The Irish standard., 1910-01-15


ated for all his American children are
to blame for the present condition of
affairs. Mr.. Walkers contribution on
forestry Is worthy of perusal, coming
as it does from a timber grabber Of
Colossal magnitude.
IRISH AMERICANS IN POLITICS.
A correspondent who signs himself
Zone of the Irish Element" writing to
New York newspaper concerning the
shelving of his countrymen in favor of
Germans in recent city appointments at
that place, says he is glad this has
come to pass, and that he hopes able
lrishmen from now on will seek other
means of livelihood than political pre-
ferment.
"There is wisdom in the suggestion"
says the Chicago Tribune. 1.-THE Irish
IN America have long since demon
strated their ability to succeed in any
line of professional or commercial en-
deavor to which they apply themselves.
In law, in journalism. in commerce, in
Industries Of all sorts, the Irish come
to the front and often pass those who
started in the same race with better
facilities. A brilliant list could be
made of Irishmen who have won the
highest success in competition with
the keenest minds of the country.
I'm politics, too, they have succeeded,
but as office holders they, or any other
race, are wasting their abilities. The
same effort in professions or commerce
would put them far ahead of any mark
they might reach by being merely cogs
in an administrative machine. This
does not refer to Offices where great
administrative capacity. is required,
but to the ordinary rank and file of
political patronage"
That the Irish in America have not
been adequately compensated for
political services rendered to the two
national parties is fact which re-
quires no demonstration. Daniel
Dougherty, the silver tongued orator
of Philadelphia, placed Cleveland in
nomination for the presidency and
went to his grave unrewarded. P. A.
Collins, of Boston; who rendered a
similar service, was appointed consul
general to London, position more
lucrative than an Enthusiastically, but
he ought to have got a place in the
cabinet. Both parties in recent years
have recognized the Irish Americans,
several of whom are now filling posi-
lions of trust and responsibility at
home and abroad. The latest appoint
ment is that Of Richard Kerns as am
bassador to Austria Hungary. In
state politics, the Irish-Americans are
filling good berths, both elective and
appointive, and have no just cause
of complaint. They are naturally cut
out for politicians. Some of them sue
coed admirably as offlce-holders, but
they might have succeeded just as we'll,
or better, in professional and COM
mercial pursuits.
The ignoring of Irish Americans by
Mayor Gaynor Of New York for city
appointments may be a blessing in dis
guise. They may now seek other means
of livelihood than political preferment
at the hands of renegade to their
creed and nationality. That Gaynor
is turn-coat was proved by docu-
mentary evidence in the recent cam
paign. A sketch Of his life and an
cestry. which appeared in the New
York Sun of Oct. 81 Of last year, proves
conclusively that his father bore the
good old Celtic name Of Kieran and that
when he died his funeral took place
from st. Patrick's Roman Catholic
church at Utica, ". Y. His son, the
present Mayor. whose middle name is
Joseph and not Jay, was baptized at
st. Johns Catholic church in the same
city. He is now member of the
Episcopal church. What could the
Irish Americans who supported him In
the election expect from such q man?
1t does not surprise us a particle
that Gaynor is currying favor with the
Germans rather than with the Irish.
If he ever receives the nomination for
the presidency from the Democracy Of
the nation the Irish-Americans OF the
country from New York to San Fran
cisco and from Duluth to New Or
leans will know how to deal with him.
A Baptist, q Presbyterian, Methodist
or Unitarian will poll q bigger vote
on the Democratic ticket than q de-
generate Irish American who has
abandoned the faith Of his fathers for
ii 4 ~,