The Morning herald., 1877-03-17
WILMINGTON, March II. 1877:
sT. PATRICK's DAY.

We salute our readers OF Irish birth, |
and blood, upon this morning, with the
inspiring words which full often, has rang |
out in the battle van, or within the shadow |
Of the scaffold, "God Save Ireland" While
we recognize, and by precept, and exam
pie enforce the claims Of American citizen
ship, as paramount to all others; yet
we are not insensible to the love we justly
and proudly bear, to the dear old land,
where many Of us were taught our first
duty to God at mothers knee, and under
whose skies, as sweet as virgins smile,
our affections, warm and young, were
given to COLLEEN, as chaste as Saint
Cecilia, and as holy as Saint Bride. There
is much in the Irish character to be proud
Of alas! in the habits of Irishmen
there is much to be condemned. With
natural ability, everything being equal,
second to no living race Of men, we permit
ourselves to be distanced in many con-
test, by the one vice which handicaps
numbers of our brillian brothers. We
say it kindly that men Of our blood,a ARE not
fitted to use liquer. 1t fires our blood, in
flames our passions, overthrows our reason,
clouds our virtues, and lessons our useful
ness. One step forward, and we need fear
no competitor:-abandon the use OF whis.
key, and We will stand forth radient among
the peoples in the position our endow-
ments tit us for. Enough of the sermon.
The celebration Of Saint Patrick's Day,
has nothing of the littleness OF faction or
party about tit is the commemora,ion
Of a great fac, in history; the conversion of
nation to Christisni,y-a conversion 50
exceptional, that in the change no, one
drop of a martyrs blood stained the axe
or block. History presents no such par
allel. No man Of Irish blood, whether
his asg be Orange, or Green, need be
ashamed TO commemorate the natal dav of
the great Apostle, who gathered Ireland
nso the family of Christian Common
wealths. Clinging memory cannot forget
ths; in the wreck OF Chris,endom, in the
barbaric deluge, which engulphej the Ro-
man world; lis institutions, lis laws, its
learning. that Ireland was to religion, law,
and culture, what the Ark was 10 the Dove
the Que spot uupon the wide waste where
the poor bird could find a resting place.
Why should no, men whose linease go
back 10 such Il country, celebrate each
returning anniversary? Il is needless to
ask the question. When the sun lifted bis
disc out OF the warm waters of the Straits
Of Sunda, in the lar Orient hours ago, one
may be certain that some eNiled son Of
Erin, watched the glowing kiss of Sun and
Sea, and with eyes turned TO the old land
murmured God save Ireland. The eiacu-
lation waited upon the per:umed ZEPHYR:
OF the Isles .: the East, was caught up BY
the Irish soldiers, IS the King Of Light
sailed majsstically onwa,i. In the buuga.
lows and cities Of Hindos,au, they maas
the wslkiu ring with music and hurrah
thus greeting the day, although iu tn,
camps OF the enemy.
Westward ho' Tie Indian Ocean i
crossed aud the sabres and bavone;s O
Celtic Warriors aglin;, in tropical sheer
amid the sands OF Catfria, ana the vine.
yards Of Cape Colony, marching bouyanu,
% combat or parade, TO the inspirin,