The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-06
I'IIE IRISH IN AD.EEERsI(yt A.
Continued from first pssge.l

! OF Irish birth. I cannot but regard
! this tendency to gravitata To the scen-
| tiers of population as unfortunate in it's
| effect upon the condition OF the Irish.
aud / will ask your indulgence Tor 9
moment TO q few statistics showing
what this effect is. OF the total nlnl-
Der OF Irish born in thIs country l40, 80!
are engaged III agriculture, Ale, S54 rem
der personal services, 8s-5ls are en-
! gagged in trade and transportation, 2sd,
IT'S are in manufacturing, mechanical
and mining industries. OF the whole
number employed only one-tenth are
engaged in agriculture, while nearly
one-half render personal services oil
q not very high grade. These
figures prepare IFS for facts disclos-
ed by vital statistics as to births, mar
uagas, and deaths among the Irish. !
shall confne nyseH TO the city of New
York and to the year 1880, referring to
statistics of certain European cities
only for the purpose OF justlfying one
or two conclusions. In New York city
The death-rate WAS 2e.47 per thousand.
Among the population Of Irish birth it
was 23.02, Of English birth, 1000; of
German birth, 1896. The fact there
fore is undeubted that the condition OF
the Irish IN large cities can not be sue
cessfully compared with the Germans,or
even with the French or the English.
Il the mortality rate be q safe index TO
the relative condition OF various ma
tionalities in New York, it is just TO
conclude that while they are worse off
than the Germans and the French they
are better Off than those at home. Thus,
while fully recognizing the poverty and
wretcheduess Of most Of the tenement
Irish IN New York, it is certain that
they have improved their condition by
Immigrating. How much further they
might have improved it is Wldes ques-
zion. The most fruitful direction that
practical philanthropy, having for it's
object the relief Of the Irish In cities
and of irish enligrating, can take is TO
be found III colonization projects which
avail themselves OF the advantages Of
fered by western states and territories.
I have now to consider the connection
Of our people here with the land and
repeal agitation which is now occupy.
ing the public mind both ia America
ana in England The Irish have, ever
since '48, realized the Importance of the
aid which their countrymen IN America
might render, and have oyerture5 to
which the response has moi been back
ward. Fenianism, which may be said
to have then taken its origin, Iniscar-
ried; but the seed from Which3it sprang
was not without fruit, and to 1t the
land league Of these days owes nc
small part of its existence. Stephens
may fairly be said to be the precursorof
Parneli, who has reaped SO much from
his labors. Fenianism itself shall not
discuss further than to again remark
5ns relation VII Silit Bears 70 tbs
to-day among the Ameri-
;an-Irish The Irish leaders of '49
we're reyolutionists III the fullest sense
If the word Their creed meant COM
olete separation, and not merely local
or a reform in land ten |
ires. Yet even at that day one man
Who clearly saw to quote his own words
that the land question contained. and I
he legislative question did not con-
ain, the materials from which victory
s manufactured. This man was
flames Fenton I4aInr lifted with
faculty of concise ana lacld exposi-
ion. His ideas, however, were not so
.dopted to facts as to have been Of useI
It the time they were given ont. At a
alter day they were adopted and be-
anne the motive OF the Land league
,rganization. In 1878 Michael Davittl
nd John Dewey began the active and
tirring appeal to the Irish in America,
)y laying out a programme which en-
,odied a land agitation as it's chief fea-
ure. 1t was upon this basis, and in
his city, that Davitt first outlined his
,roject. As has been said, the plan
aid down was simply to honeycomb Ire
and with organized bodies of men, the
xact counterpart of the Fenian BROTH
rhood, but with none of its secrecy
)ayitt gathered UP the broken threads
[ the Eenian organl cation and gothear-
alto crop in Ireland In IS and 10 as
listed him. and Connaught became the
Gene of his earliest efforts. Mr.. Par
ell at that time had become the leader
Y co-operatlan. The failure of tue po-
i the movement, and after his depar
ure for America, Davitt and his lieu
aimed to extend their operations
o all the provinces by transferring the
eat of the land league organization to
dublin. From this point Ishall fol-
1W the course OF events III America.
tr. Parnell's visit to this country was
memorable one in Irish history. Het
lid not remain long, being called back
Il three months by the dissolution of
iarliament. lie had, however, assisted
II the cooperation Of patriotic Irish
aen here, aeeenuated the desire for or
and it was not long before
be land league in America became an
accomplished fact. Itcreated q public
with the course Of Irish lead
rs, which deem hardly less valuable
han the money, without which the pa
snt organization in Ireland must have
ignally failed. Is IS unnecessary to
escrihe the details of the movement.
{ fulfilled the purpose for which 1t