The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-05

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIM.

II is said that two-thirds of the entire
Irish race are IN the United States; and
that there are more Irish in Boston than
in any other city IN the world South
Carolina has the largest Irish population
of any state in the Union. Nearly half of
the Continental troops under Washington
We're of Irish descent, and many OF the
most valiant officers Of the Revolution
wore small green flags on their coats TO
mark their double allegiance.
The connection Of the Irish with America
goes back to the earliest history of the
country. First there is the legendary
visit of 81. Brendan, devout missionary
and daring navigator, whose supposed
visit to our shores antedated the landing
of Columbus by 1000 years There were
Irish pilgrims on the Msyfiower. and 800
or 600 members Of this race came over
in the stormy times of Cromwell. As
early as 1T6 800 Irish families went TO
South Carolina. There were Irish Quak-
ers in the settlement of William Penn.
and before the Revolution nearly half
of the members Of the Pennsylvania leg
islature were Irish.
Nine Of the signers Of the Declaration
of Independence were either Irish or of
direct Irish descent. John Barry was
given the first captaincy in the American
navy and the naval honors he won for
the Emerald Isle were continued by
Stephen Decatur of direct Irish extrac-
ton. Mad Anthony" Wayne was Irish
to his finger tips. and was belligerenuy
proud of IT, Capt Daniel Patrick. the
noted Indian fighter OF the Massachu-
sets Bay Colony, was born in Ireland.
This undaunted people were the first TO
make their way across the Alleghenies,
under the leadership of their cOuntrymen
Daniel Boone and David Crockett. Gen.
Sam Houston never failed to remark on
his Irish blood, Of which he was aggres-
sively proud. Both Miles Standish and
John Alden were Irish.
The popular conception that there are
mort Irishmen in politics than anywhere
else is not far from the truth There
is an old saying that they have ruled
every other country In the world but
their own. Seven of the twenty-five
American Presidents have been Of Irish
descent, and two Presidential candidates.
James G. Blaine and Horace Greeley
were Of that blood. John g Calhoun,
the master statesman and orator. was the
son OF Patrick Calhoun. born in Donegal
County, Ireland. The first mayor Of New
York after the Revolution was Joseph
Duane. the son of a County Galway
Irishman. Massachusetts, New Hamp-
nd
by three brothers named Sullivan. One
of the most picturesque figures in the
whole history of American politics was
Gen. James Shields. hero of the Mexican
and civil wars governor of Oregon.
chief justice of Illinois. and the only
man who ever served three terms in the
United States Senate. each time from a
different State. He was first sent from
Illinois, then from Minnesota, and finally
from Missouri.
The power of the Irish in New York
politics is proverbial The first grand
sachem OF Tammauy was William
Mooney. also the first TO sign its constitu-
ton. Honest John" Kelly and Charles
O'ConnoT We're both leaders Of Tammany
who fought against the Tweed ring
Richard Crocker and his lieutenant and
successor. Charles F. Murphy. are both
Irish. We also have many Irish re-
formers. such as Patrick Moran, district
attorney of Boston; Mayor Dunno, of
Chicago, and Mayor Pagan, of Jersey
City. Patrick J. Boyle has served eleven
terms as mayor Of Newport, r. l.
Among the Irish in high political places
in all parts Of the Union might be named
Tom Taggart, of Indiana; Senator Patter-
son, Of Colorado; Senator Carter, of Mon
tana; Representative Bourke Cochran OF
New York; Representative Burke. of
South Dakota; Bernard Rodney. Dele
gate from New Mexico. and Justice Ed
ward D. White and Justice Joseph Nc
kenna of the United States Supreme
Court Edward A Moseley. secretary Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission, who
has labored for years TO get the railroads
to adopt protective appliances for the
personal safety Of their employees. Is al
ways jokingly insistent on his Irish blood.
The Irish have a large representation in
the realm of finance Thomas Fortune
Ryan. a loyal son of Erin, is said by
many to be the coming king Of American
finance. il indeed that honor has not al
ready fallen upon him through the failing
health Of J. PierpOnt Morgan. James J.
Hill is the greatest commercial pathfinder
Of the present century. having laid open
the great Northwest with his railroads.
and sent his cOmmerce-laden ships to the
ports OF Japan Russia, and China Alex
andeT L. orr, president OF the New York
Life Insurance Company, is only once re-
moved from an Irishman born in County
Cork, and John A Mccall. his predeces-
scr, was also Irish. Daniel O'Day is one
OF the presiding geniuSes OF Standard Oil
Capt John Flannery was president OF the
Southern Cotton Exchange. and Col. c.
9. Sanders headed the State Banking
Company of Georgia.
Capt. John J. Healy was the CONNER
cial discoverer of Alaska, when he had
burrowed his way through the frozen North
to the largest Alaskan settlement he
found four Of the sixteen men there TO he
Irishmen- Thomas F. Walsh. of Wash
ington, is president Of the Irrigation Con
gress. George J. Whelan. with his 200
cigar. stores, is the largest retail tobacco
dealer in the United States. Samuel @
Bayne has organized more national banks
than any one man in America. having
spread his labors over seven States sam
uel Sloane, railroad president. and Rich
ard c, Kerens, capitalist are feIIow-coun-
trymen from the Emerald Isle
The four Cudahy brothers-Patrick.
John, Edward, and Michael-exercise a
large control over the food supplies of
the world, and their native cities ilwau-
kee. Chicago. and Omaha-owe an enor-
nous commercial debt TO their unfiagging