The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-17
IRISH IN ERICA.
Their Labor and pirit Have Been of
Great Value.

Great Value.
From the New York Evening Sun.
Mr. Henry Childs Merwin has con-
tributed to the Atlantic Monthly a paper
on the Irish in American Life" that
brings out certain traits of that potent
nationality which are not often sufficient
~ allowed for in the superficial discussion
of that subject which is most familiar.
1t has been suggested that the word sen
timental' expresses the distinctive char
acteristic of the Celtic race, as French
man has put II, its vehement reaction
against the despotism of TACT" This is
a saving grace TO be infused not without
profit among a people whose own DISPOSE
ton tends in the opposite direction. But
to proceed from generality to the particu-
lar we are to observe that the great
Irish immigration to this country came
Just at the time when the demand for
hard unskilled labor was most imperious,
and the newcomers took their place at the
foot of the social ladder. the men building
canals and railroads, and the women in
domestic service
Bridget" Mr.. Merwin points out, de-
spite the alleged comic papers, has the
qualities of her defects; she may break
contracts but she does not steal; and If
the little people of the country were inter
rogated he is sure they would declare in
her favor. Now, a servant to whom a
whole nation safely entrusts its house
hold property and its children is not light
ly TO be condemned. In another field the
writer points out that the Irish vote is
not a mercenary vote. He thinks Ii sig
nficant fact that the republican party,
with all it's wealth and all the unscrupu-
lousness which characterizes its party
management, has never been able to break
the solid column of the Irish democrats
Hence these tears" we might add, but
the fact is cited as an illustration of an
other racial trait, namely, its deep, I'M
swerving loyalty, inherited no doubt
from the ancient clan system. Mr.. Mer-
win regrets that he is unable to dwell
upon the Irish priests in America. Little
is heard about them, but il may be doubt
ed II there ever was a more Jealous, faith
full and efficient clergy: and whenever the
occasion has arisen, as when an epidemic
of yellow fever ragged some time ago in
the South, they have shown the courage
priests.
Is the tendency of the Eastern states
to become ultra-conservative? For II IT
is, the presence among them of the more
impetuous Celt may be wholesome.
Ninety years ago, when the nation was
young and small. our navy swept the
Mediterranean of Barbary corsairs. If
a similar project under conditions corre-
spondingly hard were proposed to-day
it would certainly meet with opposition
in New England and in New York. 1t
would probably be condemned by the
same commercial and academic elements
which opposed the war of 1912 and ratified
the Fugitive Slave law" But there is no
doubt at all in Mr.. Merwins mind as to
the position which the Irish press would
take-an opinion he fortifies by quota
lions of its utterance on behalf of the
Americans. The example is merely the
last one of a series cited by the writer to
illustrate the innate generosity of the
Irish race. A nation animated by it's
spirit might make mistakes and fall into
difficulties. but it's face would be set in
the right direction.