The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-17

The disposition which will be shown
today among all classes and natfonalities
throughout the country to share in the
feelings which the return of the Irish
national anniversary suggests shows how
warm a place the Americans Of Irish
birth or blood hold in the affections of
the entire American people
Like the members of all nationalities,
the Irish have had many prejudices to
overcome. Religious intolerance has
been invoked against them with more
frequency and bitterness than against
any class of American population, In
Guiding the Jews, and it has been so be-
cause OF the undoubted readiness Of the
average Irishman to fight for his convfc-
lions without thought of consequence to
himself. But that disposition has
passed. Native Americans, as a rule,
look upon their Irish-American fellow cit
liens as being very excellent Americans
in their way. They show more of adapta-
bility to existing social and political con-
ditlons than most do. They accept more
easily than do almost any other foreign
race the standards of American thought
and action. There is today but little
save his name to distinguish the descend
ant of the Irish who left their country
fifty years ago from the descendant Of
the men and women of the Mayfower.
generation or two more and all the
fears which have found expression and
which have most frequently been the
outcome of racial or religious prejudice
founded. so far as they relate to the
people who accept St. Patrick as their
patron saint. They are among the best
Americans In the land, and their readi-
ness for the discharge of any of the du-
ties incumbent on them by reason of their
Americanism Is daily put in evidence by
the members of the race
We can all afford to celebrate st.
Patrick's day. 1t brings with it none
save feelings of kindness and good will.
Thousands of men and women will to-
day fly the national colors of ireland
who bear no relation whatever Of blood
toward that race, and will do so mostly
on account OF the admiration with which
they regard the individuals of the race
or the known and accepted characteris-
tics of the sons and daughters of the
Emerald Isle.
The remarkable circumstances which
we read Of as attending the celebration
Of the Irish anniversary in Lon,
don will afford surprise and pleas.
ure. 1t is perhaps the first time
in the history OF the two races
that anything like a spontaneous express
sion of good will came from either to-
ward the other. When Mr.. Gladstone
assumed the responsibility of his Irish
legislation he had to suffer something
like political persecution. and at no time
in the political controversies growing out
of Irish affairs in recent years have the
Irish members OF parliament been aughi
more than social Pariahs In the city OF
London.
1t Is new dawn which IS approaching
when the genius of the Irish race will
in its own land, be given an opportunity
TO take root and blossom in a more pros.
porous and contented people The world
owes enough to the Irish race for the
sunshine OF its laughter and its wit to
warrant its earnest entertainment of the
hope that before many generations have
passed that race Will become once NOR,
invested with the control of It's own ma
tjOnal destinies