The Irish standard., 1886-09-04
gents. at this present moment =

'lt'S tact, n0VeftleleSS, sall4 w GINS,
catching the words. The antiquated
religion of our grandfathers would have
acted like strait Jacket on the nation,
cramping it's energies and stinting its
growth. Had we not shaken ourselves
free from the trammels both of pilgrim
and priestly rules, could we have be-
come in so short period 80 intelligent,
enterprising, and powerful nation?
Yes, ladies and gents, could we have
flung our right arm across the Gulf, and
laid hold of Mexico by the hair OF the
head, as we do now, and be ready to ex-
tend our left over your British Ameri-
can possessions, at any day or hour We
please to take the trouble, and sweep
them into our lap? I ask, ladies and
gents. could we have done that?"
s.Hurrah!'' shouted the captain
''capltal! glorious!"
ST don't profess, ladies and gents "
still continued Weeks, ''to belong to any
particular religious denomination my
| self. My creed is, "a first cause and the
perfectibity of man. that's the length,
breadth, and thickness Of my religious
belief, and / stand on that platform firm
and fiat footed. Still, 7 80 in for three
things in tie religious line, as strong as
any man-almshouses, observance OF the
Sabbath and reading the Bible. These
are excellent things in their way, and
ought to be encouraged by every man
who loves order and likes to see trade
flourish. But I can go no further: l. can
never believe, sir Cunning to the priest}.
thatthe Founder Of Christianity intended
nation SO intelligent, SO intellectual,
and SO civilized as ours, should be bound
down hand and foot by the strict rules
Of the gospel. No, sir; he intended we
should moderate and adapt them as far
as possible to the interests Of the State
and the requirements Of society. With
these ideas and these principles, ladies
and gents, we are bound to go ahead-~-
we must GO ahead--we can't help it
prosperity forces itself upon us--we On
our part have only ito clear the track
for it. Nothing can bar our progress,
tor our destiny is universal empire.
Nothing can stop our course---no OBJ
stacle, moral or physical, on earth OF
air, on sea or land. Yes, our energies
are immense, and must be expended.
Ladies' and gents, were it necessary to
bore The earth through, we should do it.
Yes, by crackie, tunnel almighty crea-
ton to find an outlet for our resources. :"
"Glorious, glorious!" shouted the cap
tain; "hurcah! for the stars and stripes
Well done; Weeks; bravo, bravo! my
boy
And Bravo, bravo!'' echoed from all
parts OF the room; even the ladies stood
up and waved their pocket handker-
chiefs. In the midst Of this general ac-
clamation, however, and just as M.
Weeks ha>l hitched UP, his shoulders for
another start, loud, piercing shrek
came from ths entrance hail., which
startled a,1d silenced the noisy company
in all inetant.
| :.What the fury is that?;' demanded
the captain, lilo, there, james,
Thomas instantly and see what thnt
noise means y
Kate rushed to the door, followed by
the other ladies, curious to learn what
had happened; and the gentlemen, fear
iusr some serious accident, darted out
pell-mel] after them.
"Wllo the mischief are you?'' growled
Captain Petersham. grasping tall,
grave-]ooking man by the arm, as he
hurried out from the parlor. ''Who the
mischief are you, fellow" /.
Pardon me, sir, replied the stranger
in the mildest manner possible; :'my
name is sweetsoul. lcame with -
"Who! what! the colporteur! the
| Methodist Bible-reader!'
t'.Il,e same s1r."
ssAnd what do you want here, s!r?'
"Excuse me, sir, L"
| ssI shan't excuse you, sir, you have no
business in my house, you canting ras-
cal, cut of it instantly"
s'But the lady there, sir"
'sLady, what lady?'
s:Hush, hush! brother Ton,'' wllis-
pered Kate, catching him by the button
hole, and whispering in his ear; cit is
Baby Deb. .
.sWhat, one Of the Hardwrinkles?'
eyes, yes," she replied, convused
with laughter; ''her sister Rebecca-ha,
ha, ha!--her sister Rebecca---ha, ha!''
"Cease your folly, Ka1e, and tell me. .
"Well, she's--ha, ha!-gone of
with
s.Eloped?''
eyes. fed away with Q, dear!''
'sRebecca Hardwrinkle eloped? Non
sense, Kate, you're only fooling me.''
! 1s<~I,4