Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-03
IRISH COLONIZATION.
The MOCemaent InaWgurated by the Rece
Convention at Chicago.
lChicaoO Times

The MOcenaent InaWgurated by the Recent
Convention at Chicago.
Chicago Times.l
One of the most needed improvements of
the day is one which has just been inaugu-
rated in Chicago under the name of the
Irish Colonization society. It's purpose is to
move Irishmen upon farms. A rough sum-
mary of the purpose of the association may
be found in the plan proposed by Bish-
op Ireland, which is that s'the main object
which this convention should have in view
being to assist worthy people of limited
means to secure homes upon the land, the
convention deems it a matter of paramount
Importance that an organization for the pur-
pose should be formed. The convention
recommends, therefore, an organization to
be called the Irish Catholic Association of
America. An executive board consisting of
fourteen members seven bishops and seven
laymen-is hereby appointed, with full pow
ers to act in the name and with the author
ity of this convention, to adopt such meas
ures and perfect such plans as may seem to
the members of the board most wise and
practicable"
There are some people who may be found
who will object to this mixing up of farming
and religion, agriculture and Catholicism.
This, however, is nobody's business outside
those who are engaged in the enterprise. 1t
is the right of any man, or association of
men, to get up colonization scheme in
which nobody shall be admitted who has not
wooden leg, or red hair, or who has pro-
nounced squirt. In the same way 1t is the
right of body, operating under similar cir
cumstances, to decide that no man shall be
assisted to q farm who does not accept i'm
Ahn o1pkia al
substantiation, or the belief that the world
is supported on the back of turtle. All
these are, or should be, minor considerations
to the general public. The utility of coloni-
zation in the country cannot be successfully
denied. The main thing is the colonization,
and not the religious faith of the colonist.
Moreover, the objection to the flavor of
Catholicism in this movement will come from
those who have the least right to impose any
difficulties. The objection will be wholly
entertained by class of sectarians
whose bette n0ir is Roman Cathol-
icism, and who are incessant in their asser-
tions that the larger portion of the crime,
pauperism and mismanagement of our large
cities comes from the Irish element of the
Romish church. Belie- ing this, or affecting
to believe it, they cannot, with consistency
object to an effort calculated to unload the
American cities of this class, and thereby, as
they would claim, purifying the moral and
political atmosphere by the removal of per-
| nicious influences. Again, from the stand
point of class infected with no religious
fanaticism, but who are disposed to deprecate
anything like sectarianism in the conduct of
business affairs, the movement in proposing
to confine itself to a single religious denomi-
nation, must present itself as commendable
for at least one very substantial reason. The
| bane of new communities, as we'll as some
not so entirely new, is churches not religion
but the edi6ces. Whenever a score or half q
| hundred families get together under the or
binary circumstances of emigration or immi-
grafton, the first thing to be done
| is to build from three to six
churches, each of which, with heavy
mortgage, is solemnly dedicated to the
Lord. The effect is twofold; it keeps peo-
pie from the churches who would remain
were it not for their membranes, and il
| burdens those who do remain with debt
which heavily handicaps them in their bust
ness progress. It would be an enormous
| gain, both in money and churchmenbership,
we've all colonization plans to be projected
| and carried out so that each colony would
| in the main, represent only one religious
denomination. The saving in the cost oil
''sacred" edifces, contributions, subscrip.
tions, interest on mortgages, and the like
would be beyond computation. One good
church, in the case of such unity, would take
the place of half q dozen bad ones, and
would be one which would not constantly
dout 10 per cent. mortgage in the face Of
heaven. In Chicago the dead weight Of
church mortgages and the support of un-
| necessary churches upon business is an evil
of the most serious magnitude. We're just
| one-half the churches in this city obliterated
it would, in thirty days, add one-t third to the
present membership; would tighten the
burden carried by business men, and in
every way would advance the cause Of
Christianity to an unlimited extent.
In general sense, the effort to remove the
| overplus population is one than which there
is nothing more needed with reference tc
the men and women to be moved or the
cities to be relieved. The Irish more than
any other foreign nationality flock to the
cities. The majority of them are unskilled
laborers; aud the result is an arduous strug.
gle for mere existence. Lack Of employ
ment begets idleness and restitution, and
these are often but hating places on the
| highway leading to crime. There is q
much larger proportion of criminals among
this class than there would be were it placed
in more favorable localities, and surrounded
| by less hostile circumstances. Perhaps ten
Germans 60 to farming where one Irishmar
takes up the same pursuit; and the result il
| that the average condition of the for
mer is largely in advance OF the latter. The
/ distressing condition of SO large an ele.
ment of our population would be remedied
at once, were it transferred from the I'M
healthful air and influences of city life to
| the breezy and healthful country.
In view Of these facts, intelligent people