inducement,
it is no doubt to arouse the Irish people to
vigorous action under the power of name,
as great colonies and enterprises have in the
past been founded through such agencies
aud influences.
As this plan of cOlonizing, rs far as is feas-
ible, the Irish people who now concentrate
in the cities in the West, where there is
much cheap land to be possessed, and
where hidden wealth is waiting effort for
development, the probabilities of it's success
are receiving much attention and specula-
tion. Thus far it seems TO meet with a
good deal Of encouragement. Let MS
look the ground over and see how
the prospect presents itself At q
recent mass meeting in the COOPER Insti-
tute, New York, more than 5000 were sub
scribed, which is n lattering indication.
In support of this enterprise Bishop IRE
LAND of Minnesota, remarks that
In Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and
other States you will find Irish settlements,
aud wherever you lud them you will find n
thrifty people They are Mt homo in the
fields. Ono of the most active workers in this
cause who recently died, was General
SHIELDS, who, In 1857, undertook an Irish
settlement in Minnesota. Ilc established four
towns, which arc named Shiedsyille, Kilkenny,
Erin, and Montgomery, and their population is
over 800 families They have settled over
100000 acres of land, and they are on the road
| to prosperity and success,
This shows marked enthusiasm in behalf
of the enterprise, aud it is not confined to
any special locality, but seems to be spread
ing throughout the country, Chicago alone
has already given $4,000 to this work, and
subscriptions are still rolling in II is con-
tended that the South has the Negro,
the Pacific coast has the Mongoian, and the
great West is left to the Irishman. The
Eastern cities are full Of Irish people who
are idle, and the creative power Of their in
dugtry is lost to themselves and the coun-
try. They will go and will take their re-
Iigion with them wherever they go, for it is
their faith aud they arc entitled to it in
country whose institutions are based upon
the principles of religious liberty. This
movement, If successful, will add largely to
individual and general prosperity when the
deuizens of our cities shall escape lives of
idleneg5 aud become tillors of the earth and