The Irish standard., 1897-09-18

dence, the big brick house built for Sec
retary Robson, was not contented to
stay in the house of representatives.
Your city Celt wants to come home from
Washington about twice q week. He
has not improved the same avenues of
pecuniary advancement as the German
American by his side. The small shop
has not served him as the foundation
of fortune. But he has prospered in
all the industries and trades and really
monopolizes some of them, until now
he is on the eve of an era of broadening
and building up which will see him TAX
ing by merit, by achievement and al
ways as an American first, last and all
the time. that place in the life of the
nation which he has held in the life
of the town.
"The transplanting of the Celt to
American cities has given him an op-
portunity to develop his natural nation
al characteristics under favoring condi-
tions. His ability to administer Amer
lean cities has been said to be no indi-
cation that he could rule the cities of
his own land. I differ from that con-
clusion. His successful management Of
many American municipalities may
have been due in some measure to the
attrition of minds, the emulation of
rival elements of the community. But
I attribute it largely to the genius of
the Celtic race, favorably directed and
influenced by that diversity of industry
and occupation which it has found at
hand in the new world.
"Of course the chief element which
the Irish-American finds himself rub
bing up against in his new surroundings
is German Americans. The friendly riv-
airy between them has been of great
benefit to each, and when they make
common cause of one side Of public
issue the other side hasn't much chance.
Such coalitions in municipal politics,
while rare, are productive of interesting
results. The influence of the 1talo-
American element in communities like
Greater New York on each of the other
two is to be observed by students of
affairs. The Italian immigrant has so
far been, as his Celtic brother was ear
lier. a hewer of wood and a drawer of
water. Later on he will be heard from
in a widening arena.
"'rhis development of the Celtic type
in the last quarter of the nineteenth
century is, of course, peculiarly interest
ing in the United States. The process
may be studied by the philosopher all
over the world. In all countries and un-
der all flags we find the Celt battling for
that cause in which sentiment or cir
cumstance, conviction or tradition have
enlisted his energies. Everywhere he
has prospered save in his own land.
'Take England, for example, coun
try in which an Irishman is not yet u
home. OF the greatest generals in her
armies, Lord Wolseley, the commander
in-chief, is a native of Kildare, and
Lord Roberts of Candahar, whom Kip
ling sings as 'Bobs,' the idol of the In
dian armies, comes from County Water
ford. In the navy names of those ia
nous fighting brothers, Lord Charles and
Lord William Beresford occur at once
to the mind. They are Irishmen born,
as is Lord Russell of Killowen, the
chief justice, the only Catholic of the
five; the Marquis of Dufferin, the great
est diplomat Of his time, is now at home
in the County Down, seven miles from
Belfast. He is the grandson of Richard
Brinsley Sheridan, the son of Helen
Sheridan, the beautiful and gifted au-
thor of I'm Sitting OH the Stile, Mary
Another Irishman famous in contem-
pory British diplomacy, is Sir Nicholas
O'Connor, Minister to Russia. In Aus
tralia Sir Charles Gavan Duffy has made
name for himself; in Canada, Blake,
Costigan and Thomas Darcy McGee. In
British journalism the Celt is every
where to the fore, beginning with my
venerable friend, Justin Mccarthy, who
has for years written the imperial edi-
torials in the Daily News, the great lib
eral organ. Gladstone and Balfour are
Celts.
x *
"In Spain the O'Donnells have been
premiers and generals. In Russia an
OBrien became an O'Brontcneff, an
ODonncll an ODontchcff and McCar-
thy Makroff, to the glory of the Car
and the success of the Russian arms.
In Austria Count Taafe has made Aus
train diplomacy famous as premier of
the empire. Debrett names Count Taafe
| not only count of the Hoy Roman en-
pire, but an Irish peer of the realm. He
| is descendant of the Irish mobiles who
| fed abroad after the defeat of King
James, described as The Flight of the
Wild Geese Baron Hoenning O'Carroll
! is today secretary of the Austrian lega-
tion in Sofia. Since the seige of Liner
ick the Catholic nations of the world
have been pervaded by Celtic genius
Even in India against the English, the
name of Lally-Tollendal comes proudly
to the mind. Chill has he- Admiral
Lynch and her warsnip the O'Higgins.
| "In America there are other great
| To- Nal