Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-23
TROUDE,S F.4NATICISM.

TROUDE'S F4N4TICISM.
James Anthony Froude, the alleged English
historian, has somewhat remarkable paper
in the North american Reoiew for Deem
Der on "Romanism and the Irish Race in the
United States.' It is remarkable in many
respects-for its hatred and misconception of
the Irish character and of the religion of
Rome, for its ignorance of the effect of free
institutions upon the emigrants from the
Emerald Isle, and for the falsity of its rea-
soning. The writer affects to fear great
danger to this country from the importation
of the Irish, bringing with them their vir
tues and vices, their religion and their !g-
norance, and predicts that by the close of tho
present century the Irish Catholic population
of the United States will number at least
twelve millions. There are, he says, fully six
millions of the race now here, clinging to
their old nationality and forming as distinct
a race as the IsraeGtes.
Mr. Froude is no doubt o man of great
ability, bat his prejudices too often warp his
Judgment. It is true that the emigration
from Ireland has been large, especially dur
ing the past twenty years, and that most of
the Irish when they arrive form a distinct
class, and retain the religious belief in which
they we're nurtured, Nevertheless they form
a valuable element Of on: population, and
more readily assimilate with the Americans
than any other class of foreigners who reach
our shores, the Scotch alone excepted. The
original e1nigrants may, perhaps, be igno-
rant, but they soon perceive the advantages
of an education, and if they do not them
selves acquire one they take good care that
their children shall have all the advantages
that our school system affords. The result is
that the Irish who arrive here in youth
grow to manhood possessed of liberal edu-
cation, enlarged views on all questions, re-
ligious, political and social, and are number
ed among our best Gibbons. To On extent
they remain Irishmen and fraternizs moro
or less with each other. Their children,
however, grow up as Americans. and have
nothing to distinguish them in any respect
from those whose ancestors came over with
the Mayhower save, perhaps, a Celtic name.
As for the religious branch of the subject,
opinions will differ. The assertion of Mr..
Froude, however, that the Catholic church
fosters ignorance is false, as proven by tie
many hundreds of institutions of learning,
al! of them of high order, maintained ty
that church in all parts of the country.
These institutions, indeed, are the chief
PROSECUTING agency of the church, for more
Protestants are induced to abandon their
faith on account of the instruction
they receive in these schools or the influences
that emanate from them than by any other
agency. AS education becomes more general
among the Irish Catholics they become less
bigoted though not less sincere in defense of
their creed. An ignorant Catholic
is 10 doubt al undesirable citizen,
but no moro SO than an ignorant Protestant.
There is no ground for greater prejudice
against the one than against the other. An
educated and intelligent Irish Catholic is az
good g citizen of the United States es an ed
ucated and intelligent Protestant, and each
alike is deserving of honor and esteem.
The object of Mr.. Froude's paper is very
apparent. 1t is to provoke religious con-
troysrsy and to bring into disreputesboth the
Irish nation and the Catholic church. It is
wholly out of place in an American publica-
ton. While denouncing the bigotry of the
church of Rome, the writer displays far
greater degree of bigotry in worse
form than any that he charges upon the
church. It is unfortunate that in all de-
nominations there are some who bring dis
credit upon their professions by displays of
intolerance, but it is unbecoming that either
should throw stones at the other. A relig-
ious controversy is not desired by any sensi-
bic man in the United States. all can live
in harmony even though they may differ
from their neighbors on points of religious
doctrine. Fanaticism such as Froude's is to
be deprecated here, and We are certain his
views represent those of no sensible Ameri-
can.