The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-26
ST. PATRICK's DAY.

ST. PATRICKS DAY.
Editor Morning Star:
Knowing the interest you take in Irish
affairs, and the large space usually allotted to
Irish news, am emboldened to crave your
indulgence while addressing a few words to
the Irish societies in this city regarding the
approaching anniversary of Irelands Patron
Saint. For number of years it has been Gus
tomary with the different societies to hire
bands of music, ard celebrate the day by
parades aud dinners, which cost each branch,
division, or military company from 500 to
5000. Now 1 claim that this annual outlay
could be better applied than by being wasted
in useless display, which benet more but
the musicians who if paid would as readily
play the tune "kick the Pope, etc." as st. Pat
rick's Day. The day is est ensialIy national
religious festival, intended to commemorate
the labors of the most successful missionary
the world has ever seen, and the most appro-
pirate mode of observing it would be to attend
Divine service. This day has no political sig
nifcsnce whatever large number of the
most ardent Nstionalists in the past and pre-
sent history of Irelands struggle for liberty
have not adhered to the doctrines taught by
st. Patrick.
Then why spend the funds of the societies in |
a display which can never be general amongst |
Irishmen, and from which ne benefit accrues. /
II parades have any Significance at ALL it must |
be intended for either Of the following reasons !
viz: to exhibit the strength of the Irish ele-
ment in midst, or to keep alive the spirit
of nationality. Now in regard to the first, the Z
result is total failure, ss but small percent
age of the race turn out on such occasions 4
which, 1 must admit, is mainly due to the mar
hal o;l AT
define long line of march in order to pass the
dwellings of their lady acquaintance, forcing
their less fortunate brothers to tramp over /
cobble stone pavem ents, and wade through the I,
muddy sloughs of our back streets. But if the
latter reason prevails, then the object can
never be furthered, as the majority expend all
the patriotism that they accumulate during
the year in that effort, and then crawl back in
to the shell of selishness which surrounds
them until the day recurs again. What signi- :
foanoe is there attached to the green flag car
lied on those occasions 1t is the flag of no
nation at present, and if any of those who I
larry it intend making it the flag of free
alton, they must cease spending money in
display, and apply it in preparing the
manhood of our race to meet their foes on L
quail terms when the opportunity arrives.
To my oountrymen in New Orleans would
uggest, that in view of the unsettled state of
Iffairs in Europe, we should make an effort to
trengthen the hands of the workers in the
ause of Irish freedom, by pooling our annual o.
expenditures and adding them to the Irish y,
National Fund. If the nine Branches of the II. se
3. and NJ A. A., the four Divisions of the A. o. y,
l., and our two Irish companies, the Mitchell re
nd Irish Rifles, would forego this parade and ca
ggregate the cost of music and dinners,
andsome sum could be realized, which might q,
70 further increased by having literary enter
ainment in st. Patrick's Hall in the evening,