Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-10-05
IRELAND TO AMERICA.
Centennial Congratulations from the
People Of the Green Isle-Address
TO the President Of the
United States.
Generous Expressions Of Rejoicing Over
our PrOgress-The Voice Of Suffer-
ing Ireland Re-echOes the
Glad Te Deum,


snnour ees that Mr.. O'COnnor, NJ. F., OF
E gland, now st the Fifth Avenue hotel,
is the bearer of q series OF resolutions,
psssed In Dublin on the fourth Of July
last, congrstuIsUing President Grant
upon the Centennial of American inde.
pendence. Sixty thousand people were
present at the meeting. The address,
which was Their adopted by acclamatiop,
il HANDS )meIy engrossed on parchment
in old E1glish letter, with Illuminated
border and initial letters. Over the top
is a r. representation Of the national shield
and stsrGs-d, while below is an alle-
goricsy picture OF .se genius OF Erin,
with harp in hand, weICcHrulng the
da Ining day OF Irish liberty. Toe a..
dress. of which the following 10 8 con-
iensed COPY, VII be presented to PIesi-
dent Grant by Mr.. Power duIing the
early part of this week:
To the President OF the United States OF
America, the People of Ireland Greeting:
SIR-WhiIe the mighty republic over which
you preside commentaries the centenary OF
its deltve fance, tee Irish nation, universally
moved by kindred sympathy desires TO mtngle
It's accents OF congra ulatIOn with the eXultant
iubilation of a victorious, great, and free
people. America has now enjoyed one hun
dred years OF freedom, preserving with unre-
mitting II lelity the sacred trust cOntided to
her care; Ireland has borne seven centuries
of oppression without having for sing in
slant forfeited her tervent love of liberty.
This, We know, would afford ample ana suf-
ficient r, on to authorize our addressing our
august nation for we are well aware that a
century of happiness has but made freedom
more dear to your hearts, qutcke your
sympathy with suffering, q nd rendered despot-
Ism more detestable. Yet other reasons thele
are which we venture to recall, because in re-
citing them, it seems as though we were trac-
ing out tue mysterious designs OF Providence
which fashioned between us bonds of mystic
brotherhood, drew us closely together
nad IN heart and mind sn1,,oat ana SOU, ertT IN
which America enjoys. should also inu-
mine the sorrowlng but uplifted and eX-
most adventurous of the Aryln race had
penetrated even to this, our island, they
climbed our western mountains, and behelG
the immensely OF the ocean, which seemed to
debar them from further daring. The material
obstacles could control their bodies only;
their eagle minds peeTsd far beyond the rag
ing billOws, and, IN imagination, they dtscoy-
eIed a new and wondrous land. They tmag-
ined the existence of q new world which after
times made manifest. They believed it pos
sess d of virtue which transfigures all 1t
toucheS-and such is Freedom; they beheld in
1t the propiIious land-aLd who shall say
them nay y?-where many, many OF the ancient
race of Erin were destined TO renew their
youth, like the Gag e, and arise strong, pros
porous and invinciDle. Inspired by this
prophetic vision, their souls have ever yearnef
toward the west. There was time when Ire
land, which like Zion has become tributary,
was once great among the nations, princess
among the provinces" Three centuries OF
european civilization belong exclusively to
Irel9nd"-such is the testimony of fOleign
historian. During the long lapse of time from
the sixth to the ninth centuries many VOy
ayers went forth from our shores upon the
Atlantic ocean, and 1T is told that some
OF them reached the far, fair land OF America.
Whe1 in later times the colonial assemblies
of America resolved no longer to endure the
heavy yoke laid on them by Britain, to what
else eau we assign their undOubting trust In
munity OF sentiment between the two cOun-
tries which appears from what precetes, to
have been fOreordained of God? The words
addressed by America to Ireland do SO much
honor to our country that we cannot but re-
call them, not to remind Americans of them
(fOr they need no such remtnder), but to prove
to the world that LELAND was americas best
friend in the day o. her fiery trial. In l775 the
Continental congress wrote, saying: ACCEPT
our most grateful ACCOMPLISHMENTS for the
friendly disposition you have always shown
u.s." In l77o Franklin, the first ambassador
from America to France, wrote, declaring the
deep concern of congress with respect To the
wrongs of Ireland, owing to ''a combination
of rapine, treachery and violence sucn a
would nave dsgraced the name OF govern
ment in the most arbitrary country in the
world" II is needless, though il would
be proud task to relate with what
into the contest and made sacri
flee of life to secure the triumph of liberty.
In recognition of the services of Irishmen, the
general-in-chtef of the American forces be-
came member of the Irish association
known as the Friendly Sons of st Patrick,
tWenty-seven of whom had contributed over
one hundred thJus and pounds sterling to sue
cor his army in Valley Forge. "l accept" he
said with singular pleasure the ensign of so
worthy fraternity as that of the Sons Of st.
Pattick in this city-a society distinguished
for the firm adherence of it's members 10 the
cause in which we sre all embarked" 1t has
been a consolation to our country in her
darkest sufferiugs; it has been, and 1T shall be
through all time, one of the greatest 81 'rtes OF
our nation that George Washington, who re-
jected the hOnois of Britain, repudiated her
title, and cast down her yoke, accepted an
Irish ensign and became the first adopted
citizen OF Ireland" since that auspiciOus
day century has elapsed; but In all those
hundred years fraterual unity between the
natiops has been uninterIupt Trials which
come 10 test the hearts of both have but ser
each to the other. When by foreign threat and
internal violence q gigantic effort was
made TO overthrow the republic OF Washing
Ton, the Irish race renewed the memory OF
our fathers deeds, and the testimony of It's
truth is inscribed on the tombs of the battle
neld. Amid the noble oblivion with which
America has vailed all the errors OF the way
ward pasV, this testimony will remain imper-
tshable, to ennoble our present and inspire
our future. Sir, we recall not these evidences
OF our history in order to formulate q claim
upon American sympathy. That is a free
will offering too lofty to bear control, too
aboundtng to evoke in our hearts one other
feeling than that Of manly gratitude. Through
out our Sutferings its ViVifying rays have
never failed to fall upon our souls, quicken
hope. America has stood by us, like the Sa-
maritan by the wounded man, not only DUR
Ing an artificial famine OF food, but likewise
during an equally artificial famine oil free
dom. II her Intervention helped to preserve
fruitful land from that privation which de.
Ftroys the body, her ministering hands also
guarded liberty-lovtng Ii nation against that
prlVatlcn which would slay the spirit, If the
providence OF God were not superior to
the malice of foes. Lire and liberty consti-
tute the birthright of mankind, and both are
consecrated to religion, which teaches justice
in loving kindness. Because you, who would
not be tenants-at-wiIl of your indefeasiDle
rights, have declared liberty to be the fee sim
pie of all men-because you have generously
shared your treasuI es with ali whO stood in
need-because you have emagnanimously min
istered unto all who suffered-therefore that
God of liberty has exalted your name, en-
larged your Inheritance, augmented your
prosperity, and invoked upon your heads the
beDedictions of the ear tn. Wherefore we ap-
prOsch the august presence of your majestic
nation in order that the voice OF suffering Ire
land may re- echo the Te Deum of victorious
America, and that the commingled anthem
may ascend to the altar of the Father OF man
kind, the Lord and giver of life aud liberty.
PArRICK E(TAN Chairman