The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-18


in Portland celebrated the natal day of their
patron saint with a concert by the Sabbath
School children and an address by Col A. w.
Bradbury, at City Hall.
The chorus seats were erected on City Hall
stage and were filled with some three hundred
children, who, dressed in white with green
sashes, presented beautiful appearance, while
the body of the hall was filed with very
large audience, Notwithstanding it was the
most inclement night of the season.
The songs sung consisted of the national air.
Come Home to Erin" "The Shamrock of
Old Ireland" followed by an original dialogue,
after which came the song, Beautiful Isle of
the Sea-"
Col. A. w. Bradbury then delivered his adj
dress, of which we give an abstract below,
and which was most flushed and elegant
effort.
The habit of thought common TO the Ameri-
can mind leads to the belief that we are the
foremost nation of the world IN cultivation
and civilization. If this is true IL must be oW-
ing to the advantages we have taken from the
experiences of the myriads OF men who in the
ages past have gone before us. We did not
snripg from the earth in all the plenitude of
power ike INC IleL WuO SpTdDg rom the
dragons teeth sown by Cadmus. We are the
children of knowledge and ignorance, pride
and humility, vice and virtue, Paganism and
Christianity. All qualities, good and bad, en-
ter into the architecture CT our being and but
for the supervision of the Divine Being we
should be lett the creatures of chance and Cir
cumstance.
In this time OF progressive radicalism shall
be taken to task for the assumption that we
occupy but hairs breadth of space on the
vast revolving wheel of time which in its rota-
ton displays us but for an instant and then
we pass from the sight OF man; but the atom
of work We perform in that instant mingles
with the countless multitudes of similar atoms
that go to make up the vast structure of civiliz-
alton. 1t is by learning the triumphs and de-
featS OF the past that we understand and APP
preciate the civilization OF the second half of
the 10Th century.
1t would be impossible to unfold to you as in
a panorama the deeds of saints, sages, states
men, warriors and poets who have left their
impress upon to-day. To single fragment of
history mustI contne myself, and this day
upon which you do honor TO your patron saint
suggests my subject.
Although ireland is best known by her sad
history of the past six centuries, yet long be-
fore the birth of Christ she was proud and
powerful kingdom, her commerce with the
Mediterranean more extensive than the neigh
boring isles and her people feared and respect
ed for their hardwood and valor. The ma
LlOn was ulVluGu IUlO CIdHS, caCn WIN lis
Chief and occupying its own amount of terri.
tory. There were no dissensOns between the
clans did each attempt to find cause for
war upon another. The Irish of the present
day came fairly by their belligerent propensi-
ties for, in that day physical strength and per-
sona proves, stood in the front rank and de-
manded royal recognition. In war their
chiefs did not direct their troops from an emf
nence in the rear, but led the van, and dealt
the first blow. 1t is difficult for us to conceive
the state of things that existed in Ireland then.
With us the question is. "Why should we
fsht?" With them, "Why shouldn't we
fght??" They fought for no principle or love
OF country, but their wild, restless spirits, IA
naticised by the awful ceremonies of the
Druds, and raised to Il dizzy height of en-
thusiasm by the weird war songs OF their hon.
ored bards, could only be allayed by the rough
hand of Mars.
We can see no reason for such a state of So
ciety as then existed and shudder at the tales
OF those olden times. But in what are we
better? How far have we advanced? Where is
the line of demarcation that separates us from
our Pagan ancestors? The bAlmy breath of
returning amity has scarce yet swept OFT the
and the slaughter of helpless women and chill
dren is but story of to-day. Verify the old
leaven works in us yet and there is not man
who does not feel pride in coming from a
fighting stock. When the Celts were not al
lowed to bear arms in the United Kingdom
the Irish names were adding glory to
the profession OF arms throughout the
whole world. But we need not
go back into the realms of history
for examples of Irish loyalty and PATRIOTS m.
In our own civil war, at the roll of the drum
and the blast of the trumpet their loyal blood
stirred hot in their veins and they rallied
around the grand old flag beneath whose folds
they had sought protection and found liberty.
Let no American c,ose his heart to his Irish
brother, for if the dead should arise to rebuke
us, shoulder to shoulder as they bore the brunt
of battle would come the native American and
the Irish adopted citizen who gave their lives
for q common cause.
Tne warm, impressonabe natare of the
Irish people made them ready converts to the
teachings of Christianity and to st. Patrick
belongs the glory of reclalming them from Pa
gan darkness. From his teachings arose that |
devotion to the faith on the part of the Irish
which they have never ceased to nOuriSh and
defend. Irish institutions of learning became |
celebrated, springing up all over the Island /
and the clergy to large extent were the in |
structors of youth, being unmolested in their /
privileges. But where was anything Irish |
ever allowed to flourish unmolested? The iron /
heel of Tyranny has always been ready to |
crush out every sigu. of healthy growth upon /
that ill-starred island, and Irish learning must
have had the properties of Falstaf's camOmile, |
or even ordinary intelligence would have been
stamped out OF it.
The speaker then drew sad picture of the |
efforts of the Irish youth to obtain an educa- |
ton. Only, two centuries ago his religious
faith was prescribed, his clergy hunted Ii Ike
wild beasts, education was obtained in secret
at the peril OF. his lite and the Parliament at
Westminster set Ia price of ten pounds upon
the head of every priest. If the Irish gained
military glory abroad, so did they receive in
Europe the education they We're denied at
home. The speaker paid beautiful tribute to
Grathan, Burke, Moore and Goldsmith, and
glowing paneygric to the memory of Daniel
O'Connell, together with a description of his
career. The wit and humor of Curran and
Sheridan were done full Justice, and the beau
ty, devotion and noble characteristics of the
Irish woman finely delineated.
In conclusion the speaker said that by study
ing the history OF their race, Irishmen would
see that internal discussions had never allow
ed them to present an unbroken front in the
defense of Erin; you will trace the magnetic
ing stronger day by day and shining brighter
and brighter with the transplendant light of
eternal truth. What sounds will mingle in your
ears from your home across the sea. Solemn
Georgian music, the shrill blast of the bugle,
the melody of the love song, the booming
thunder of your orators, and high above all
piercing the shuddering air and shifting the
stoutest heart-the wild despa ring cry of hui
man anguish. The past is only valuable as the
foundation of the future. The lessons you
learn from it are only useful as they strengthen
you for the struggle which lies before. Then
the day will surely come when the long agony |
the harp and the shamrock, shall be the in |
sigma of free and independent people.
Several other songs were then sung with
good effect, the entertainment closing with the
National Anthem.