The New York herald., 1863-03-18

4
from the very scanty scraps Of positive infor
nation in our possession.
Sr. PATRIcK's Day IN New YoRK-The sons
of Old Ireland took possession of the city yes
terday. The sky was obscured by green flags
and the Stars and Stripes. Paper representa-
tives of the same glorious banners fluttered to-
gether from every Irishman's cart, bedecked
every Irishman's window and were waved by
every lrishman's child. In word, the day
seemed like an Irish Fourth Of July.
In another column we give reports OF the
parades, professions, dinners and speeches. An
attentive perusal Of these reports will demon
strate the fact that st. Patrick's Day was cele-
brated here with unusual vim and splendor.
The sky was as clear, the sunshine as bright as
the most jealous Eishman could WISH Saint
Patrick himself smiled upon his votariss The
neatly dressed mothers, wives, sisters and
children Of our Irish population lined the
streets through which the procession passed,
and the stout, robust, good hearted and good
natured fathers, brothers, husbands and sons
Of the spectators marched all the more proudly
because of tho happy, familiar faces which
cheered them from every side.
We hear Of this and that Irish regiment and
brigade at the war; but were it not for the
glowing accounts Of Irish bravery which con-
tinually reach US we could hardly believe that .
single Eishman had left the city. Certainly
none Of them were missed yesterday. Crowds
upon crowds, thousands upon thousands There
were Irishmen enough in our streets to make
up half dozen tolerably large armies; and
we shall find them all in the field when the
country needs them. Meagher and Corcoran
were not here, but their hearts were; and at the
same time that the Irishmen Of New York
marched in honor of St. Patrick the hishmen
Of the Union army Of Virginia were engaged
in paying the same homage to that patron saint
who drove all snakes and toads from Ireland,
as our gallant soldiers will soon drive the
monster rebellion and its abominable brood
from this country-the land of the free and the
home of the oppressed.
The celebration yesterday was, in every
point of view, Union demonstration. The
great lesson Of the day to every Irishman was:
Stand by the country which gives you life,
liberty and the right to be happy in your own
way. We do not doubt that this lesson was
learned, and will be remembered, by many q
patriotic Celt The influences Of 81. Patrick's
Day, and especially of ST. Patrick's night, will
last, not only for to-day, but, we hope, for
many days to come We congratulate our Irish
fellow citizens upon the fne weather, the large
<,,vr nj <ho uu1> M
ticularly upon the good order and decorum
which marked all the proceedings. May We all
live to see many more St. Patrick's days, and
may they all be still more happy than the one
we celebrated yesterday.
PATRIOTISM Has CLAIMS AS WELL AS OBLIGA-
rIoNs.-The federal government relies upon the
patriotism of the people for Its protection and
defence. They have cheerfally responded, hun
dreds Of thousands sacrificing their business in
terests and the comfort and welfare Of their fa-
miles to the national necessities. When, how
ever, they ask some evidence Of sympathy in
return-as, for instance, q general bankrupt
lava deaf ear Is turned to their appeals. In
dividual States have, 1t is true, manifested some
regard for the poor soldier and for those ruin
ed by the rebellion-W Wisconsin, for instance, ex-
tending the period for the payment of taxes.
No State has suffered more severely than New
York in the number Of its people whose busi-
ness and resources have been destroyed by the
war or who have lost their lives in the defence
of the country. Can nothing be done for the
protection Of the former, or must we continue
to witness, in proportion to the distress and
hardship inflicted by the rebellion, merciless
creditors straining the powers of the courts
against those whose difficulties have been
brought about by no fault of their own. If the
State is powerless to protect them it should at
least make an effort to extend them relief
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH-The completion
of this great international enterprise is now, we
are happy to state, placed beyond the risk Of
failure. Of the amount of fresh capital re-
qured (9600,000 upwards Of 100000 has
proportion of the stock allotted to this country
(G50 0,0O0) about two-thirds have been taken here
In view of the immense advantages which the
undertaking offers to both countries there will
be but very little difficulty in raising the re-
mainder of the estimated amount But even
supposing that this is not obtained, 1t will not
prevent the laying Of the cable. The subscrip-
tions already received are sufficient to ensure
the completion Of the enterprise so far as that
is concerned; but the limitation Of the capital
to the sum already raised would have the effect
OF preventing the company from laying a line
as strong and durable as that which their
original estimate contemplated. Under any
circumstances the cable cannot be laid until
next summer, as It will take until then to
manufacture it. In the meanwhile, it is q salts.
faction to know that nothing can now interfere
to prevent the realization Of the undertaking,
and that by next fall we shall be In hourly