Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-03-18

does not admire Tom MooreP He wrote
when it was literally treason to love and
death to defend bis country Davis, the
most patriotic of Erin's poets, imbued In her
possible for him to write without a patriotic
sentiment pervading every line. brennan
wrote the immortal patronymic in which Ire-
land was called for the first
time the Emerald ISLE" O'Neil, the
blind bard, was unrivalled upon the
harp; bat for his retentive memory and pu 9
taste many of IreIand's national airs would
the bright array of Erin's early poets should
appear the name s'Parnell." Thomas Par
nell was poet of the seventeenth century,o of
whom Dr.. JOHNSON says: He always delights.
though he never ravishes." Oppression of
our race has been the source of inspiration
that has fred the hearts of Erin's latter day
poets with sentiments that will live for ages to
come. Thocg despotic government would
make us nation OF slaves, though oppres-
sion has consigned to untimely graves
or exiled from their native land the
fairest of Erin's sons, 1t can never quench
the fire of patriotism VI ich kindled the
hearts of her sons and daughters. VIII not
then her sorrowful songs of the past be
changed to joy andihappiness? Yes the genius
of poetry will yet sing. will yet strike the
chords of the. national anthem of free and
happy Ireland.
but when regained by the rightful owner,
brings joy and happiness" @. O'Con-
nor.
Senator Plunkett acted as POSTMASTER and
performed the duties in manner that was
pleasing to everyone
Mr.. James Reynolds, town agent, respond
ed to the toast ireland, through the dark
ness of the past, the rays of your emerald
brightness are still struggling to light up the
surrounding gloom"
Mr.. President and Brother Knights feel
highly honored and at the same time some
what embarrassed at being selected to speak
to the toast of Ireland. fesl hoIored be
cause ireland, notwithstanding her misfor-
| tunes, has always filled an honored place in
| the worlds history, has played an honorable
part in her dealings with other nations and
| in literature, science and civilization, and
| feel embarrassed because it requires intsllec
tual and oratorical gifts which L am not pos
sessed of to do full justice to the theme. l
say that Ireland has an honored place in the
worlds history because when the last rays of
learning and of science were almost obliterat
| ed in western Europe by the avalanche of
northern barbarians which overturned the
Roman empire, they found safe asylum on
her shores. Through the gloom Of the dark
ages Ireland was the home of learning, the
| nursery where teachers and mis-
SlOnhrl0S were trained Tor the WORK
of harmoniking and ciVilizing and
Outstanding the rude conquerors of Reme
and they went forth like heroes and martyrs
and spent their lives in the glorious work. 1t
Is safe to say that Europe owes the renewal
of learning and civilization to the work of
| Irish scholars and saints, and it is record
of which all 1rishmen may feel proud And
during the dark night of the middle ages also,
| when the hideous feudal system overspread
Europe and reduced the masses of the peo-
pie to condition of slavery, every Irishman
remained free man with voice in the cleo
| ton of his ruler and bending his knee to no
man calling himself his master. Our tribal
system had its own defects, but it left every
individual a free man, and the community
which existed in Ireland in those days was
in every sense of the word a democracy.
Feudalism and landlordism were in
troduced from England; and as Ire
land has always protested against
them and is to-day vigorously demanding
their abolition, we can take credit to our
selves of never having consented or condoned
a social or political wrong or favored an in
stitution that curtailed the rights of man
Ireland has been conquered by superior
force and fraud, but during the seven centu-
ries of unparalleled misery and prosecutions
that she has suffered since the English inva-
sion, she. has never submitted tamely to
tyranny or ceased to protest against the de-
privation of her liberty. She has passed
through the ordeal of the penal laws and
refused to accept religion of which her
conscience did not approve, and yet without
for one moment being tempted to intoler-
ance or to resent persecution by refusing
freedom of religious belief to all men who
Settled on her shores. In the time
OF Queen Mary Protestants fee
ing from persecution in England
sought refuge in Ireland and to-day Irish
Catholic constituencies elect Protestant Ma
tInnaIIafG n hon Teal h
tory Is therefore one to be proud Of Not
withsfanding its tears and its shadows its
example has been well worthy of imitation
by the rest of mankind and therefore it must
have brilliant future before it. Let us who
own her as our motherland honor her for
her services 10 learning and religion, for her
fortltude under persecution, for her un-
quenchable resolution never to relinquish her
blrthrlght her God-given right to nationality.
And let us not content ourselves with henors
or empty expressions of devotion, but let us
work to realize her glorious destiny and lift
her up to her proper place among the ma
tons.
1.-THE Knights of st. Patrick'-Hugh j.
Reynolds responded to this toast and his re-
marks were received with demonstrations of
applause by the Knights.
The committee of arrangements for the
banquet are entitled to great praise for their
untlrlng efforts to secure the pleasure of the
party. They consisted of Col John G.
Healey, DIR. NJ. c. O'Connor and William M.
Geary. 1t was one of the most successful
banquets ever given by the Knights.
St.Patr1ck's Night Dances
The Wolf Tone Rifles had a dance in Clan.
na-Gael Hall last night. There was a large at
tendance. They are mostly members of the
Clan ma Gael
The Third division, A. o. Fl gave their
third annual sociable in Schillerbund Hall
last night It was attended by many friends
of the Ansonia division.
The Atlantic Athletic association enter
tanned many friends at their annual soiree
held at National armory last night.
The fifth annual soiree of the Mt. Pleasant
association occurred at Union armory last
night. The grand march was led by Mr..
Robert Keefe and Miss Mary McCaun, who
were followed by about two hundred and
fifty couples.
About fifty couples participated in the
grand march of the masquerade party of the
New Haven Turn Verein, which occurred at
their hall last night. Il was very enjoyable