The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-18
IRELAND'S SAINT.
A Sabbath Seventeenth and Drizzly
Accomplishments.
DISC0URSES UPON ST. PATRICK.
The Address of Major General
Shields to Irish Patriots.
TO-DAY'S CELEBRATIONS.

TO-DAY'S CELEBRATIONS.
sSure, an IT'S . moighty 0lessn' that Sunday
ldn's happen ON ST. Pathrick's Dayi" exclaimed the
followers Of tho noted saint yesterday morning whom
they observed the disagreeable aspect oil the sle-
ments The rain had been falling long before day
light, and continued during the rising hours to patter
In spitefu way upon the muddy sidewalks and pave
ments. About the time that extremely good people
we're entering churches the drops OF water became
snowfakes that sauntered down lesurey to melt in
stapty away terra frma The consequences OF
such weather wore more tremendous than may be
generally supposed. In the first place. IL prevented
many nne old Irish gentleman from meeting others
GOV the rae an old stock" to indulge IN ''nowng'
converse subjects pertinent 10 the occasion. Then
II Ioreshadowed the possibility Of an uniavorable
when bunting bands ana black hats should
inspire the Irish heart Aud speaking OF black hats
reminds one of the unwarrantable blundcr made
sther by the clerk OF the weather or the hatters'
committee fixing rain for the nth without regard
to the postponement OF the celebration. The hat
business has been exactly ''under the weather."
but In q Iaugulshing condition for some time, and
leading dealers have relied St. Patrcks Day with
accompanying storms as a sort OF picnic Tor the
trade The error arrang ements yesterday, fol-
lowing it does upon the unsatisfactory settlement
TO hatters) OF the Presidential election Is likely 10
the serious consequences to the business
The saint, however, was characterized by an unu
sual bump OF destructibilty, and should patriotism
to-day go TO such icngths standing on its head
marching in the face of the wind hatters may yet
be happy
Any way, the celebration is TO be big one, judging
from the methodca arrangements, and It's coming
was hsralded yesterday from pupts aud platforms In
In. hnlAuw sbn liza nj q hA
cession and line OF march, together with the pro-
grammc OF evening banquets ana other festivities,
were announced In yesterdays HERALD.
MARsnAL's AIDS.
The aids appointed to assist the Grand Marshal In
the management of the procession held an informal
meeting at Hiberna Hall, No. 20 Prince street,
ct three o'clock Only about twenty OF them
were present Each allotted his
proper place, and received all necessary iniorma-
ZION and instructions Tor the proper performance Of
his dues The aids Will assemble at tho residence OF
mo Grand Marshal Mr.. Patrick Casserly, No $40 West
Sixteenth street, this morning, at ten O'Clock. The
members OF the Sixty regiment will assemble at
heir armory in full uniform at noon. The members
Df the various civic organizations will meet in their
respective lodge rooms at the Same hour. The mar
shals nope to get the procession In motion at one r.
NJ. sharp They expect that II the weather DO hne
over twelve thousand men will be In line
'sIRELAND AND HER HOPES.
At steinway Hall last night Major General James
Bhields delivered q lecture 'lreland ana Her
Hopes; Experiences OF My Life" The hall was we'll
llled with very enth usastic audience, who heartily
,ppauded the patriotic pa ssages OF the lecture
On the platform we're the officers OF the Sxty-ninth
regiment and many prominent Irish citizens
The chair was taken by Mr.. Richard OGorman who
said that the lecturer needed Introduction to
sembage OF American citizens for he well known
throughout the length ana breadth OF this land The
fame OF Major General Shields part OF tho
history OF the United States, for he had been charged
from time to time with many very arduous and i'm
portant dut,es-judge, major general, commanding
armies of United States with gallanry and
In two great wars everywhere tried, everywhere
trusted and everywhere and always faithful Though
his career has been brilliant he preserved still
The dear memories Of his native land. (Cheers.)
THE LECTURE.
Major General Shields SAID -
This is ST Patricks Day. This is glorious day for
The genial Irish race. What the Fourth OF July 10 to
Americans the l7th OF March Is to lrshmentnat is,
great national anniversary. This Irish anniversary
bommemorates tho birth OF man and the conversion
81 a nation 10 Christianity. The American annver-
,ary commentaries the birth OF a nation and the
vindca.ion Of It's right to freedom ana Independence.
The Irish need this kind OF anniversary also. They
need Fourth OF July as well as 18th OF March.
Tue year thai brngt them both these ANNIVERSARIES
will be year OF jubilee for brave ola Ireland Depend
upon It that year OF jubilee is not so tar of as some
people think Prudence, organization and union WIN
bpeediIy bring II about. Prudencel do not think
That word exists in Tue old Irish language ain very
certain the virtue itself has not been prominent IA
bhe Irish race The Irish are a primitive race with
primitive virtues; they are fearless and in1exibc,
frank and hospitabe, quickly reused TO an,
GER quick forgive ana true steel
10 the faith of st. Patrick ana 10 the land OF
tneir birth and the country Of their adoption.
But let frankly admit that what the worlu calls
prudence has not been OF The cardinal virtues OF
The race. They have been deficient in the money
max NJ and money Keeping virtues These have not
been the virtues OF the Cell. The Celtic lrish there
lore, have had to be content with less than their
share o wealth aud luxury and than share
81 hard work hard hgnling IN this world OF ours.
Ne may take Tor granted therefore, that our race is
rot destined 10 control ne money markets OF the wors
Ana a all likely to produce many such signal
Examples OF moneyed ornDipotence as that Of Roth
scniid III Europe and Of Vanderbilt IN America. Stili
he IRISH have other qualities and capub Titles quite as
profitable TO the world at large, though perhaps not
30 profitable 10 themselves AS people These quail.
wouId make them successful IN all the arts OF
peace and war were they only to act In perfect mar
nony and union among themselves. But union, II Is
painiui to say, seems have been thing impossible
among the IRISH Faction IL tue rule union the
cept.on have set out To speak the truth tonight aud
with Cots help l mean to 10 II TO the best Of my
ubiiy Here the radical defect OF The Irish race
DIVISIONS among tho people ana dsscnsiOns among tho
leaders The melancholy burden OF irish history.
Union IL Strength. This great truth has never yet
been thoroul hIy comprehended by the IRISH race.
Eternal shame upon those men who devote their lives
to foment dissensous ana excite nate among their
ewu countryinen If they do lhs villains work IN the
name OF country they traitors under the mask OF
patrols IL they 40 II under the pea oil religion tuey
aolng the work of he'll IN the name oi heaven.
II spirit OF ucton cannot be cradicated from tho
race the conduiou vi Ireland can never oe mucu I'M
proved Tue irish must content themselves with
always playing inferior par. IN the great drama OF
human history.
IRISH soLpgRy
But am very sure that method exists by when
this le spirit can be entirely crldicutcd. The lrisn
as race. are the most manageable and trastaoIe
soldiers the lace o. tue cnrtD. As soldiers
they soou l,arn TO live together. work to-
geiher drl together aud hgtt together ike
born brothers The reason Is, they are
born sold,ers--thcy essentially military race
You may take the Irshmen who work ON your strees,
place them IN tic ranks souiers, put American
arms INTO their hDnds aud tbcn gave ihem SIX
months elective driIi, sucn as lrishmen alone can
siauu, aud, old as | am, Will agree to Dgbt tncm,
wncn thus prepared. against any equai number of
Slen OF any nation under The canopy oil
heaven 4 give II as my copvicuon tDat three years
Of regular military organization aud rigId military