Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-18

gYH,TH the recurrence Of st, Patrick's
NkN Day, the annual festival of the
~ patron saint OF Ireland, public at
teution 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
tsansplanted national holidays that have
place on the American calendar st. Pat
ricks Day is the most extensively OBJ
served, and no wonder. for fully two
thirds OF the widely scattered Irish race
are now Ia the United States and Cana
da II has been aptly said that Boston
and New York. and not Belfast and Dun
lin are, IN this century. the greatest
Irish cities I'm the world.
II Is no eXaggeration to say thai no
other race has done so much for the
American continent Throughout the en-
tire evolution OF the United States az Il
world power the Irish have been ever to
the fore, and they have played no small
part Ia the deyelopme Of the Dominion
of Canada, where the natural resources
and opportunities for quick wealth have
attracted these energetic people In much
the same degree has the United States.
The Irish in America have been leaders
and pioneers In every line OF progress,
and at least seven of our 20 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 nationali-
ties whose representatives have been very
conspicuous IN America of late years, but
who were ia 20 sense pioneers, having gain
ed a foothold at q comparatively recent
date. The first distinctive Irish settlement
IN America was founded at Logan. Pa,
the year 1899 The town OF Londonderry.
New Hamps hire. q famous Irish COM
munity was settled In 1919 Once started,
however, the tide Of Irish Immigration
flowed rapidly across the Atlantic. aud
statistics bear proof that in the great
struggle which resulted In the founding
Of the United States as an independent
nation nearly one-bslf of Gen. George
Wasblngton's army was 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 aud money, having raised. at the
outset, a fund Of half million dollars
for the cause of independence, That docu-
meht OF pre-eminent significance, tie
Declaration Of Independence, had three
signers Of Irish birth-namely Mathew
Thornton, James Smith and George Tay-
lor-aud s1x others Of Irish blood. These
men OF irish descent included the famous
''hrst asner," John Hancock. and the
weH-Suown Charles Carroll OF Carroll
ton
However. Il 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 mosf
conspicuous Irish warriors FOR the cause
Of freedom, bat be shared honors with
such lesiers as Gen. Richard Aontgo1-
ery, who fell al Quebec: Gen. George
Chnton, Gen Henry uoK and Gen. Joan
stark, The hsro Of Bennington. John Bar