The San Francisco call., 1899-02-26
Pope IN Rome.

IL CpS III NO1IlSs
The Archbishop wrote and promulgated
this address in the face of the fact that
Thomas D. .O'Brien, a leading member of
his church, was the national Democratic
committeeman from Minnesota and the
further fact that the Catholics of the
State were for Bryan in the ratio of to 2
The diocese of St. Paul covers the three
States of Minnesota. North Dakota and
South Dakota. AT the head of the prin-
cipal see of st. Paul is the Archbishop
himself, without the assistance of a CO.
adJutor Bishop. Then there are the suf-
fragan sees of Winona, Bishop Cotter;
Duluth Bishop McGolrick; ST. Cloud.
Bishop Trobec; South Dakota, Bishop
OGorman, and North Dakota, Bishop
Stanley. Bishops Cotter and McGolrick
are now on their way to Rome During
the absence of the Archbishop his func-
tions will be performed by Bishop OGor-
man.
Founded Colony.
One of the early works of Archbishop
ireland was the founding of a great col
ony In the counties of western central
Minnesota, with Graceville as a center.
He was one of the directors and chief
promoters of the National Colonization
Association His first colony, made up Of
nine hundred Catholic farmers, was sent
to Western Minnesota in 1876. 1t appear
ed to be such success that he pur-
chased 10000 acres of land from the old
st. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company.
He continued buying from year to year
until he had over $4,000 acres
For this land he contracted to nav the
company 81 % per acre, and was able to
dispose of it, a rule, at from s. to SO
an acre. The matter got into the courts
and was fought for years on the claim by
settlers that the selections made by the
railroad company were invalid on their
face and that it had no right to trans
fer TO Archbishop Ireland or anybody else
property in which it had no legal equity.
A decision was rendered January 20
awarding over 26 900 acres of this land to
Ireland. AS there is at this time over So
an acre profit in this land, it is easy to
figure that the Archbishop is big fnan-
cial winner by the latest turn of affairs.
In the Civil War.
Right Rev. John Ireland was born in
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny, Ireland,
September II, 1888. When he was but a
babe in arms his parents removed to st.
Paul, and his early education was re-
ceived in the cathedral school. was
sent to France in 1858, and in September
of that year. when he was but 10, he en-
tered the Petit Serninaire of Meximeux,
finishing the eight-year course there In
four years He studied theology at the
Grand Seminaire at HyereS, returning TO
St. Paul in 1861 and being ordained priest
when he was little more than % years Of
age. Upon the formation of the Fifth
Minnesota Regiment young Ireland was
made its chaplain, and served two years in
the war of the rebellion. Returning from
the field he was appointed rector OF
Cathedral Parish, the central and largest
parish of the city, and continued In that
position until he was named as coadjutor
bishop.
In 1870 he went to Rome as the ac-
credited representative of Bishop Grace at
the Vatican Council. In February, 1875,
he was chosen to succeed Bishop O'Gor-
man in the vicariate of Nebraska, but
through the efforts of Bishop Grace the
appointment was Cancelled and he was
then nominated coadjutor bishop Of St
Paul and was consecrated December 2l'
1875. Besides the work Of Archbishop Ire
land mentioned elsewhere. he was very ac-
tive in securing the establishmnt of the
Catholic University at Washington, and
ON his visit to Rome in 1887 was engaged,
in conjunction with Bishop Kean in
drawing a report on this subject for the
Pope His appointment as Archbishop
dates from 1888.
May Be a Cardinal.
There is a pretty general impression
here that he will be made cardinal be-
fore he returns from Rome. When he left
St Paul few weeks ago, his sister, Mrs.
Justin Mccarthy, said to him jocularly:
You must not return without the red
church has honored him sufficiently and
that he would be satisfied to remain in
his present position to the end OF his
days.