The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-05
GOOD OLD STOCK.
The Irish immigrants Of the Past
Passing Away,

Passing Away.
We stood the other evening, saws the
editor of the Monitor of Newark, N.
j" at a parish entertainment where
there We're gathered together some five
or six hundred people, with nearly all
OF Whom we enjoyed personal &C.
qua1ntance. AS we surveyed them, we
were led into musing: as to their an
tecedents and conditions of life It
was a typical Catholic gathering
nearly all of Irish extraction. We
glanced carefully over the assemblaee
noting especially the men and to our
surprise. we found only two men
present who were born in Ireland. The
rest We're Irish-Americans,
The circumstance brought homo to
US now the old stock is passing away.
The immigrants of the SOS and SOS
and '1o's are dying around us and
there Is little fresh immigration to
take their places. The population of
Ireland Is now something more than
o'oOo-not as many people as are
gathered within a few miles of Man
haitian Island. Many Of these are old.
many have found remuneratiye en-
ployment at home. And it would seem
as though the tida Of Irish immigra-
ton were destined to gradually grow
less from year to year. In the mean
While, time is levying it's heavy annual
tribute ON the Irish-born in America.
The day cannot be far distant when
it will ba rather an unusual expert
ence here in America to meet a man
born on the Gould Sod"
And what magnificent type of man
hood they We're! Strong and sturdy
OF soul and body. they were an ele-
ment to leaven the mass Of any coun-
try. Forced by famine and persecu-
ton to these shores; in the beginning
receiving but scant hospitality. thew
drove their way into the hearts Of the
American people by force of their
strong character, their llnselfish strly-
ings, their noble ideals, their nure
and honest lives. They were schooled
in hardship and adversely, in opposi-
ton and persecution. They strength
ened and waxed vigorous under the
brutal tuition. Every fiber of their
moral being was developed, every
muscle hardened. They were pre-
pared to meet bigotry. and to overcome
1t; to face opposition and, by dint of
character, brush it aside. There was
no element lacking in their mal<e-un
They had intelligence, determination
Imagination. humor good nature gem
crosby. hospitality and indomitable
courage. Nature had given them Soo]
hearts and r sense of humor; centuries
OF persecution had insured the DOS
session OF the stronger graces.
On these natural characteristics, thew
had built up supernatural life. Their
1alth was extraordinary: they were
Catholics to the core. They were Gods
people in the upbuilding of the church
In this great country. There is n.
parish that does not treasure the mem.
Dry OF these sanity exiles, men and
women of strong piety and holiness
OF life. Humble in their origin and
worldly circumstances, deprived b,
tate of the advantages of an education
rough. sometimes, in their converse !,
ton and personal makeup, there was
underneath it all, a natural distinc.
ton that compensated for the acct.
dents of birth and station, quicknes.
OF intellect and readiness of retort tina,
made up for the absence of educational
opportunities and grace, which was
only intensified, like the diamond, by