Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-07-25
The New England OF To-day.


In an extended and interesting article on
this subject in the New York Tribune, Rev. |
Edward Everett Hale of Boston, discusses
the changes which have come and others
which are anticipated from the immigra- |
ton of Frenchmen and lrishmen into the
New England States. lie takes a much |
more cheerful view Of the outlook in this |
respect than is taken by many. He says:
The arrival in New England of SO large a
number of lrishmen and lrishwomen as
came between 1910 and 1880 increased very
largely the number of Catholics and of
Catholic churches. Fanatic Protestants
have distressed themselves on this account,
and have supposed that the essential princi-
pies of New England life would be mate.
rally changed by the Catholic powers
That particular cause for anxiety is now at
an end, if, as seems probable, the emigration
from Ireland to America henceforth is in
considerable The largest element Of emf
grafton into New England now consists Of
French Canadians, who are generally
Catholics. Nova Scotians and other people
from the Protestant British provinces, and
these are in nearly equal proportions. OF
141, 3j2 people from the British colonies
in Massachusetts, in 1888, only 81, j05 were
French. The other 81, 49, were almost all
Protestants. Fortunately under our system
there are no precise statistics Of the religious
preferences of the people. But, counting
Austria, France, Portugal, Spain and Ire
land as Catholic countries and the rest of
the world which supplies citizens to New
England as Protestant and making the
proper allowance for French Canadians also, it
may be roughly said that at that timc-1Ss5
there were about POO, 600 residents born
in the Protestant states named and 800 600
born in the Catholics states named. Since
that time the proportion of Protestant
emigrants has increased and that of Cath
olics has decreased, This is due to the ces
sation of the Irish emigration the increase
of emigration from the Provinces, from
Scandinavia and Germany, while that from
French Canada is, on the whole, about sta
| tiouary.
There is no love lost between tho Irish
| and the French Canadian settlers. But
each furnishes an admirable element in the
| populat on, and as soon as real estate does
its work each becomes an excellent citizen
At the beginning there has to be a French
priest and an Irish priest in each village
/ where both elements exist. In the case of
each the Catholic religion seems to be rather
an index of nationality than the expression
of any theological subtlety Outside the the
] j
indeed, the religion of all communlons is in
practice much the same and good Catho-
! lie and a good Protestant are alike in that
they love God, hope Tor heaven and love
their neighbors.
1t was observed originally that the Cath
Ole clergy of Canada were avcrse to the
emigration Of their people AMI, at the least,
encouraged them to return to Canada. But
since the wave became important the aver
sion has not shown itself or has proved too
futile to be made public And q certain
fond hope that New England is TO be made
Catholic takes its place in sone quarters.
| There are people who suppose that "A change
of policy was recommended from Rome. |
doubt If the triple crown troubles itself
with such questions. | should say that the
Canadian emigration, is oOeyiug the same
laws which the Irish emigation has obeyeI.
The settlers began in closely compacted cen
tres gradually to obtain land and to fasten
themselves to the soil. After a generation
Jean Tabeau will appear as John Tarbox,
and few will remember, and nobody care,
where pretty Clara TarboX's grandmother
was born. " "
Once scattered among tho agricultural
towns, the instincts of democracy work
their perfect work. The children of Irish
parents show the brightness Of their race
and take high rank at schools The Irish
man himself likes to be a land owner and is
a good citizen. He had rather be a boss,
e ven if he is his only follower, than be in
anybody S trail. SO far as | have observed,
the agricultural towns are glad to receive
such settlers, and the common life of that
noble Institution, the Old New England
township, goes ON with its owe energy and
simplicity.
The verdict of America is that New Eng
land is a good place to live in. Some 700.
600 Of her sons and daughters are living IN
other States of this nation. Bnr as "A prac-
teal compensation for their absence she
has in her borders POO, 600 of the citizens Of
this country who have come to make THEN
: home with her. These are, i'll general, OF
the best Americans Her contingent OF
foreign born men and women adapts itsel
: more and more to her institutions. And
New England, not thinking much abou
such matters, but caring with spirit auC
hope, Tor comfort and intelligence in happy
homes, has no fear whatever that she is t.
be left out in the cold.