Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

YTNITH the recurrence of st. Patricks
AL Day. the annual festival of the
wv patron saint of Ireland public at
tention naturally turns to the sons and
daughters OF the Emerald Isle who have
crossed the ocean and to their descend
ants who have made a place for them
selves in the western world. OF all the
transpanted national holidays that have
place on the American calendar St Pat
rlck's Day ia the most extensively OBJ
served, and no wonder, for fully two
thirds Of the widely scattered Irish race
are now In the United States and Cana
da. 1t has been aptly said that Boston
and New York and not Belfast and Dub
lin are, in this century, the greatest
Irish cities in the world
1t Is no exaggeratiOn to say that no
other race has done so much for the
American continent. Throughout the en-
tire evolution of the United States as a
world power the Irish have been ever to
the fore, and they have played no small
part In the development of the Dominion
of Canada, where the natural resources
and opportunities for quick wealth have
attracted these energetic people in much
the same degree as has the United States.
The Irish In America have been leaders
and pioneers in every line of progress,
and at least seven of our 25 presidents
have had Irish blood in their veins, name
ly Jackson, Buchanan, Arthur, Polk, Mon
roe, Mckinley and Roosevelt.
A circumstance that gives Ireland espe-
cial credit in the making of the modern
America Is that the Irish were here lend
Ing hand from the earliest days. There
might be cited several different uatonali-
ties whose representatives have been very
conspicuous In America Of late years, but
who were in no sense pioneers. having gain
ed fOOthold at a comparatively recent
date The first distinctive Irish settlement
In America was founded at Logan, Pa,
the year 1893 The town Of Londonderry,
New Hampshire, a famous Irish com
munity was settled In 1919 Once started,
however, the tide of Irish immigration
flowed rapidly across the Atlantic, and
statistics bear proof that in the great
struggle which resulted in the founding
of the United States as an Independent
nation. nearly one-half of Gen. George
Washingtons army WIS made Of men of
Irish birth or Irish descent
The Friendly Sons of st. Patrick was
one of the first organizations in the coun-
try to support General Washington with
men and money, having raised, at the
outset, fund of half a million dollars
for the cause Of independence. That docu-
ment OF pre-eminent significance, the
Declaration of Independence, had three
signers Of Irish birth-namely Mathew
Thornton, James Smith and George Tay-
lor-and six others of Irish blood. These
men of Irish descent included the famous
first signer," John Hancock, and the
well-known Charles Carroll. of Carroll
ton.
However, it was as fighters that the
Irish chiefly distinguished themselves in
that strenuous period, which witnessed
the birth OF the greatest republic. Mad
Anthony" Wayne was one Of the most
conspicuous Irish warriors for the cause
Of freedom, but he shared honors with
such leaders as Gen. Richard Montgom-
cry, who fell at Quebec; Gen. George
Clinton, Gen Henry Knox and Gen. John
stark. the hero Of Bennington. John Bar