The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-06


people and the progress OF measures
lately introduced to right them than
can tell you, Most of you have either
personally or by earnest instruction Of
sadly experienced friends and relatives
learned the oft repeated tale of q peo-
| pie who have long borne insult heaped
upon injury, but who, thank God, have
never servilely submitted without loud
and angry protest, but have ever re-
sisted, and VINO VIZ knew ever will re-
sist until their rights are admitted.
Permit me then to say word about
/ some, III nay opinion, much misunder-
stood quality of Irishmen which are
| often brought out in the discussion Of
this problem. 1t il gnite too common
! a habit of Irisbmen on such occasions
! as this to point out the great achieve
ments OF their countrynen in al de-
parlments of industry. trade, literature,
science and art, a rebuke TO those who
affect to sheer at at the Celtic race.
/ Gentlemen, the work OF Irishmen
physically, intellectually or NOR
ally considered needs no
apology, needs no euiogy. The
| educated man Of the world knows, to
/ borrow the language of another, that
the island is famous in story and in
song. It has been proIificin statesmen,
warriors and poets. It has given the
world more than It's share Of genius and
i greatness, It's brave and generous
SONS have fought successfully in all
! battles but its own. In wit and humor
it has no equal, while its harp like its
| history moves TO tears by its melan-
chclly pa thos.
/ say every man OF culture not base
lily prediuqiced knows this, while the
shoddy would-be aesthetics, guiltless Of
/ a knowledge of the rudinents Of his
tory and their own rliteratures and de-
sirous Of apeing anything English you
! know, if enly top-coats, drawing
| speech, and barred Of an, armless letter
are Incapable of understanding it, ana
| too fashionable to admit it. were they
/ capable of comprehension. Hence /
1 would spend less time on eulogy IN
| needed, on more TO culture of qualities
| often criticised. The deeds Of Irish
/ men are matters Of history. He that
| hath understanding let him understand,
! But we often hear it said Irisllmen are
reg ess and impatient of restraint. l
/ am 5ery happy, gentlemen, to say that
! this is true. The Irish are, thanks be
! to God, restless and impatient of re-
1 straint What has transformed Amer
/ lea from a Wilderness to the greatest
/ country, not only on the globe at pres
ent, but the grandest civilization OF
which we have any tradition? Simply
| the fact that it has been the great re-
fuge and Taseryoi Z. -falg lssssaszya who are
and inpatient of restraint; OF
j desire activity and freedom.
lhaye not been subdued CAB
sbdued They las aclass feel that
Gney were not born tk, be slaves, and
tnsy make bad slaves. Well paid and
well used the simplest peasant will
serve and serve well, but they aspire
always to higher claims, even to an sx-
tent which, in extreme instances, ap-
proaeil the ridiculous; q quality, lis
true, not always appreciated by the
would-be aristoerat, but which is the
5rue type of manbood--true dem ocracy;
the type which this government as
sumes to be: the highest aim Of the
human race, Some say Irishmen are
the most Industrious of men; others
that they are the most indolent. Both
are right. Withhope OF returns no ma
tionality averages more industry, or
are capable OF doing more work OF
whatever kind. Without hope of re-
ward, none, not even the italian, is less
disposed TO labor Nothing could bet
ter prove their wit and good sense. TO
do otherwise would be worse than fool
ish, it would be coWardIY and the aver
age son OF the Emerald Isle is neither, |
Hence when fairly compensated he
works hard, ever restless it is true for
something better, as all progressive
races are. But when badly paid and
oppressed only with resentment and at
last REFUSAL to submit to slavery, pre-
Terring hunger and even death, and /
honor him for it. [ would not submit !
10 slaTery,and Ihonor the mar who has t
the sense and courage to turn upon the I
slave-driYer to prove destructive to him
his interests and his property. There
are craven souls who submit tameiy to
the slavery Of monopoly, power, and I
tYrants in their many forms. Such men
are craven fools. At times Irishmen
believing The fool killer to have neg
lected his arduous di ties, have been
too inclined to assist him. But this
has only been during moments when
the fiery temper Of q passionate race
has obseured their better judgement.
/ might refer 10 other characteristics
which are often subject to censure
Lrishme1l like other Iaen have lad quail
tiles, for to err is human, and it would
give me quite as much pleasure TO re-
fer to some Of their failings as TO speak
IF their excelieneles. For am not an
over enthusiastic dealer in sweet blar-
hey, but | must jn siew OF the more
interesting part of the programme
,iose. Then lei me only add that I be-
leTe when the accounts are all made
IL j viii be found that Irisnmen by
heir restless and restiFene5s Of
estTaint viii be found TO have contri-
luTai NOR 70 fIIs eaiIse Of trne raar. q