The Irish standard., 1892-12-24
JOHN SWEETMAN, M. P.

man, NJ p, by the citizens of Mime
apo)is of every creed and nationality on
laet Thursday evening was q deserving
tribute to good Irishman descended
from patriotic sires who were identified
with that noble band of patriots called
the s'United Irishmen" in the troublous
| days which tried mems souls. The Mem
Der for East Wicklow has inherited the
patriotic traits of his ancestors and when
| a young man took conspicuous part in
the achievement of Ireland's rights.
A son of "royal Meath" county rich
in the glorious memories of Ireland's
past greatness, he could not help beng
proud of his country and DESTROYS of
elevating it to the rank of a free nation.
When Davitt and Parnell started the
Land League agitation for the benefit
of the farmers of Ireland, young Sweet
mau enlisted in the cause and by voice
and pen contributed to make the
movement the most formidable organiza-
ton that ever opposed the Ubiquitous
system OF land tenure in the Green ISLE
He published a pamphlet on the land
question in which he exposed the in
fanny of landlordism and called upon his
countrymen to fight the infamous feudal
system with might and main. After the
suppression of the Land League he came
to Minnesota and purchased "a LOCO acres
of land in Murray county with the in
tention of founding colony for the
evicted tenantry of Ireland. He built
houses on this land, furnished them and
established cooperative general store.
Anyone with family who was willing
to work was admitted and was furnished
with all the necessities of life and uten-
gils for labor. A man who had nothing
was given 80 acres, to be paid for as he
was able. Those with means could take
as much land as they were able to pay a
small percentage Of it's value.
Nh. Sweetman devoted his own per-
| sonal attention and labor to the under
taking and to this is largely due it's sue
cess. It is now in fourishing condi-
tion. Some $50 families have been set
tied there and are all prospecting. He
has built handsome church at his own
expense and contemplates founding
there an Industrial school of agriculture.
Unlike the rack-renting Scully in Hi
nois, Mr.. Sweetman did not introduce the
tenant system into Minnesota.
| Aside from the contract relation exist
ing between him and the colonists for
their purchases of the land, they owe no
allegiance to him, nor does hs appoint
any officers for their government, his In
terest in them being purely philanthro-
pic one He spent the greater part of
ten years in the colony, returning to Ire
land last year, where he was elected a
member OF parliament from East Wick
low. He is man OF about forty years of
age and unmarried; is thorough Home
Ruler and student of political economy.
He is said to be man Of exceptional
abilities and one who is never moved by
any consideration to speak or act against
his convictions. He has bsen actively
interested in every movement which has
tended to the bettering Of the condition
of the masses and has always given gen
erously to all causes of benevolence.
Such man deserves all the honors paid
him by the representative American
gathering at Harmonic hall the other
evening. He returns to his parliament
airy duties with the conviction that he
has the sympathy and encouragement Of
the great commonwealth OF Minnesota
with him in his work for Irish self-gov-
eminent. When the happy day arrives
that Ireland has it's own parliament in
College Green, and when John Sweet
man returns to Minnesota after winning
the victory, he will be accorded an ovation
which will pale into insignifcance the
magnificent reception rendered to him
the other evening in this city.
~--A- n1nr p ~ vr7rfs #5ssa