New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-05
PROUD TO BE AN ULSTERMAN.
ROBERT BONNER TALKS OF THE SCOTCH
IRISH RACE.
PRESIDENT OF THE scoTcHIRrsH SOCIETY OF
AMERICA WHICH WILL SOON HOLD
ITS ANNUAL SESSION.

AMERICA WHICH WILL SOON HOLD
ITS ANNUAL SESSION.
Robert Bonner OF this city, Is the president OF the
scotchIrish Society Of America, which will hold It's
next annual meeting 10 Louisville KY, on May H.
Mr.. Bonner has for many years been one OF the
most prominent ctzens Of New-York publisher,
Presby ter.an, and of fast horses. To some
there might to be something inconsistent in the
last two characters but Mr. Bonner has proved that
they may be made TO harmonic beautifully; ard so
far his Preshyterianlsm is concerned he can Show
clean bill OF health from his pastor, the Rev. Dr.
John Hall.
1t is of course unnecessary TO tell the public that
Mr. Bonner's love for the fast horse is entirely for
itself and that Ne has anything to do with tho
nrofessional racetrack But that il an aside The
publisher OF The Ledger" and the Of Maud S.
now stands before the public in another character, as
the president Of Young ard vigorous society that
aims to gather together all the scotch Irshnen OF
America. Mr.. Bonler is himself fisherman BY
birth. and Is proud Of the fact Well he may be, for
the Ulstermen race to be proud Of, whether at
home abroad.
"Just fifty years ago. he said recently, al sailed
from Londonderry, Ireland, for Ncw.York l came
| from the old town Of Ramelton in the County OF
| Donegal from which town. by the way, came also my
friend Knox tho halter and S. G. Bayne, Of this city,
II town OF many spritstiring recollections, and
should be especially remembered by American Pres
| byterans. For IL was Makense, Presbyterian min
lister of Ramelton, who, In company with few other
expatrated ministers from the Synod OF Ulster formed
tho first Presbytery raised tho first Presbyterian stand
ard and planted the germ Of the Presbyterian Church
| In America. 1t Is well known fact that change Oh
cline has great influence in improving the speed and
endurance OF horses. So also think Ii can be shown
that when tho Scotch Lowlander became an Ulster
man he improved, and when tho fisherman became a
Scotch Irishman in America he improved still more
rolIo If Tho Qli
men Of the ScotchIrish in American history. But
it is impossible. There isn't space for 1t even in tho
broad and ample columns Of The Tribune. There Is,
| for instance The Trbune's own founder Horace
| Greeley, who identified himself with the race in his
Recolections Of Busy Life" which, by the way, he
wrote for me. And there were Patrick Henry, Thomas
Jefferson, John WitherspOOn John Paul Jones, James
Madison, John Marshall, Andrew Jackson, James r.
Polk, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln Ulysses S.
Grant Chester a. Arthur among great states
men and patriots, we'll as host OF others whose
names do not recall. The has left its Impress
in every department OF human activity and thought
1t has given Of greatest statesmen authors
journalists, divnes lawyers physicians merchants and
inventors And yet until now It has, with singular
modesty kept itself and its record in the background
The members Of all the other races celebrate them
selves vociferously; and ellowcountrymen OF tho
| South OF Ireland are not Slow to tell the world how
much they have done for God and humanity. But as
for the Scotchrish race almost feel like paraphrasng
the old saying and declaring that while others nave
been writing history we have been making 1t.
Seriously, however without at all detractng from
the noble record OF other races the Scotch Irshmcn OF
America are abundanty justified in organizing them
selves into non-poitical non-relgious society when
shall have for its object the gathering together ana
preserving Of the records Of that race and the promo
ton OF fratcrnal feeling. Appropriately ca)rsh tho
first session Of the ScOtclIrish Society was held IN
| Columbia Tenn. on May 8, 1889, region rich with
tile memories of the race and which has given TO the
| country many great Scotch Irlshmen Last year the
society met in Ptsburg which is also the centre OF
great ScotcIrlsh settlement and where our presence
excited tho most tremendous enthusiasm, and among
the people whose forbears were cleancut and truly
.Kenspecklc Ulstermen Tic coming meeting Is 70
be held in Louisville KY which is also the centre Of
great scotchrs population. 1t has been especially
invited by the Board Of Trade the Commercial Club
and the citizens of Louisville and VIII DO OF pecuar
interest to Kentucklans with whose early history the
heroic actions Of this sturdy race are so closely IVcF
woven.
aTbe ncIghborng State OF Ohio will be especially
we'll represented in this meeting and well it may for
much OF tho history of Ohio is also history OF the
| scotcllIrsh to which race many Of Its no0eit sohs
belong There will be addresses and speeches by GILL
nent men from all parts Of the country, ana IL IS OK
pected that large additions will be made TO the men,
| bc7shp OF the society. The scotch-lrsh IN Aher'0d
are busy thrifty law-abidlng citizens, more American
than the Americans themselves II that Is possible
and proud as they of their race, many OF them az
first hesitate to ioin race organization lest percnlco
IL might seem 70 be Of keeping with their ALecdi
ism Dut not the scope purpose OF o9leT y, ~.
society 70 be sectarian partisan IL WelcolnCs so
members Ct all churches ana poica pardss, M II
bidder TO fosct Tor G of bJ toI pacr
Let me quote 10 You a passage rom IcT fart
received couple OF days ago from lazy IN n na,
| ford Conn who is member OF one OF inc nus
socially distinguished families o. that Guy. nav ry
always been exceedingly pr0d, sle tl ao making o.
men than the blood OF any other race IN tnG gTpI
in my opinion DON believe a 2cot any eorf ot
could ever imagine himself defeated IN any h so' VI
contest RELIGIOUS mental physical; and ne mas 10,
often bccn found in that predlcament: 4nGS i,g
sailors Of New England of that blood bg 20 Ia.i,U
| nv five unces brothers CT MY mother. 50mulOloIg
| O. H. Perry OF Lake Erie fame; Captain Eamond q.
| SSommod6re McDonough on Lake Champnln Gem
modofo NJ. G. Perry who crowned lie OF hav@i az
| he commerce Of the world Lieutenant James AieN
| anGcr Perry who died at the age OF twenty ne
iI,tie Of bcing twelve years cid. y sword was Veted
70 him by Congress for gaanty, and ne Is salq 10 De
The Youngest recipient OF such an honor in tho ns'oy
| Of the world. Lastly nv youngest uncle Na'ha.'
Hazard Perry pli,er " me ot 4aIS "'' 10 yum"
This Is family record b be proud Of; and j. goes
70 show ,het even on the score Of bioo1 ana ln3ae
IN Tnnonr The soc'eiv viz De cled to receive al
such family records. and ultimately to publish thr ,
he National society are Being rapidly formed, ond
| throngh thcIr efforts q IS expected that many yali
allie facts r,laing t. the early history ana settlement
| Of Inc tinted states VIII be cCliccI"d.' $500, ,
The following ar, the Officers Of me s lc1l
| Tew-York Vice president general tho rev; Dr. j. ;
| WCInfosh Philadelphia fist vice PRESIDENT at large
| / F. Johnston birmingham. Az: second wee 7-Si
dent al larcc T. T. Wright, Nashville Tenn; secretary
! 4. C. FIoyd Columbla Tenn: treasurer. Lueiu'
Frerson Columbia, Tom. Tho ricc president for thr
| state OF New-Yolk IS the Re-" DR.. John Hall
GrYER4L ALGER ~ The CITY.