The Irish standard., 1906-03-31
BROUGHT 7 ! :! TO MIND
Thoughts Suggested by q St.
Patrick's Day Parade.
What England Has Lest and
America Has Gained.

-
The following communication, nd
dressed to the SUM-" New York, b,
John D. Crimmirs, long promincn; :,
the affairs Of that greet city. points OIL
facts and conditions whose full impor
is rarely realized even b. those OF Iris.
birth or descent, and which may b,
pondered by those whose ignor src.. u
prejudice tcaIs to the belittlemen. O.
the influence of the sons and daughter.
of Erin in the "pbuilding Of .hi.; grea
nation: ;sssa;In
To the Editor Of the Sun:
Sir: What prolific race the Irist
race must he. was the quiet Thought ol
many onloolse:s on the line Of pA-adt
on st. Patrick's Day: and what drai,
Of lifeblood Of ireland is to be seen ir
the lusty manhood. the majority in the
prime Of life, in the procession and or
the sidewalks. And Tor every man In
line or on the walks there was Il strong
irish woman, whose face spoke he,
character Of virtue and faith. In every
city Of the several states may be seer
g! St Patrick's DAY. in prop rti"n T.,
the population, similar evidences. Scat
tered in greater or smaller number in
every habitable place on the globe the
day is observed.
The population of ireland is less than
that of Greater New York. For one
moment let us give thought to what
would be our condition. present and
future. IL from our city there were such
an outpouring Of strong. healthy young
life as goes to make such a people as
We see. They would be made up of
many races. What depression 1t
would create, taking the heart out OF
the people. Another thought: What
England has lost by her maladminis-
tration Of Irish affairs. has not the
world gained? In Rome few years
ago. during call on Cardinal Martin
elli, who was for some time In the
United States speaking of the growth
Of the Catholic Church in tho country
1T now numbers 10000, 900 commune
cants-he said:
THE persecution Of the Irish by the
English spread the Irish race over
America and Australia, where they
have been missionaries of the Catholic
Church. What England and her peo-
pie have lost. the Church has gained"
He enlarged upon this topic 1t is to
be remembered that the English perse-
cution Of the Catholics and Presby-
terians drove many Irish to this coun-
try in the early days.
The Catholics of Ireland had no
rights left to them. and the Presbyte-
rians very few. Catholics could not
even hold property.
What England lost and America
gained is incalculable in value. Mayor
Mcclellan in his address at the banquet
Of the Friendly Sons of st. Patrick
truly said:
Anarchy and Socialism have never
appealed to Irishmen, least of all to
Irishmen in this country"
This Is true. Possibly there may be
few exceptions.
The Irishman at home is charged
with being indolent. and this is given
as one Of tho causes Of his lack of
prosperity. There must be q wonderful
change come over him during his voy-
age to this country. for the moment he
lands on our shores he is off seeking
employment. What race Is more indus
trious or absorbs our conditions more
rapidly" They would become citizens
an hour after landing ii that were pos
sible. They seem to understand our
institutions immediately. Possibly n
few sometimes take toe liberal con-
struction Of our law. but that is rare
occurrence. 1his is their home; they
are loyal to 1t and to the flag Of our
country. From many years of observa-
ton in the employment Of thousands
Of mechanics end laborers Of all races,
can safely say the Irish laborer and
the Irish mechanic are the best in their
class. They work with heart and head.
They are strong and courageous, and
are first in what may DO considered
dangerous work. Any master mechanic
being asked what race under his obser-
walton RI oducec the best mechanic. will
tell you the Irish. speak now of con.
structive trades
The same Is to be found among
tailors. and. sMeaking Of women, the
best modistes and the best milliners
are Of Irish birth or descent. judging
from the names on their places of busi-
ness.
The Illustration I have spoken of on
the streets and sidewalks on st. Pat
rick's Day must have been impressive
to the thinker.
JOHN D. CRIMMlNs.
New York, March 20.
OVER THE NORTHWEST.
..H1