The union Democrat., 1869-03-13
saint PasriCk's Day.

Love Of country is beautiful sentiment
Il is . natural instinct that should permeate
the entire human race, aud poor indeed is
that man or woman whase heart is not
touched with the triumphs aad prosperity, cr
the SORROWS and misfortunes of their native
they must venerate and pay homage to those
who have been Instrumental to a great de-
gree in promoting blessings and honor upon
them. The more nation is oppressed. the
greater is the enthusiasm of the people to be-
stow honor on the memory of those who in
their time, exerted the largest influence for
the happiness and prosperity of their nation.
Though centuries of turmoil and strife. and
years of oppression have borne heavily upon
the Irish people, nearly depopulating their
island. yet, with all the wrongs and suffer-
ings they have endured, and which stiH ex-
ist, they always have been, and those Of to-
day still are, as warm iu their feeling toward
old Erin and as jealous Of its honor as
any of their preceding countrymen ever
were. And they have right to feel proud
Of their country with such a history of a
superior physical race of men, filled with the
warmest impulses of kindness and generosity,
ehivalry and bravery. If we go to any por
ton of the civilized world, there will be
found this race equal, if not superior in
physical force, to those among whom they
have migrated, engaged in every pursuit of
life, animated with an interest in the land of
their adoption, and in many instances, con-
tributing largely to the honor and glory of
the nation with which they have assimla,ed.
The Irish blood is mingled with that of
almost every country, imparting new strength
and new vitality with every change. Des-
potiSm and tyranny has driven them from
the circumscrihed limits of the Emerald Isle,
only to make them cosmopolitan in charac-
ter, without effacng in the least degree from
their hearts the feeling of love they always
bore for the dear home of their childhood.
To-day MANY of the distinguished men in the
world, of other nations, have the strong blood
of Ireland shooting through their veins. She
has raised o long line of statesmen, soldiers
and poets that challenge the admiration of
the world. The history of that down
trodden country, with its surviving race of
to-day. are proofs of it's former superiority
over other races of men, and is calling forth
sympathy from all christendom for the ruth
less manner in which on arrogant and pow
erful nation has endeayored to stamp out the
life of its people.
With all the uncertainty and doubt thst
hangs around the future of the land of their
hopes, there comes one day when through
the whole world. wherever a son or daughter
of the Emerald Isle may be, whatever their
lot or condition. their hearts are filled with
new hopes for the future, as they welcome
the anniversary of the birth of the great
APOSTLE of Christianity and civilization.
1t is now nearly fourteen hundred years
since the illustrious Saint Patrick closed his
labors for the benefit of humanity. He ap-
pears to have been especially appointed of
God to overcome the idolatry of the barbarc
chiefs of ancient Ireland, and well was his
duty performed. as is attested by the deep
veneration in which he has been held through
these many centuries by that jealous and
confdng people. His humility was extra
ordinary and great his conversation so
sweet and amiable, by which he accom-
modated himself to all sorts and conditions OF
people that he secured their affections for all
time. He christianized and civilized, thereby
LAYING a foundation for the glories which
subsequently filed the history of the renown-
ed land of sorrow and song. So long as one
Irishman shall exist, so long will there be
one in whose heart the memory of tho illustri-
Gus Saint will remain green as the Shamrock
of his native land. May the proud day be not
far distant when this long suffering people
NAV be disenthraled from the rapacious
grasp of their unrelenting foe, that they may
celebrate the liberty of their nation in con-
junction with the memory of their Patron
Saint.