The American-Irish Historical Society is national, broad and
comprehensive. To those familiar with the way in which our race has been
misrepresented or omitted in some histories of California, nothing more
is needed than the mere fact of the existence of such a society as ours
as an inducement to their taking an interest in it. But there are the
great majorities on the other hand who have little time to look into
such matters in out of the way places, before whom I wish to place the
more important purposes and scope of the Society.
Probably no great incentive to the study of the latter phases of this
Society is needed than the fact that during its short existence it has
been extended to over thirty states of the Union and to the District of
Columbia. Most or all of the men who first conceived the need and then
issued the call for its organization are of national reputation in the
several walks of life. The first meeting was held at the Revere House,
Boston, Jan. 20, 1897. Rear Admiral Richard Worsam Meade was then
elected the first president-general. With seven generations of American
ancestry back of him, and brother of the hero of Gettysburg, it would
have been hard to find a more representative man of the race for that
office than he.
In thus honoring him the Society was doubly honoring itself. The race
that gave the new United States navy Commodore Jack Barry, might as well
supply a rear admiral for president of this Society in 1897. The strides
forward during the intervening century have been certainly great. And
to-day the race stands as firmly and fearlessly as it did then, for
freedom. Theodore Roosevelt, governor of the Empire state, who is so
distinguished in literature, war and statecraft that it would be hard to
tell in which he most excels, is among the members.
The mere mention of these names that have come so conspicuously before
the world is not calculated to signify that there are not many others of
almost or quite equal note. Scholars, statesmen and soldiers are
numerous among the Society’s officers and members. But in such a
brotherhood as ours there are no caste barriers. In the common endeavor
for the common good of seeing that American history is truly written, we
meet and act upon common ground.
“Fidelity, truth, honor, are the watchwords,” says the preamble to the
constitution, “and under their noble influence should our work be done.”
Of the nine distinct objects and purposes set forth in Article II of the
constitution, two may be quoted as embodying the more essential features
of our work:
“(2) To investigate specially the immigration of the people of Ireland
to this country, determine its numbers, examine the sources, learn the
places of its settlement, and estimate its influence on contemporary
events in war, legislation, religion, education and other departments of
human activity.”
“(7) To promote by union in a common high purpose a sincere fraternity,
a greater emulation in well doing, a closer confidence and mutual
respect among the various elements of the Irish race in America, that,
by putting behind them the asperities of the past, they may unite in a
common brotherhood with their fellow-citizens for the honor of the race
and the glory of the Republic.”
Nor are the seven other articles of any less importance, that of the
fourth pertaining to the correction of “erroneous, distorted and false
views of history,” and the substitution of truth based upon documentary
evidence, therefor, being amongst the most essential work to be done.
Had we only to deal with our national history, voluminous as it is, the
work before us would seem quite easy.
But there are the almost innumerable state, county, city and town
histories, each of which needs as thorough sifting as does the national.
This fact was indelibly impressed upon my mind three years ago when I
was wading through California state and city histories for kernels of
truth pertaining to “The Precursors of the Pioneers,” and other matter
which I was then writing for publication. Never was the need more
palpably illustrated of keeping well informed on the substance of all
these histories than by a combination of self-constituted “protectors”
of everything American, when they confronted us with accusations of
disloyalty to the Republic and openly sought to insult us with taunts of
being “the Pope’s Irish.” But brief as has been the interval, time has
already doubly vindicated us. When there were Spanish guns to be faced
our accusers stayed bravely at home.
There are no sectarian or religious differences in our Society. Priests
and ministers here unite in bands of blood and brotherhood. We now mourn
the quite recent death of Rev. George W. Pepper, a Methodist minister of
Ohio, one of our ablest workers. Very Rev. Andrew Morrissey, president
of the Catholic University of Notre Dame, is also in our ranks.
I heartily wish that the duty of endeavoring to enlist the interest of
men of Irish blood in California in the organization of a State Chapter
of this Society devolved upon some of the many abler and better equipped
men in the state. But even the keenest sense of one’s own shortcomings
will not justify the shirking of such a duty. Here on the fag end of
things [Coronado] we are few in numbers. In the hot press of the main
chance there seem to be few having time or interest enough to spare to
such a brotherhood. But I am quite sure that in the larger cities of San
Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton and Los Angeles, there are many
patriotic, true men and well-wishers of our race who will cheerfully
join us in organizing a State Chapter, and to these I now appeal for
coöperation to that end.
“Any person of good moral character, who is interested in the special
work of the society, shall be deemed eligible to membership in the same.
No tests other than that of character and devotion to the Society’s
objects shall be applied to membership.” The only charge is an annual
due of three dollars. Persons wishing to become members may send me
their names with addresses and I will send them blanks of application
for membership. These they will fill out and send to me and I will
forward them to the Secretary-General, or they may write directly to
him, addressing Thomas Hamilton Murray, Woonsocket, R. I.
The application must be accompanied by the annual fee. A handsome and
comprehensive volume of the Society’s work is issued each year. The
annual meeting and banquet was held in New York this year, and was a
splendid affair. Let us have a California Chapter of this Society that
will be a fit representative of our state and race.