The Irish standard., 1908-12-26
COME BACK 70 ERIN.


Minneapolis Tribune at washington,
D. c.. writes Of scheme originated
~ young 1rishman in the employ Of
the government to help home indus
tries in his native land. Francis J..
Kilkenny. the young 1rishman referred
to, is practical patriot who believes
in Irish independence without any in
reference from Great Britain; but at
the same time he believes in helping,
those at home all he can without watt
ing for the day when ireland Is free
from British domination. His plan Of
aiding Ireland is feasible, as can be
seen further on. and we have no hesi-
tation in giving 1t our hearty endorse
lnent.
Mr.. Kilkenny has had an opportunity
Of studying the Irish question in its
industrial and social aspects, having
gene to Ireland many times since com
ing to the United States. He has flied
position in the ofiice Of the Comp
troller of the Currency under three
administrations. and is a man of con-
siderable intelligence. He has dtscov-
cred that what ireland needs .or the
development Of her various resources
is capitalize capital in the fands of
1rish-Americans who take an interest
in the welfare Of Ireland and desire to
see her get prosperous and happy, even
before she becomes free and independ-
cnt Of the British yoke. He unfolds
his plan as follows:
" have had the good fortune to he
able to visit Ireland several times since
I first came to America, and l there
fore speak from personal experiences
in saying that know of nothing that
would be Of so much benelit to Irish
men everywhere as an annual pilgrim.
age to the dear old Emerald Isle.
Everyone knows how Irishmen have
forged to the front in every country
Of the world. Americans take pleasure
In pointing to the immense crops of
wheat grown in the United States:
but. according to the United States
department Of agriculture, ireland
grows more wheat on an acre of
ground than is grown on two acres in
the United States.
And. according to the same e,ni-
nent authority, Ireland surpasses not
only the United States, but all the 9TH
er countries of Europe excepting Bel
GUM In the amount Of wheat, oats and
rye grown to the acre. We all know,
Of the vast possibilities in Ireland in
other lines besides agriculture, and IL
IL because Of the opportunities which
I have seen everywhere there that I
am convinced that, IL Irishmen as q
body could be induced to visit the old
land they would see there opportuni-
ties as great as can be found anywhere
else in the world for the profitable
investment Of their capital.
ireland has the natural resources;
she needs only the capital to develop
them: and firmly believe that cap
italists could be induced, by such a
home coming movement, to go and see
fer themselves the riches she has to
offer.
Such q movement would give our
countrymen across the water great
heart in their upward efforts. ana who
can calculate the great benefit to the
pilgrims themselves from the inter-
change Of ideas with other Irishmen
from every quarter Of the globe? A
movement Of this kind will show to
the world how much greater is the love
Of Irishmen for Ireland than that of
the sons Of any other nation for thcir
fatherland. foe no similar movement
l's-- ''-'' ,---4'S S---''--'s"A ''''' --.'-~s