The union Democrat., 1870-03-26
sACRAnENTo ConREspoNDENCE
SAN FRAScIsco, March. 10Th, 1870.

DAN kANCfsCo. 1karCu. lSkH. lou.
ST. PATRICK.
We are about through with St. Patrick &
day. The green flags are again furled the
last head ache has expired. The Irish are
proud of their demonstration. They have
reason to be. The day has been notably eel
ebrated over the entire Union. At this rate,
it bids fair to eclipse the Fourth of July. In
real enthusiasm and interest on the part OF
the participants it is even now far ahead OF
that worn Anniversary.
Our celebration of Independence has de-
generated into a fort of juvenile fre-craker
holiday. with an advertising or partisan pa
geant tackled thereunto We yawn over the
reading of the Declaration and are Doreu oy
the orator Somehow, the whole tning seems
TO have lost its snap and vitality. think the
War stunned. if il did not Kill 1t. Because,
il was for four or five years but the ceieora-
tion of the loyal. We traitors skuikea or
cursed in corners. The celebration OF one
class of the same nation is not National
Celebration. 1t is libellous to call IL SUCH
And so, as to life, vigor and real enthusiasm
the Fourth of July has wiited 1t was
house divided against itself. lt could not
stand. We do not succeed in reviving its old
tine interest and vitality. AS means for
advertising Lager Beer, Ginger Beer Pop
and Sewing Machines, IL is now success.
As an occasion for a people to come together
md renew the Esprit of '76' or start live
lier scream from the American Eagle, it is q
frst-class failure. The stars and stripes
'droop over the lager beer kegs and patent
H. It l0nlyo aly
IL feels sick.
CONTRAST.
Bat tho Irish feel their celebration. Their
hearts 20 home as they hear their national
airs, and their blood runs quick and fast as
they see the waving green. They feel ma
tional esprit dc corps. 1t is too, in its charac-
ter higher and healthier than ever they felt
ut home. And these demonstrations of a
powerful nationality in oar midst, this sus-
pension of business, these far stretching pro-
ccssions no. only in San Francisco but in all
the great Eastern cities, means that great
national heart, cramped and fettered in the
isle of its nativity has room here to pulsate.
1t means that nation brought to wider
land and frecr atmosphere has here scope aud
liberty to express itself The shamrock is
all the healthier and greener for its trans.
plantation. The true liberation Of Ireland is
taking place in America. The Irish mind
has here room and opportunity to grow. II
is fruitful plant when given the soil, air
and sunlight of liberty.
PLAYING FOR IRISH.
The Irish are n power. So we all "play
for the Irish" The Press hugs and kisses
them out of breath. 1t sees both near and
afar off business and advertising patronage
The demegoSues have for a long time follow
ed suit. They see votes and office. And |
depending for bread ard butter on an old
stumpy ink encrusted pen and an ink bottle
shall play for your good will also? No sir
Asa nationality, l respect you, as | do the
Trench, the German, the Italian. As an
element full of physical and intellectual Wig
or, a generation or two hence, to be more
thoroughly infused into the lifeblood of the
nation, hel ping greatly with other blood and
natures to make what pH be in time, the
most perfect race of men on the face of the
earth, the American of the future, | am glad
YOU arc among us. And like an occasional
bit of Irish arrogance about as we'll as de
our own native nutmeg Yankee meaness. A
'disagreeable trait is disagreeable, though il
'betray itself in an archangel. Monyhan said
the other day IN the Assembly, that "the
Irish had doGe more for America than the
Americans. Perhaps they have. Still, re-
marks Of this sort are calculated to touch the
too sensitive American little on the raw
lie ought to be above such weakness, or con,
sole himself with the thought that all the lr
ish in time are destined to become Americans
For myself. don't care. Irish brag, Yam.
kee brag and Southern brag are all disagrea
able when you are Immediately under
the inilction of hearing it, So is the hum Of
mosquito. The stream of destiny moves on
undisturbed by such triIiing agitation. The
nearer n man may come in emulatlng its pla
cidty, the better he feels. A contented mind
is a continual feast providing you get enough
of bread and butter and beans at proper in
tervals. Play for you my Irish friend? will
feed you if starving, tend you if sick. get out
of your way when drunk, bearing and
disagreable, laugh at your wit, admire your
vigor and enterprise, dissent from you in the
opinion that all the great men of earth are o
Irish origin, and call you brute if you bea
your wife. You can reciprocate, a2d if the
game be worth the candle, play for me il
similar style.
A LITTLE HIGHER.
In time the Irish as we'll as American,
will cease drinking so much whisky, ant
stunting its intellect. He will learn TO lool
for something higher than working 10 hours
per day on railroad embankment, and be
tween rum aud bodily exhaustion, making al
old man os himself at torty-fve. He vii
discover tha. his race were put on the earth
'tor a higher purpose.
Men are not beasts Of hurthen. Mer were
not created to fag themselves out daily shov,
elling sand; to be driven by necessity to worS
like slaves for roof, food and clothes; to be
'cone bent, gray, wrinkled, stiff and callcus
IRON over>worS. when they should be in the
prime of life. One curse Of the world to-day
Is over>wors. Men haze brains given them,
not to get along without work. but to occupy
themselves for happiness. And happiness
comes not through license or dissipation bu,
nwh hn 4 l. !