The Irish standard., 1906-03-31

ticable radical advocates instead o
their prudent leaders.
THE IRISH IN AMERICA.
The recent numbers of Munsey,
Magazine contain interesting articles
dealing with the leading racial element
in the population Of the United States
The first Of these articles appeared IL
the January number and treated Of tn,
Jew in America. The February mum
Der had an. article upon the sons o
old Scotland and the March number
contained an article upon the Germans
In the April magazine Herbert N. Cas-.
son writes Of the Irish in America. TX
those who have not given the matter
any direct thought a reading Of the las,
article will be both interesting ant
surprising; surprising because mos
people, even the Irish themselves. have
been accustomed to think of that ma.
tionality az going to make up the grea,
rank and file furnishing leaders only
in politics and, to a lesser degree, Ii
the professions. Mr.. Casson in his ar.
ticle shows that almost every line OF
human endeavor in the United States
is occupied by the Irish. He uses
the word Structural" as most descrip.
tive Of the nationality. He refers, in
calling the Irish structural, to the
great influence that they have had in
the building up Of the country, in the
clearing Of the forests. the building OF
railroads and Of the large cities. He
admits that "a certain green isle in
q northerly sea is the historic home OF
the Irish people, but says that the pres
emit address of at least two-thirds OF
the scattered race is United States OF
America" Boston. not Belfast nor
Dublin. is the greatest Irish city in
the world. The historian who shall
do full justice to the Irish branch OF
the human family has not yet appeared
either in the United States or else
where. Consequently there are few
races if any who have been so persist
emily misunderstood and undervalued
The writer ascribes some of the chief
traits of the American nation to the
preponderance Of the Irish element.
American versatility and quickness to
take the initiative are cited as evil
dences Of the Irish strain in American
life.
By way Of illustrating the fact that
Irishmen are engaged in every line OF
work the writer says that "a New
Yorker may rise in the morning. battle
in water that comes from the Croton
Dam built by James Coleman. Ex-
president Of the Friendly Sons Of st.
Patrick; breakfast on Cudahy bacon;
then take the subway built by John B.
Mcdonald, past the New College Of the
City OF New York built by Thomas
Dryer, to his ONCE in sky-scraper
built by John d. Crimmins. where he
will cable to Alaska over line laid
by David Lynch, to order certain freight
sent via James ]. Hills Great Northern
railroad. Their with cigar bought
from one Of George Whelan's three
hundred cigar stores he will read the
New York Sun published by William
NJ. Laffan and delivered by the Amer
lean News Company founded by Patrick
Farrelly. and remark to an English
friends: Eyes. OF course. this is an
Anglo-Saxon country"
The fact is recalled that at least
seven OF the presidents have had more
or less Irish blood in their veins:
Monroe. Jackson. Polk. Buchanan
Arthur. Mckinley and Roosevelt. Among
the large flnanciers OF the country the
Irish have more than their proper
tionate representation. The man W &c
today stands 1T the head Of American
finance, not even excepting J. Pierponi
Morgan, is Thomas +. Ryan of New
York and Virginia. while not ia: be-
HIND him stand: James ]. Hill Of oul
own state who was born in Canada vi
Ulster parents. Other railroad mcl1
nre Samuel Sloan and Richard c.
Kerens Of st. Louis; while the names
Of bank presidents and directors would
I'LL volume. The names Of Irish con.
tractors who have built the railroa Il
and other great works in this count;
are many. The iiis: great merchant III
this country was the latc. A. i. Stewart
whose New York store was tho largest
Of its kind In the world.
Munsey's article will not surprise
its readers by the statement that many
of the most distinguished judges of the
country have been of Irish blood. OF
the nine Judges Of the supreme court
OF the United States today two are
Irish by descent; Justices White and
McKenna; while the supreme court o.
the State Of New York, one Of thu
best state courts In the country, con.
tains the names of Justices Keogh
Fitz Gerald, Barrett, Bowling. Denni.
O'Brien and Morgan J. O'Brien. In tn.
field Of education the writer assign'
the late President 1Iarper Of Chica'
50 University. William H. Maxwell
Superintendent Of the New York pub
lie schools. Maurice F. Egan Of tn,