Part 1
# The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VII, 1907 ### By Various
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[Illustration:
REAR-ADMIRAL JOHN McGOWAN, U.S.N. (Retired).
PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY, 1906–1907. ]
THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
BY
THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY,
_Secretary-General_.
VOLUME VII.
BOSTON, MASS., PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, 1907.
[Illustration]
BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION.
I take great pleasure in here presenting Volume VII of the JOURNAL of the American-Irish Historical Society. It is hoped the book will be found equal, in point of general interest, to those preceding it and helpful to the organization to whose labors and progress it is devoted. The Society continues in a prosperous condition, has no indebtedness, and is steadily adding new members to its roll. The historical papers contained in this work will be recognized as of more than usual value, while the historical notes and other material will, we are confident, be likewise fully appreciated.
Sincerely, T. H. MURRAY, _Secretary-General_.
BOSTON, MASS., December 31, 1907.
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY, A. D. 1907.
_President-General_, =Rear-Admiral John McGowan, U. S. N.= (retired), Washington, D. C.
_Vice-President-General_, =Hon. Franklin M. Danaher=, Albany, N. Y.
_Secretary-General_, =Thomas Hamilton Murray=, Seaview, Plymouth County, Mass.
_Treasurer-General_, =Michael F. Dooley=, Providence, R. I.
_Librarian and Archivist_, =Thomas B. Lawler=, New York City.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
The foregoing and
=Hon. John D. Crimmins=, New York City. =Hon. William McAdoo=, New York City. =Hon. Thomas J. Gargan=, Boston, Mass. =Patrick F. Magrath=, Binghamton, N. Y. =Rev. John J. McCoy, LL. D.=, Worcester, Mass. =Thomas Addis Emmet, M. D., LL. D.=, New York City. =Edward J. McGuire=, New York City. =John F. O’Connell=, Providence, R. I. =James L. O’Neill=, Elizabeth, N. J. =Stephen Farrelly=, New York City. =Cyrus Townsend Brady, LL. D.=, Toledo, O. =Hon. Thomas J. Lynch=, Augusta, Me. =Gen. Phelps Montgomery=, New Haven, Conn. =Hon. Thomas Z. Lee=, Providence, R. I. =Hon. Patrick Garvan=, Hartford, Conn. =Major John Crane=, New York City. =Col. John McManus=, Providence, R. I. =Hon. William Gorman=, Philadelphia, Pa. =Col. C. C. Sanders=, Gainesville, Ga. =John F. Doyle=, New York City.
STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Maine—=James Cunningham=, Portland. New Hampshire—=Hon. James F. Brennan=, Peterborough. Vermont—=John D. Hanrahan, M. D.=, Rutland. Massachusetts—=M. J. Jordan=, Boston. Rhode Island—=Thomas A. O’Gorman=, Providence. Connecticut—=Dennis H. Tierney=, Waterbury. New York—=Joseph I. C. Clarke=, New York City. New Jersey—=John F. Kehoe=, Newark. Pennsylvania—=Hugh McCaffrey=, Philadelphia. Delaware—=John J. Cassidy=, Wilmington. Virginia—=James W. McCarrick=, Norfolk. West Virginia—=John F. Healy=, Thomas, Tucker County. South Carolina—=W. J. O’Hagan=, Charleston. Georgia—=Capt. John Flannery=, Savannah. Ohio—=John Lavelle=, Cleveland. Illinois—=Hon. P. T. Barry=, Chicago. Indiana—=Very Rev. Andrew Morrissey, C. S. C.=, Notre Dame. Iowa—=Rt. Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, D. D.=, Sioux City. Montana—=Rt. Rev. M. C. Lenihan, D. D.=, Great Falls. Minnesota—=Hon. C. D. O’Brien=, St. Paul. Kentucky—=John J. Slattery=, Louisville. Kansas—=Patrick H. Coney=, Topeka. Utah—=Joseph Geoghegan=, Salt Lake City. Texas—=Gen. A. G. Malloy=, El Paso. California—=James Connolly=, Coronado.
OTHER VICE-PRESIDENTS.
District of Columbia—=Hon. Edward A. Moseley=, Washington. Oklahoma—=Joseph F. Swords=, Sulphur. Canada—=Hon. Felix Carbray=, Quebec. Ireland—=Dr. Michael F. Cox=, Dublin.
[Illustration:
MR. P. F. MAGRATH.
Binghamton, N. Y.
A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND A LIFE MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. ]
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER, A. D. 1907.
The annual meeting and dinner of the Society took place in Boston, Mass., on Thursday evening, January 24, 1907. The following is a copy of the notice issued for the event:
AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER.
DEAR SIR: The annual meeting and dinner of the American-Irish Historical Society will take place at the Hotel Brunswick, Boylston Street, Boston, Mass., on Thursday evening, January 24, 1907.
A committee will be on duty at the hotel all day to receive members and guests, especially those coming from other cities and states, and render them such assistance as may be desired. A general reception will take place in the evening from 5 to 6 o’clock, upon the conclusion of which the annual meeting of the Society will be held. The annual dinner will be at 7.30 p. m.
This will be the tenth anniversary of the Society, and it is eminently appropriate that its celebration should take place in Boston, the city where the organization was founded. These annual gatherings of the Society are always of very great interest, bring together a distinguished company, and are long remembered by those participating. The forthcoming event will be no exception to the rule.
Tickets to the dinner are now ready at $3.50 each. They can be obtained by addressing Mr. M. J. Jordan, 42 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Make checks payable to the American-Irish Historical Society and forward to Mr. Jordan at the address given.
Members are at liberty to invite personal guests. The evening reception committee will include the following Boston members of the Society: Capt. D. J. Gorman, Bernard J. Joyce, Michael H. Cox, Patrick M. Keating, J. W. Fogarty, P. A. O’Connell, Charles V. Dasey, T. B. Fitzpatrick, P. H. Powers, John E. Gilman, Hon. Joseph H. O’Neil, W. B. Sullivan, F. L. Dunne, P. B. Magrane and James W. Kenney.
We hope that all who possibly can will be with us on this occasion, as it is desired to make it a red-letter event in the history of the Society.
Fraternally, JOHN MCGOWAN, _President-General_, Washington, D. C.
T. H. MURRAY, _Secretary-General_, 48 Carlton Road, Seaview, Mass.
January 1, 1907.
The event was a very successful one and was participated in by a large gathering. Owing to the unavoidable absence of Admiral McGowan, the president-general of the Society, the business session was presided over by Mr. M. F. Dooley of Providence, R. I., treasurer-general of the organization.
Mr. T. H. Murray, secretary-general of the Society, was present, but owing to illness was assisted in his duties by Mr. P. F. Magrath of Binghamton, N. Y.
The reading of the minutes of the preceding annual meeting was omitted.
The annual report of the secretary-general was presented, accepted and adopted, as was that of the treasurer-general. Both reports showed the Society to be in an excellent condition.
Several new members were admitted to the organization.
The annual election of officers then took place, the result being as given on pages 5 and 6 of this volume. The business session was then dissolved, and after an interval the company proceeded to the annual dinner.
Mr. Thomas B. Fitzpatrick of Boston, the well-known merchant, presided. On his right and left were seated the Hon. John Hannan, mayor of Ogdensburg, N. Y.; the Hon. Charles E. Gorman, Providence, R. I.; the Hon. Joseph H. O’Neil, president of the Federal Trust Co., Boston; Mr. M. F. Dooley, of the Union Trust Co., Providence, R. I.; the Hon. Joseph F. O’Connell, congressman-elect, Boston; Mr. D. H. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn., and the Hon. Daniel O’Connor, Australia. The following letter was received from President-General McGowan:
1739 N. STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C. January 16, 1907.
DEAR MR. MURRAY:
I regret exceedingly that I will not be able to attend the annual meeting and dinner on January 24th. My cold does not improve, and unless there is a change very soon, I will have to start for a milder climate.
It is a great disappointment to me not to be with you on that day and I beg you will express to all the members of the Society my regret at my enforced absence and the hope that next year I may be more fortunate.
My attack of “grippe,” which started the middle of last month, has left me with a most provoking cough, and I do not get my strength back. With kind regards, believe me,
Sincerely yours, JOHN MCGOWAN.
* * * * *
Music was furnished during the banquet by a fine orchestra. Following was the dinner:
MENU.
Cape Oysters Bisque of Lobster Aux Souffles Consomme Printaniere Paupiette Halibut Au Vin Blanc Potato Croquettes Filet of Beef, Fresh Mushrooms Delmonico Potatoes Stringless Beans Sweetbread Cutlets with Peas Punch a la Romaine Roast Red Head Duck Chiffonade Salad Fancy Assorted Cake Neapolitan Ice Cream Fruit Cheese Small Coffee
In addition to those already mentioned as present at the dinner, after the business meeting, there were the Hon. Patrick T. Barry, Chicago, Ill.; the Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Providence, R. I.; Mr. John Morgan, New York City; the Rev. Father Lyons, Boston, Mass.; Mr. R. J. Donahue, Ogdensburg, N. Y.; Mr. Edmund Reardon, Cambridge, Mass.; Col. James Moran, Providence, R. I.; Dr. M. F. Sullivan, Lawrence, Mass.; Mr. Bernard J. Joyce, Boston, Mass.; Mr. T. H. Murray, secretary-general of the Society; Mr. John D. Rohan, New York City; Mr. John T. F. MacDonnell, Holyoke, Mass.; Mr. P. F. Magrath, Binghamton, N. Y.; Mr. M. J. Jordan, Boston, Mass.; Mr. M. H. Cox, Boston, Mass.; Mr. William J. Kelly, Portsmouth, N. H.; Mr. P. A. O’Connell, Boston, Mass.; Mr. Bernard McCaughey, Pawtucket, R. I.; Mr. W. F. Kenny, Boston, Mass.; Mr. D. P. Downing, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. James H. Devlin, Boston, Mass.; Mr. John J. Sullivan, Boston, Mass.; Capt. D. J. Gorman, Boston, Mass.; Mr. A. B. Sutherland (guest of Dr. M. F. Sullivan), Lawrence, Mass., and other gentlemen.
The after-dinner speeches were along the Society’s line of work and were of a most interesting nature. In his opening remarks, Mr. Fitzpatrick told of the early efforts of the Irish in Boston, and how their labors were an inspiration to the men and women of today.
The Hon. Charles E. Gorman of Providence, R. I., followed the toastmaster with a story on the bravery and chivalry of the Irish race. The early conditions in New England, and Rhode Island in particular, were outlined, after which he spoke on the struggles of the Irish to get a footing and show their spirit. He paid a stirring tribute to the work accomplished by the Celts and the Teutons and how their spirit of liberty managed to overcome difficulties.
The Hon. P. T. Barry of Chicago was well received when he arose to speak on the part the Irish took in the development of Chicago, the West and the great Northwest. His historical data was particularly interesting from the time of Chevalier McCarthy’s advent to the present. Congressman-elect Joseph F. O’Connell of Boston spoke on “The Part Played by the Irish in the Early History of Our Country.”
Mr. A. B. Sutherland of Lawrence, Mass., who is of Scottish blood, delivered an interesting speech, in which he told of what Irish civilization had done for Scotland and all northern Europe, and
## particularly of the spirit of liberty given to the Scotch by Irish
example.
Rev. John J. Lyons illustrated how the Irish had done magnificent work in the interest of the church, and he made an earnest appeal for friendship on all sides and good will to mankind in general.
The Hon. Daniel O’Connor of Australia electrified the gathering with his witty remarks, and his narrative of the Irish influence in British literature and jurisprudence was unusually interesting.
Mr. D. H. Tierney of Waterbury, Conn., spoke for a few minutes on the Irish in Rochambeau’s army, after which the Hon. Joseph H. O’Neil and Michael J. Jordan, both of Boston, addressed the gathering briefly.
Before the meeting adjourned the Society paid a tribute to President Roosevelt, who is an active member of the organization. The tribute took the form of the following preamble and resolution:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION OF THANKS AND APPRECIATION FROM THE AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
At the annual meeting of the American-Irish Historical Society, held in Boston, Mass., on the evening of January 24, 1907, the following minute was unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The American-Irish Historical Society has learned of the excellent work of our distinguished fellow-member, the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, as embodied in his article on “The Ancient Irish Sagas,” recently published, and believing that some appropriate action should be taken to show our appreciation of the study and research exhibited in the able contribution mentioned, it is
_Resolved_, therefore, that in the opinion of this Society a splendid example is set by President Roosevelt in finding the time and opportunity, in the midst of his many duties and responsibilities, to devote attention to a subject dear to us. We heartily congratulate him upon the results he has so ably exemplified and set forth as the outcome of his researches into early Irish history.[1]
Footnote 1:
A copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution was forwarded to President Roosevelt and the Society received a cordial reply.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED.
The following are extracts from letters of regret:
From Mr. John J. Rooney, New York City: “My Dear Mr. Murray: I am exceedingly sorry I cannot be present at the American-Irish Historical Society dinner tomorrow night. I have a heavy case in court and cannot get away. Kindly express my regrets to all. Sincerely, John J. Rooney.”
From the Hon. Felix Carbray, M. R. I. A., Quebec, Canada: “I duly received the notice for the annual meeting and dinner. I deeply regret that distance and heavy business cares will make it unable for me to be present. I hope you will have a large gathering and a successful celebration.”
From the Hon. Patrick J. McCarthy, mayor of Providence, R. I.: “Dear Sir: Your letter in regard to the dinner of the American-Irish Historical Society received, and I regret to state that owing to previous engagements in Providence it will be impossible for me to attend. Wishing you a successful meeting, I remain, respectfully yours, Patrick J. McCarthy.”
From the Hon. Patrick J. Ryan, mayor of Elizabeth, N. J.: “Many thanks for your circular letter announcing that the American-Irish Historical Society is to have a reception and dinner in Boston on Thursday, January 24, next. I appreciate the notice I assure you, and regret to say that I will not be able to attend owing to a press of other matters here. I hope and trust the meeting will be a success in every way.”
From the Hon. Franklin M. Danaher, Albany, N. Y.: “Dear Mr. Murray: I have your notice of the annual meeting and dinner of the American-Irish Historical Society in Boston on Thursday, January 24, 1907. I have always been able to attend the annual meetings of the Society because they happened in New York coincident with my presence there on official business. Whether I can be in Boston on January 24th is somewhat problematical, but I will do so if I can. Do you expect President-General McGowan?”
From Mr. Edward J. McGuire, New York City: “My Dear Mr. Murray: It seems ungracious not to attend the Historical Society’s dinner at Boston on Thursday evening, you Yankees have been so generous and loyal in coming to New York, but for me it is absolutely impossible to be present. I am engaged in a number of most important and engrossing professional matters, and I have in addition but recently returned from a week’s absence in the South. I am sure you will make my excuses. I hope that you are entirely recovered from your illness and that everything prospers with you and the Society. With kindest regards, Very truly yours, Edward J. McGuire.”
From the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Dennis J. O’Connell, M. A., S. T. D., rector of the Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.: “Mr. T. H. Murray, Secretary-General, Sea View, Mass. My Dear Sir: I desire to thank you very cordially for the notice you sent me regarding the annual dinner, and to say at the same time with sincere regret that I am afraid I cannot assist, for the following day, January the 25th, is the feast of our Faculty of Theology at which I must be present. Wishing all a pleasant time, I remain, Very sincerely yours, D. J. O’Connell.”
From the Hon. Edward A. Moseley, Washington, D. C.: “I regret very much that it is impossible for me to attend the annual meeting of the American-Irish Historical Society. I really wish that the Society would have its next meeting in Washington; I believe it would be a good plan from every point of view. I had fully intended to get to the coming meeting on the 24th, but I went to Boston over the holidays, and the result is that I have as bad a cold as I ever had in my life, and I am afraid to leave Washington. Do have the next annual meeting in Washington, and I will contribute in every way to make it a success, and will devote myself to the work. With all cordial regards, sincerely yours, E. A. Moseley.”
=HISTORICAL NOTES AND PAPERS.=
IRISH ABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES.[2]
BY JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, LL. D., BOSTON, MASS.
Footnote 2:
This paper appeared originally in the Boston _Pilot_.
The Irish race, both here and in the old world, has suffered so much in the way of misrepresentation at the hands of English and pro-English writers, its merits have been so minimized and its defects so magnified, that it is almost a hopeless task to attempt the refutation of even a tithe of the falsehoods.
It is only when a writer offers an easily accessible authority for his statements that the general reader can take the time and trouble, if so disposed, to investigate the reference and verify the accuracy or honesty of the author who professes to have quoted truly.
Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge has written, and the _Century Magazine_ has published an article on “The Distribution of Ability in the United States,” in which he exalts the English race at the expense of some others, and depreciates the Irish race, with or without malice prepense, in a manner which is, to say the least, remarkable.
Mr. Lodge deals in some general statements easily susceptible of disproof, as when he says that “there was virtually no Irish immigration during the colonial period, and indeed none of consequence until the present century was well advanced.”
He offers no authority for this absurd statement; so it may be assumed that he ignorantly believes it true. Perhaps he also honestly believes in the race called “Scotch-Irish,” whom he defines as “descendants of the Scotch _and English_ who settled in the North of Ireland.” Let these things pass. We are concerned only with the accuracy and honesty of Mr. Lodge’s quotations when he refers to a specific authority for facts and figures and professes to be governed by that authority.
In order to classify the distribution of “ability,” Mr. Lodge says that he “took _Appleton’s Encyclopedia of American Biography_ in six volumes, one of the largest and most recent works upon the subject, and classified the persons mentioned therein who were citizens of the United States according to occupation, birthplace and race extraction.”
Mr. Lodge says that he found the work large and laborious. We can confirm that statement; for we also have taken the six volumes of _Appleton’s_ and have gone conscientiously through the 14,000 and odd names therein recorded, to see if that otherwise valuable publication had really given the Irish race such an astonishingly poor record as Mr. Lodge’s tables show. We find that it has not. We find that Mr. Lodge and his authority differ so astoundingly, on almost every point, that his deductions are absolutely worthless because his statements are so utterly untrue.
In the matter of quantity, _Appleton’s_ gives to the Irish race a list nearly one hundred per cent greater than Mr. Lodge professes to have found in its pages. On the score of quality, taking Mr. Lodge’s own test of merit, _Appleton’s_ gives about 300 per cent more to the race than Mr. Lodge accords it.
Mr. Lodge classifies race by the paternal side alone, which is probably fair enough for practical purposes, and says:
“In a large number of cases, especially where the extraction is not English, the race stock is given in the dictionary. In a still larger number of instances the name and the place of birth furnish unmistakable evidence as to race. That error should be avoided in this classification is not to be expected, but I am perfectly satisfied that the race distribution is in the main correct. Such errors as exist tend, I think, here as elsewhere in these statistics, to balance one another, and the net result is, I believe, so substantially accurate as to have very real value, and to throw a great deal of light on what we owe in the way of ability to each of the various races who settled the United States.”
He counts as original settlers all who came to this country before the date of the adoption of the Constitution, A. D. 1789; those who came after that date are classified as “immigrants.” Taking the _Encyclopedia_ as his authority, he examines the birth or race extraction of 14,243 persons therein named as having achieved sufficient distinction to deserve mention. As a result he finds that over 10,000 of the number should be credited to the “English” race.
It is not worth while to inquire into the accuracy of that estimate, since Mr. Lodge’s treatment of another race sufficiently disproves his claims to accuracy on any score.
In Tables “D” and “H,” covering respectively the original settlers and the immigrants, he gives the number of men of the Irish race who have achieved the distinction of a place in _Appleton’s_. Nowhere, apparently, is any allowance made either for the distinguished descendants of the original Irish settlers, distinguished or obscure themselves, nor for the distinguished children of undistinguished immigrants since 1789.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton is, we suppose, credited to the Irish of pre-Constitution days, and Thomas Addis Emmet to the “immigrant” class, but where does Mr. Lodge place the distinguished descendants of both? Where does he place the distinguished sons of obscure fathers, such men as Andrew Jackson and Robert Fulton? Certainly not among the race to which, according to _Appleton_, they belong, for they have no recognition in his “double star” table, to be described hereafter. Do they go to swell the ranks of the 10,000 English or those of the mixed and mythical “Scotch-Irish”?
What does he do with Philip Sheridan, who being neither an “immigrant” nor descended from pre-Constitution ancestors, is in a worse case than his namesake, Philip Nolan, being a “man without a race?” We cannot believe that Mr. Lodge ever intended committing such a palpable absurdity, because if carried to its logical conclusion, it would apply equally to distinguished men of all races. Mr. Lodge himself, for all that _Appleton’s_ tells us to the contrary, never had a pre-Constitution ancestor, and has, therefore, no right to class himself among the 10,000 “English,” as he presumably does.
Mr. Lodge has a delightfully simple method of determining the relative values of great men. It is by noting how much of pictorial glory is awarded to each in the _Encyclopedia_. Persons whose biographical sketches are not illustrated with a portrait are not counted in at all.
Those who have a vignette portrait are classified as “single stars.” The truly great, who have full-page portraits, are called “double stars”—of these there are 58 among the whole 14,243.
Mr. Lodge confesses that encyclopediac fame is hardly just in giving double star honors to William Gilmore Simms and shutting out Hawthorne, Poe and Lowell, but Fame is notoriously capricious of her favors; which is why, perhaps, such authors as John Hay, T. W. Parsons, Theodore Roosevelt and many others are sent pictureless to posterity, while Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth and Mrs. Ann S. Stephens are immortalized in becoming wood-cuts. Mr. Lodge himself shines as a “single-star,” as does also Mr. E. P. Roe.