The Irish standard., 1890-02-08


these boas very effective aad becoming.
The Irish Race in Rhode Island.
In no State in the Union has there
been more bigotry aud hostility dis
played against the Irish race than in
the State of Rhode Island. Until with
in three years there was clause in the
Constitution OF the State that prevented
foreign born citizens from being qua
Lifted to vote unless they were possessed
Of real estate to the amount of $l34.
Although this clause III the Constitution
included all foreigners, it was an open
secret that it was aimed against the
Irish.
This antl-Irish feeling was not con
fined to any one Of the political parties,
and although the Democratic party in
their platform urged the repeal Of the
clause, large number OF that party
| worked hand in hand with the Repub-
llcans to defeat any legislation intended
to remove it from the Constitution,
n or has this feeling been entirely re.
moved as was demonstrated three years
ago when l 200 voters who called them
selves "Amerlcan Democrats" bolted
the nomination OF an lrish-American
for Mayor of Providence, and defeated
his election simply on account Of his
race affiliations, and CHS, too, in the
case If man who is admitted to be
better Informed in municipal matters
and better qualified to ill the position
of Mayor by reason Of Lis lo.g service
in the City Government than any man
in Providence.
The above is not written with a view
TO incite race prejudice, but simply to
show that the present condition OF che
Irish race in that State is due not TO any
favorable assistance rendered them by
the so called natives, out to their own
exertions in spite of bitter opposition.
The Inauguration Of Hon. Hugh !.
Carroll as Mayor OF Pawtucket, last
week, is indicative of the growth OF the
Irish race and their influence in that
enterprising city, and is provocative OF
the subject matter of this article.
The last census Of the state, publish
ed in 1885, gives the total population of
the state at 3O4, 208, of which there
were S6.246 persons born in. Ireland.
The census is defective in showing the
number of Irish Americans, but the
minimum would be at least double chat
of the number of persons born in Ire
land. or the occupations OF the persons
born in Ireland, as given by the census,
few will serve to show how much the
Irish enter into the material prosperity
OF the state.
There were 405 engaged in govern
mental positions, national, state and
municipal, liz cIergymen and officers, 8
lawyers, II physicians, authors, s
artists, Z musicians. 81 teachers, 2
scientific persons, 1857 domestlcs, 55l
engaged in personal service, 1888 en-
gagged III trade, l ,218 engaged in trans
portation, 1,l64 engaged in agricultural
pursuits, IL i'll fisheries, 1910 in manu-
featuring and mechanical pursuits, 1854
laborers and apprentices: 43 students.
Of the Irish-American population we
can speak only in general Germs, but it
can be SAID of them that they include
some OF the brightest and most progress
siye citizens of the state. Among these
are All t2-Speaker of the House of Re
representatives., ex-SecretarY Of State, ex
Judge Advocate General of the State
Militia, Collector of Customs, four post
masters, Recording Clerk Of the House
OF Representatives the president of the
Board of Aldermen and the president of
the Common Council Of the city Of
Pawtucket. the Overseer OF the Poor
and the Harbcr Master of the city OF
Providence, and the incumbents OF
minor offices throughout the state.
In the large manufacturing circles OF
the state the name of joseph Bannlgan,
president of the largest rubber manu-
featuring company in the United States,
the Woonsocket Rubber Company;
John J. Dempsey, president of the
Dempsey Bleaching Company, one of
the largest concerns Of it's kind in the
state; Crossen & Tucker and Michael
Fitzgerald. the largest jewelry manufac-
turers Of the state, represent men Of
solid means.
In the learned professions the Irish
Americans are both numerous and in
fluential, while among the students of
Brown University there are sixteen
and. for the first time
in the history of that learned institu-
ticn, one post graduate for the decree
OF Master Of Arts. the sons Of Irish
parents.
Surely, the Irish race in Rhode Island
is entitled to praise for its past record,