The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-17
LIPToN,s IRISH PATRIOTISM.

1t is singular circumstance tnat, so Idrs
as known, the Irish people and their de-
scendants everywhere are anxious to see
the Forthcoming contest be ween The Sham
rock and Columbia result in the victory of
the American beat.
This circumstance is, of course, mostly
due to the conviction among people that
Sir Thomas Upton and those identified
with him in the Forthcoming contest rep
resent rather the English influence In
Ireland than the body of the Irish peo-
pie or what is regarded as the national
spirit of the Irish people.
1t is true, and should be recalled in
considering this anomalous condition of
affairs, that, whatever the maritime in
stincts or interests of the Irish people
may be, they have in the past few centu-
ries been made subordinate to the de-
mands of English trade, and that neither
through opportunity nor disposition has
that people been able to develop the
maritime or other commercial interests
of their country on any lines whatever
except those which have tended to fur
Their distinguish the body of the people
from those who have in the past domi-
mated the political, social and economic
life of the island.
Notwithstanding all this, and despite
the very evident popular prejudice with
which Sir Thomas Upton and his yacht
are regarded by the Irish race, that gen
tleman has within a few days shown in
the most conclusive and acceptable way
his own deep sympathy with Ireland and
purse he has offered the very large
amount of $25O,OOO for the estate which
embraces the Lakes of Killarney, and
which has been on the market for many
months past. II he is able to secure the
estate in question, it is his avowed pur-
pose to transfer the property to the Irish
people in trust as national possession.
There has been good deal of talk for
a long time past about the purchase Of
that beautiful stretch Of country. Among
other statements made in this regard is
the one that a number of New Workers
of Irish descent proposed to buy the place
and maintain it as private property, Tree
access being allowed to visitors. the Lakes
of Killarney to be exploited for the de-
velopment of the tourist business There
have been other projects of the same
general character made public concerning
the Lakes of Killarney, but until Sir
Thomas Upton took a hand in the mat
ter nobody even mentioned the desirable
ity of having the Lakes of Killarney own
ed and controlled by the Irish people
themselves and maintained as beautiful
national domain.
There is no doubt left as to the correct
ness Of the statement Of the purpose Of
Sir Thomas Upton in this connection.
That gentleman, being asked by the rep
resentative of a New York daily whether
the report was true, answered:
Yes, sir, it Is [ made an offer to
purchase the beautiful Muckross estate
from the Standard Insurance Company Of
Scotland. They hold a mortgage on the
property and recently foreclosed. L Of
fered them $250,000, and, If they accept it,
[ intend presenting the estate and the
lakes it includes to the Irish people. L
have not yet heard whether my offer
has been accepted, but L hope it has.
[ am very anxious that this charming
piece of nature should be preserved to
Ireland, and L also would like the pre-
serving of it to belong to an Irishman
rather than to allow it to fall into the
hands of foreigners.
The Irish people may regard Sir Thorn
as Upton and his yacht as they choose,
but to disinterested persons The olfer
made by that gentleman for the pur-
chase of the Lakes of Killarney will go
further to establish the genuine charac-
ter Of his Irish patriotism than any num-
Der of nationalist speeches that he might
deliver from now till the hour OF his
death.