The Irish standard., 1899-02-04

the Eighteenth century had come chiefly
from the central portion of England,
and as rule represented the better ele-
ment among the Cromwelian settlers.
They, in common with their leader,
Cromwell, hated the Scotch, and would
never have accepted the term Scotch
; Irish" for themselves After the RES
toration" these people, in common with
the Catholics, were only tolerated as
non-conformists, and were not allowed
by the Protestant authorities to take
any part in public affairs. From adver-
sity these people became In time more
tolerant towards, their fellow sufferers,
the Catholic portion of the population,
and were finally moulded into remark
ably fine and self-reliant type of men.
Those who emigrated tc the colonies
were we'll fitted to lay the foundation of
the American republic, and those who
little more than 100 years ago they
originated in Belfast the United Irish
men movement, and they were the first
to make the demand for religious toler-
ance in Ireland, that their Catholic
countrymen might be free to worship
God according to the dictates of their
own conscience.
During the last century, Maine, New
IDY u ra
and West Massachusetts, West Penn
sylvania. a large portion of Maryland,
the western part of Virginia, between
the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny
mountains; into North Carolina, along
the French Broad river, to the upper
part Of South Carolina and into the ter
ritory now forming Tennessee and Ken
lucky, with a part of the Northwest
territory, to the north of the Ohio river,
and which then belonged to Virginia,
was chiefly, and in some sections was
entirely settled by Irish. who did not
change their names before or after leav-
ing Ireland. From the latter clrcum-
stance. the course OF settlement can be
traced by the surnames Of the first set
tiers. and the indications are renderd all
the stronger by the names of so many
settlements which clearly indicate the
localities In Ireland whence the people
came.
1t can be claimed that many of these
Irish emigrants were of English descent
from some period more or less remote.
This was doubtless true, but they be-
came Irish by birth, and were no longer
In sympathy with English interests, or
they would not have left the country.
Notwithstanding the severe penalties,
which were SO long in operation for
taking up with the lrishry," the fate of
many of the invaders was the same after
each invasion. In time they yielded to
the charms OF the Irish women and
their progeny became often more Irish
than those from the original Celtic
stock. The descendants Of many
Cromwellian soldier can be found in Ire
land and abroad, who are today bitter
and uncompromising foes to Englands
rule in Ireland, and are potent check
to her influence elsewhere.
l have found reported among the de-
bates In. the Irish house of parliament, a
speech by the Hon. Luke Gardiner, de-
livered April 2, 1884, on Irish commerce,
and from which quote: America was
lost by Irish emigrants. These emf
grations arc fresh in the recollections of
every gentleman In this house. I am as
sured, from the best authority, the major
part of the American army was COM
posed Of Irish, and that the Irish Ian
guage was as commonly spoken In the
American ranks as English. am also
informed that it was their valor deter
mined the contest. so that England had
America detached from her by force OF
Irish emigrants. ETC."
find in Marmion's work "The Ancient
and Modern History of the Maritime
Ports Of Ireland some interesting facts
bearing upon a portion Of the exodus to
this country.
In I'LL, l772 and 1913 over 5000 emf
grants left Belfast, and other ports in
that neighborhood. for the American
colonies, in consequence of having been
evicted from one of the estates of the
marquis of Donegal, in Antrim.
Marmion states: "The emigrants
were chiefly farmers and manufacturers
who, it was calculated by converting
their property into specie which they
took with them abroad, deprived Ulster
of one-fourth of it's circulating medium,
which then consisted altogether of
specie; and also portion equal thereto
to the most valuable part of it's popu-
lation"
Could Robert Morris, the financier of
the revolution, enlightcn us, as to the
effect, from bringing this amount of
specie into the country, we would realize
that the benefit was an incalcuable one
and it is Il matter of surprise that
writer's Of our history have not noted so
important circumstance.
What credit we had in the country.
after the paper money had deprecated.
was based upon this specie throughout
the greater part of the revolution
Among many instances to this purpose
was itc u.o in movipo Tho tr> viz