The Irish standard., 1902-07-19

In the course Of paper ON "Emi-
grafton" recently read by Rev. DR..
Walter Mcdonald, Prefect of Dun
boyne, before meeting of the May
nooth Union, we find the following
passages relating to the exiles Of Erin
in this country:
A friend of mine, a very sensible,
shrewd and an influential American
priest, came to Ireland this year. He
arrived after I had been asked by DR..
Nannix to prepare this paper, and be-
fore I met him had been thinking
of the subject a good deal. was
glad of the opportunity Of discussing
the matter with one on whose judg-
ment / could rely. and from whom 1
might learn the real meaning of the
advices and warnings we have re-
ceived from so many men like him in
the United States. began by putting
the general question whether the pres
ent condition of the labor market was
such as to make it advisable fer Irish
men to emigrate. The reply was
what I had expected and had heard
so often, 'Ilet them stay at home"
Then 1 began to interrogate more
closely. 1 asked whether it was not
true that in his own State agricul-
tural laborers were paid, in addition
10 ,o;, fvri0o fh~0n fino0c
as much as they received here with
out any board, and whether in these
circumstances careful man might not
save money and push himself on after
a long time. My friend replied, "Oh,
if you speak of such as are disposed
to save their money the case is diff
ferent; let them come, artisans CT
laborers, and they will prosper" Now,
it seems to me that this may throw
light Oh the mind of those who advise
us from America to keep our people
at hcme. Can it mean that they do
not mean to include saving, thrifty
fclk-above all, such as have already
put by little sum on which they
may call in time of need? 1 wrote
for information to another very sensi-
BILE man and intelligent priest, whose
mission is separated by almost the
breadth of the entire continent from
that of the friend to whom I have
been referring. Amongst other ques-
migrants We're more successful than
the Irish. and if so why? My friend
replied-"Why the Germans do better
than the Irish? You ask is this so;
] think it is. and the reasons are
/. The German is better trained, edu
Gated, disciplined. 2. The Germans
send many skilled workmen-the Irish
few. 3. The German is less given to
excess in Intoxicating drink 4. The
German is thriftier-looks ahead; the
Irshman is tco much Of go-as-you
please kind of man: % and, lastly
and this is quite important, the Ger
man almost invariably comes here
WITH little Slike EI Stllll Ol ulOllcS /,
the Irishman usually penniless. This
makes a tremendous difference at the
start" Here again we have an indi-
cation OF why so many Irish immi-
grants failed in America; they are not
educated, disciplined, sober, thrifty,
NOT had they formed the habit of lay
ing by. If they were the reverse of
all this. I. doubt whether their best
friends in America would advise them
to stay at home. The Germans in the
United States ard Canada do t find
it necessary. as far as know, to warn
their people to stay in Germany. 1t
is MT. therefore, in the condition Of
the labor market in America, but in
the character of our people that the
defect lies: and it is there the remedy
is to be applied. if there is a remedy,
and if those who stay at home are
to do any good at home. If this be
true it determines at once the answer
that should be. given to the young
man waiting for advance. There is no
question Of education, except in a
wide sense. for unfortunately he is but
an nnsEfl,ad lahorer Rut is he diSci-