The union Democrat., 1870-03-26


there was our first home. and that must ever
remain our dearest home. Let our love tor
that land continue with our life, and our
struggle for her independence end only with
eur existence, for
''She is rich and rare lnnd
\ fre>h and fair land
a Sood and a dear land,
This native land Of mine.
rBE SECOND TOAST
was now read BY the President: "0ur
adopted country-the home Of the exile from
every shore" Owing to some cause or other
the President had to take the place of the per-
son expected to reply to this toast. He con-
sidered tha, he could not possibly permit such
toas: to go by unanswered, for next in their
hearts to their native land was their adopted
country. There was rom enough there for
both. He told some humorous incidents IL
Illustrative Of the liiberniar's Amercanism.
lie concluded bv remarkiug that they should
not be suspected of being willing to sacrifice
the interest Of their adopted country to the
welfare of their native. 1t is true the IRISH
mans heart glowed and bis purse expanded
when the mention of his native land was
made. but was he not also ever willing to
take up the sword in defence of his adopted
country? If his mind wauders back to the
I" old folks at home' while he felled the for
est, and cleared the prairie and his arm gave
a sturdier blow as a wild impulse ran through
his blood to strike for his native land, is he
not brought back at the evening fresidc to
the recollection of his new home, aud caused
to breath a prayer for its future welfare, as
he gazes upon the young Americo-celts that
bear his name, and whose future interest are
entirely wrapt up in it. Though his native
land is the last resting place Of his ancestors,
will not his adopted country receive the re-
mains of his defendants? Yes, If Ireland is
dear to him bv the ties of the past, so must
America be equally dear by the prospects of
the future.
Tue THIRD TOAST
was now read: "Our departed heroes-mav
the blood that they have shed not have been
shed in vain" To this the Rev. Father Nc
Naboe replied. He commenced by saying
that the feeling which inspired the poet to
pronounce these sad words over the grave of
one of Ireland's cherished dead, might indeed
fill our bosoms at toast, such as the one he
''0h breathe not his name.
Let ii rest in the shade,
Where cold and unhonored
His relics laid.
And silent and sad
Re the tears that shed,
Like the dew drops, that fall
On the grass Ger his head"
Yet, though sad might be tie feelings
awakened by words calculated to bring that
long line of heroes, who had been offered as
C.. Al Al
though compelled to drink in mournfulness
their memory-still such an occasion could not
be permitted to 60 by without paying :hem
the doleful tribute of our recolections. We
bring their images before US with the same
motive that the old Roman adorned his pal
acial halls with the marble figures of those
glorious ancestors, whose deeds had mortal
lied them aud so ennobled him, filing him
with that grand resolve, that rather would he
part with life itself, than by word or deed
cast stain upon their memory. 1t is true that
in our native land the memory of our illustri-
Gus dead is not preserved by marble statues
in the halls of the grand, but still better, it
is stamped in more lasting outlines upon the
hearts of true and grateful people There
it lives or, handed down from father and son,
beneath the rude cabin of the peasant patriot,
inspiring that stern resolve which must final
ly achieve the independence of his native land
proving to the world that the blood of those
who have died in her sacred cause has not
been shed in vain.
just as the President was about to offer the
next toast, the following dispatch was hand
ed to him, which he read to all present.:
SAN Francisco, March II, 3 I'm
II. FARLEY, Esq,
St. Patrick around.
A procession FIVE miles long. Great enthusi-
asm. RICHMoND.
This was received with great enthusiasm,
and three cheers given.
THE FOURTH TOAST
was then read. Father Lavelle-the Priest,
the Patriot and the Scholar" This was re-
piled to by the Rev. Father Spellman, who
spoke in substance as follows: feel quite
honored in being called upon to respond to
the toast of one of Ireland's patriot priests,
for my admiration is unbounded at the noble
manner in which he has protested against the
wrongs done his country. and in the wilds of
Partry heroically defended his poor and suf-
fering flock against the efforts of an oppressive
and unprincipled landlord, who, not content
at robbing them of their earthly goods, in the
name of law, endeavored still further to take
away the precious gem of Irish faith, the on
ly legacy left them by their despoiled fore
fathers. 1t was an heroic contest might,
riches, government on one side-right alone
upon the other. The gratitude of an oppres-
sed people is the only earthly reward we can
bestow upon him that, with all our hearts,
both at home and abroad, we freely give.
With the slightest change, we can adopt those
lines of the poet, Sullivan, in praise of the
Irish clergy to the subject of our present
toast.
''Wemuch revere his great Arch B.,
And respect too, each deep D. D.,
But here's to Partry's good P. p,
For he is dear to you and me-
THE FIFTH TOAST.
" The spirit of agitation, so highly promot-
ed by the Fenian organization-may 1t never
abate until it has achieved the independence
of our native land" This was replied to by