Charles Thomson. was the Secretary of the Continental Congress. or that Washingtons army was more than onethird Irish and that John Barry of Tacumshane was the father of the American Navy? A hundred yars ago almost 44 percent of the foreignborn population of this country was Irish. And the mass immigration of those seeking relief from starvation and persecution was just hitting its stride. In time the Irish were to build the railroads. dig the canals and fight their way from the east coast slums into a prominence in letters and science and the professions. But it was no easy fight and we can perhaps note with a left handed pride that -the Irish were the first immigrants to bear the lash of prejudice. What is the Irishman Who can say? To me it is Ellen Fitzsimons of County Leitrim and James Rooney of County Sligomy mother and father.
Identified stereotypes
The Irish were the first immigrants to bear the lash of prejudice.