IRISH IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 41, 11 October 1900, Page 15

IRISH IN AMERICA.

Ixdum ki vtLY, the foreign element in America ha^ been very impoitant (^ays a writer in A inilrr's Magazine'). More than !)0 per cent, of the immigrants who have come and are coming to this country are industrious and sober. They come to better their fortune-", and they &et about doing it with great energy The railroads and great public works in thu country uspd 0) he built by Irish laborers. lam f-peakn.g in general terms. Without them we would not have been able to make the great progrff-s which justifies us in believing that our growth in wealth during the past "in years, is more marvellous than anything the world has previou-Iy seen. But the Irish have found other occupation*, in which they can gratify the gregarious instincts, develop their wonderful talent for political oiganisation, and m large and biik-II ways enjoy the independence to sjn-nd and to accumulate which was denied to them for ho long at home. They have therefore settled in great measure in the cities, and taken up the occupations that in such places are open to th< m. The-e occupations range all the way from street-sweeping to millionaire financiering, and include cab driving car driving, bt ing porters, barkeeper", clerkn, merchants, doctors lawyers, and eiitor«. As piofesMonal politicians ti.ey have had n< liters 1:1 the history of the world. They may be said to have 1 genius for politics. And the liith who have not flocked to th< town* are doing rf maikably well They are farmer" all o\cr th< countiy, and their -niece;-;, in the North Atlantic division of th< countiy. on farms that were no longer profitable under nativ< management, has been mof-t notable. As husbandmen they ar< frugal without being niggardly. Their remarkable pohtioa htrength is due to the f>ict that they have kept together when i came to voting more consistently thin any other peop'e. Thackeray says somewheie. hi* observation being of the Irish in London, tha" there never was an Irishman so poor that he did not have anothe Irishman who looked to him tor "njoyment and support. This wa a tribute to their loy.dty, their friendliness and generosity.