The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-12


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN My sub
iect this evening is the literature OF
Ireland. Ireland is known in history by
sixteen different names, among Whlcn
Hibernia, Ierna, Juverna, Scotia. Erln
and the Emerald Isle. The derivation
of the word is rather doubtful. One
author asserts that Ireland is so called
because of the re or anger of its inhab-
itants who ere alwrys ready for fight.
It is located in the atlantic Ocean, with
its back turned towards Britain and its
face to the West.
In shape it resembles dog sitting, as
the Scandinavian peninsula resembles
dog lying down. Perhaps that may &C.
count, in the absence of a better reaaon,
tor the doggidness and tenacity of its
inhabitants. 1t contained at one time
over eight millions of people, but owing
to emigration and other causes its popu-
lation has dwindled down to nearly five
millions. Its area in square miles Is
only 50 ,000-exactly the size of Lake
Superior. But though small nation
Ireland has made quite noise IN the
world.
The chief productions are wheat and
oats, barley and potatoes, landlords and
rebels. applause There are two
things | never saw in Ireland-human
liberty and snakes. Having mentioned
snakes let me say few words about
them, in addition to the "short chapter'
given by Supt. Smith, the other even
ting.
It is remarkable factsthat there are
only two countries in the world,in which
snakes are moi found-the Island OF Crete
and Ireland. You have all heard that St.
Patrick "drove tho frogs into the boys
and banished all the varmint." All l
have seea IN Itish history relative to
snakes is that tae Druids worshipped the
serpent under the name ofCrom Crauch :
and suppressed serpent worship, and in
this way he banishcd snakes from Ire
land If you look into Genesis you will
will find an alluSion to serpent worship.
But the question arises, why was serpent
worship practiced by the pagan Irish il
there were no serpents in the land?
cannot answer suffice il to say that there
are no snakes there now and moreover
they cannot be raised there.
Lord Uowth, | think it was, who intro
duced snakes from England into Ireland
to experiment with, and see il they coul,
live, bul the moment they touched the
earth they. kicked the bucket, Qaugh
ter)
Remember | don't want to deprive st
Patrick OF the honor eft driving them out
tradition says he did but history is silen
on the matter as far as have read.
To one like myself who is 81
Irishman by birth, "a American b,
adoption, and by nature \ lover of fai
play, it is surprising to notice how littl
the average American knows of Irelan
and its history save what he CLEANS iron
English writer's and Anglo-Americai
publications like Hzrper's Weekly an
others OF that ilk. He labors under tn
erroneous impression that the Irish ar
only reclaimed savages, refined an
civilized by coming into contact with tn
English, and fit to be kept in subjectio
for their INSTRUMENTATION and stubbor
ness.
1t was not enough for England to 70
Ireland OF her liberty but she must ca
feature. ridicule and misrepresent her
Her historians, dramatists and novelist
have made an Irishman odious, and tai
minded Americans are led to think tn
the Irish are capable of doing nothin
but drinking whiskey and fghtin
among themselves.
The Irishman has been contemptous
called "Pat" but that name has descend,
from the senators OF Rome in the pain
lest days of that great city. Tins pate
patres, patricuis, Patrician, Patric
Paddy, Pat. Cloud applause.) The re
meaning of the word is a nobleman.
The historian Hume tells US that Il
English introduced civilization into Ir
land and invaded that country for Il
purpose of rescuing its inhabitants fro
ignorance and barbarism. The Graz
novelist Charles Reade in his "Wande
ing Heir" designates the Irish rs
strange anomalous peop'e with maj
traits Of the pure savag.. th ugh The r
luctart 'v aimt t'ev had been leade
in medieval literature, had founded