The Irish standard., 1903-09-19

Il motherland to point to. 1t was pro-
posed ut the recent conference that
an anti-emigration congress of Irish
people be held at the Worlds Fair at
st. Louis next year. at which steps
might be taken to enlist the aid and
sympathy of the Irish in America in
the crusade. This it seems to us
would be an excellent idea. While the
Irish in America are true and patriotic
Americans they are also loyal Irish
men. They take much pride in the
history of their mother country and
are ardent advocates of the principle
of Irish nationality. While they glory
in being citizens of the Great Republic
they also pride themselves in being
descendants Of an ancient race whose
civilization anti-dates that of every
other European people now in exist
ence. 1t would indeed be Il sad con-
dition of affairs if Ireland should
cease to be the home of the Irish pco-
pie. 1t must be admitted that IL better
fight for Irish nationality can he made
by the Irish people remaining ut home.
The Irish in America are not selfish.
They do not insist upon the Irish now
i'll Ireland bearing the whole burden of
the fight. They have aided the Irish
cause in many ways and are prepared
to aid the cause still further. But it
does seem that the time has arrived
when the Irish people can do better
lit home than by emigrating. The lot
of the average Irish emigrant in
America is not IL desirable one AS IL
rule he becomes IL servant doing meni-
al labor ut barely living wages. OF
course many lrishmen have become
wealthy in the United States, many
more have become men of influence
in politics and the professions, and
still Il larger number have become the
owners of farms or the proprietors of
business enterprises, owning their OWL
homes, but by far the greater number
lahOrcrS.
Bishop Shcelan in his address
pointed out how the Irish in America
We're largely responsible for the con-
tinued emigration to the United States:
Going to America. therefore. no
longer meant going from home, but in
4x.,
home. and that was the explanation
of the wonderful change that had
taken place in the whole conduct of
emfgl;nts leaving Ireland to-day. us
compared with what it was thirty
or forty years since. There was !,
complete absence of those mauifeSta-
lions of great outward sorrow-in
deed, i'm some cases there were mani
festations of positive JOY in leaving
If that be the condition of things, it
was high time, if they wanted to
save the nation, to try and do some
practical work. Now, in order to do
that they had to address themselves
to two distinct classes. They had
first of all to address themselves to
the Irish abroad. and he was inclined
to think that that was matter which
had been too long neglected. They
addressed themselves in the past
mainly to the Irish ut home. but now
the Irish abroad had large share
in bringing about the emigra ton of
recent years.
No doubt the Irish in America have
been largely responsible for the large
number of emigrlntS to this country
in recent years. The large emigration
in the middle of the last century was
due of course to the conditions
brought about by the great famine in
Ireland. With less than four and one
half millions of people, where eleven
million formerly lived. it would seem
that Ireland under the conditions now
to he inaugurated ought to offer bet
ter opportunity to the Irish than any
foreign country. Certainly the moral
influences there are better than any
where else. The climate SURPRISES
anything in America. and the assoca-
tons are more pleasant. 10 be an
freshman in America is no disgrace
now. but to be an IriSllman in Ireland
when the day of liberation comes. as
it surely will. will mean much more.