The Irish standard., 1897-10-09
LET THE IRISH STAY AT HOME,

In consequence of the grievances in
1licted on the Irish people in their ISL
and home by an alien government and
It's satraps, many Irish-Americans, in
terested in the welfare of their race.
think it would be better for those of
the old Celtic stock to emgrate en-
masse from their native land to f1no
new homes beyond the western main.
A noted dignitary of the Catholic
church in America has expressed all
opinion in favor Of the wholesale exc.
dus Of the Gaels to become citizens of
this republic. He has lost faith in the
earnestness and patriotism of latter
day Irish leaders who much prefer to
quarrel among themselves rather than
to unite against the hereditary enemy
OF their race to secure the blessings Of
self government.
There are many Irish Americans
whose hearts beat in sympathy with
their suffering race who entertain the
same opinion as the ecclesiastic advert
ed to. They have grown so tired of
factional strife among Irish parliamen.
tary leaders and their organs and adj
herents that they have good reasons to
doubt their earnestness of purpose or
their capacity to govern themselves.
In the closing years Of the nineteenth
century Ireland seems to be destitute of
any great man who has the confidence
Of the nation at large and is capable
OF consolidating the discordant fac
tions into harmonious body, thirsting
for liberty or DEATH Instead of "march-
ing against Philib and fighting for their
liberty" in s6lid phalanx either in
the British senate or on the battle
field they are wasting their energies in
internecine disse hsions and disgusting
their kindred and y mpathizers in all
parts of the habitable globe Well may
they exclaim in the words of the ma
tional bard
"They say twas fate, hayward
fate, "''
Our web Of tfiscGrd wove:
But while our tyrants join in hate,
We never join in love-"
We are led to indulge in these sad
reflections from reading the grafton re-
Gently delivered at Nashville, Tenn,
by Hon. Patrick Walsh, Ex-United
States Senator from Georgia, an Irish
man from Limerick who fled in his
youth from British oppression and has
achieved national distinction under the
stars and stripes Of this free republic.
The distinguished gentleman in the
course of his address favored the emil
grafton Of the Irish people from their
native heath and their settlement in
the United States, to escape oppression
and to improve the material condition
OF themselves and their descendants.
Ex-Congressman Finerty, of Chicago,
who also left Ireland in hurry to
escape the vengeance of a government
which he attempted to abolish by
physical force, followed the Georgian
lrlshman in speech reproduced in
this issue of The Irish Standard, and
opposed his views in regard to emigra-
ton as a remedy for Irish dsaffection.
For the reasons submitted by Mr.. Finer.
ty and for various other reasons not re-
ferred to in his address, we are I'M
alterably opposed to the hegira of the
Celtic race from their beloved coun,ry.
II there is to be any emigration from
Ireland in the future let it be that Of
the un-Irish Irishmen who have not
one sentiment of Irish nationality but
are "alien in blood. language ami re,
ligion," to borrow the words of Lord
Lyndhurst on a memorable occasion.
The grand old Celtic race which has
withstood "the battle and the breeze
for seven hundred years must not pull
up stakes to make room for foreigners.
The Creator made the land of IRELAND for
the inhabitants thereof, and they are
entitled to its possession. 1t is their
home for thousands of years, and if
they become animated with the spirit
OF liberty. which now appears to be
dormant in their breasts. they can hold
it forever in spite of England, and
eventually llberate themselves from its
CALLING yoke. -
The settled policy'iof England from
away back has beenothe determination
OF the native race and the occupation
OF the country by British settlers. This
policy has partiallys succeeded. The
present population of the island is less
than 100000, when IT ought to be 49,.
100000. If the remnant of the old race
left they would fdeserve the contempt
of all people. and the name of Irish
man would be nby-word among the
nations. "a
The ecclesiastic referred to in the
beginning of this article may think
that the immigration to America of
the Catholic Irish would strengthen
the church on this sentiment We Sc
riously doubt it. ireland now, as IN the
past, sends her young I.evites 10 prop
agate the faith of St. Patrick in
America. They come filled with zeal
to perform their holy work. Had many
Of them been born in this land OF boast
ed freedom they would not have pos
sessed the inclination nor the ardor for
the sacred ministry that charartorizos