Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-16

Finn were doing for the Irish nina
something Of what the finding of the
! old manuscript of the "Nibelungenlied"
did for Germany in the eighteenth CEN
fury. The nation is gaining the self
respect that comes from the knowledge
of past Illuminated by art, romance,
and heroism. And there are clear
signs that the Irish nation, SO fasc1-
mating in all it's incompleteness and
unsuccess, is on the way to play dis
| tinct and worthy part in the civiliza-
ton and thought of the world, for the
first time since, over a thousand
years ago, it was the missionary ma
ton and the school of learning in
Europe.
There can be no doubt that this
striking representation of Irish art and
industry will give many Americans
quite new conception of Ireland. And
they will be glad to see that it does
not stop with a protrayal of the past
glories of the country. Ireland was
coming to be known too much, like a
| heroine of modern drama, as country
with past 1t appears from the
show at St. Louis that Ireland of the
present day is not only building the
| biggest ships, running the largest rope
works, brewing the best stout and
whiskey, and weaving most of the fine
linen of Europe, but is breaking fresh
ground in the direction of the artistic
l.handicrafts.
Not the least striking of the ex-
hibits is the large section containing
specimens Of the work Of the Irish
technical schools. When we consider
that irish technical education has
been endowed only within the last
four or five years, and that these
schools are under the direct manage
ment of local elective bodies, we can
not but recognize that the Irish re-
nascence is not merely an affair of
poetry and romance, but is genuine
forward movement all along the line
of the nations life. Ireland is waking
up; and with her remarkable natural
resources and facilities, and popula-
ton who have become touched with
the industrial spirit, this country is
! likely, we imagine, to attract capital
and enterprise to it's further develop
ment.
| Economically, a great part of the
country is virgin soil. Not only in
dustrial spirit itself was killed by the
savage laws of the eighteenth century
But the Celt has always shown a strik-
| ing power of recuperation, and he is
showing it now Some features of the
brave show which Irish productions
make at st. Louis represent no doubt,
not deep-rooted and widespread indus
tries, but are rather samples of posi-
bilities still to be fully realized. What
the Department of Agriculture and
those with whom they are cooperating
are mainly anxious to achieve by this
exhibition is to show that these posi-
bilities, these human and material re-
| sources, do really exist.
People will not permanently buy
things from motives Of charity or pa
triotism. The new Industrial policy
concerns itself more with the prcduc-
tion than with consumption. It calls
upon the Irish people to to themselves
by training and study for Industrial
life, and it will welcome leaders who
can organize productive enterprises,
and supply the initiative and the bust
ness experience still so largely wanting
in Ireland. All along the eastern
coast are towns most suitable in every
way to become centers Of industrial en-
terprise. The example of Wexford,
with its excellent machine-works, so
well represented at st. Louis, and its
other successful industries of recent
/ growth, shows what may be hoped for
in this direction. It would not be
difficult to turn into these towns, if
employment were provided, a large
portion Of that immense stream OF
manhood and laboring power which
now pours into the manufacturing
cities of England and the United
States. If the exhibition of Ireland's
resources at st. Louis should have the
effect of turning the mind of American
| Irish captains of industry to the un-
worked field for business enterprise
lying in readiness for exploitation in
Ireland, it will have accomplished the
main purpose, and will have ample re-
compensed the labors of those who
h o406 ~, Co.