Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15
ISLE

every six hundred Irish immigrants took
the trip across the Atlantic in vain Those
deported We're returned home To relieve
the United States of the financial burden
of supporting them, chiefly because of
their insanity
Some foreigners maintain such loyalty
to their European governments that
American naturalization comes TO them ~
as slow and solemn thought. Not so
with the Irishmari. He considers that his
love for his own green land will abide al
ways, even though he willingly renounces
allegiance to his king II is due partial
~ to this fact. and partially to Pats
Unborn love to talk politics and to be a
part of its machinery. that the average
freshman loses little time in becoming a
full-fedged American citizen with all the
rights and privileges Of the native-born
men of the land
From earliest recollection Tie son OF
Erin knows that IL is one OF mans great
est joys to argue for or against landlord
ism, land laws. tenant rights. home rule.
or what not. and that successful cam
paign gives variety to the auietude of lie
by clashing forces and clinchng fists
II in Ireland he or his people had es-
poused a lost cause, then in America he
is twice as anxious to take a hand N
the affairs of government. The anecdote
of the shipwrecked 1rshman is an illus
tratton OF Pats natural interest in pub
lie affairs After the man from the
Emerald Isle had been tossed about on q
raft on angry waters for four days hs
was picked up near New York His first
wants of food and drink were supplied
IN response to his motions. for he could
not speak.
As soon. however. as these creature
comforts had been given him he was able
to talk. His very first sentence was 10
w ,,t,t IN, A..
country" When an affirmative answer
was given he replied. We'll, I'm ag'iu
it, The pleasure of having expressed
his political views was a satisfaction IN
itself.
The famine and continued crop failure
OF Ireland about seventy-five years ago
sent approximately one-ffth of the popu-
lation of the country from their homes
Between 1S41 and 1852 about one million
of these unfortunate people came to
America. Thousands had ALWAYS been
poverty stricken: but thousands of others
had been accustomed to living in plenty.
and many had previously had riches TO
spare.
The extensive migration. lasting through
twenty years. brought some of the very
best class of Irish stock to our shore To
be sure. many were in the throes of eA-
IRENE necessity, but with good minds,
good morals and honest intentions they
laid the foundation for a good citizenship
among Irish-Americans.
-.
It was N 1855 that 163,1oo Irish came
to America. This meant that about 40
arrived every day during the. year. If
this annual record had been maintained
very long Ireland would soon have he
come an appropriate setting for a Robin
son Crusoe story. During the last ten
years an average OF 105 sons OF Erin
have come to America every day about
1870 there was much resentment Of
Pats" popularity in public office.
1t was laughingly claimed that the tall.
straight sons of st. Patrick were meas
ured for their policeman's uniforms IN
Ireland so that they might find their
suits waiting for them in New York city
where they could be Immediately sworn
in as guardians OF the law. George Wat
ertoun's poem Of 1871 is expressive Of
part of the public sentiment at that time:
Oh, If 7 were an freshman.
For office 1 would rum
Oh. wouldn't / have fun
I'd smoke the very best cigars
I'd drive a pair Of bays.
And when Travelled up the road.
Oh. how the boys would gsz'.
OBJ, if was an Irishman.
FOR office would run,
And when the perquisites csme y,
Oh, wouldn't have fun
Alas. I'm not an Irishmap,
But do not coldly frown.
II WAS not fault Of mine
That born In Bostontown
Oh, had first beheld the light
In Dublin or in Cork
I would next day have sailed AWAY
And settled in New York.
Today such prejudices are relics. In
our present United States Congress there
Is Michael Donohoe of Pennsylvania, and
G. Francis OShaunessy of Rhode ISLAM.
both of whom were born on Irish soil
and brought up by Irish parents.
u
James Gamble, who built the Il. & q.
tunnel under the city of Baltimore. and
William H. Maxwell. for years superin-
tendent of public schools in New York,
are both native Irishmen.
Mcclure of magazine fame. Victor
Herbert, known through his music. and
the Cudahy brothers form an Irish trio
which furnishes food to mind, soul and
body.
Just what the people OF Ireland have
contributed to America is best seen from
the facts OF history. The wise men or
Plymouth realized. after their tirst
struggles that there was but the need OF
more people to make their colony sue
cess This necessity was met through
negotiations with Bristol merchants. who
transported many hundreds of strong
Irish people from their homes to
America.
persons of purely Celtic stock is what is
said to have formed the vital force of
New England The sturdy constitutions
of these foreigners fitted them for their
new undertaking in clearing woods. build
ing homes and in pushing the Indian
westward. Their happy dispositions, their
love of nature and their poetical make.
up served as balance TO the plodd!ng,
prosaic characteristics of the English.
Later, when the north of Ireland sent
over its fax raising sons and daughters
and its spinning wheels the linen in
dustry received its great boost.
BY the time the revolutionary war had
become certainty there were five hun
dred thousand Irish i'll the new world
Patrick Henry, of Celtic parentage. made
a name for hin1self that will never die.
One half of the Continental army was
composed of brave. excitable lrishmen
who did not find that their love for Eng
land had been increased in the new
world.
The Friendly Sons Of St. Patrick,
which was started in 1871 as BROTH
erly organization of all Irish, gave
good service to the new republic. and
during the revolutionary war twenty
seven of its wealthy members SUBJ
scribed more than 100000 to help
provide food for the army, while 9TH
ers sacrificed their lives as soldiers.
Today Irish Americans point back