The Irish standard., 1888-03-24
ERIN GO BRAGH.
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grass in all her green sod had eyer felt
the polluting touch of a foreign tyrant's
tread. Such was the Ireland where
Patrick in captivity and exile learned
to love the people with whom his lot
had been cast.
Released, after many years, from his
captivity ne travelled far away into
strange lands and among strange peo-
pies, but whithersoever he jo rneyed he
hello deep within his ;,ear5 his love for
the ireland of Hibernia. And when as
the years rolled on he came to the
knowledge OF the true God and his soul
was flooded with the saving light OF
Christianity, he remembered the island
of his youthful love and resolved to re-
trace his steps to her again carrying the
priceless gift Of faith, christianity with
itssweet and loving doctrines, its solemn
mysteries, it's irresistible demands found
easy entrance to The heart Of the Irish
people. Ga the historic hill OF Tara, III
the presence OF the grand Council OF
the nation and before her king, st. Pat
rick preached the giories Of the lOwly
aud cyucEed Savior and summoned his
adopted people to the knowledge and
Worship OF the triune God. King aid
Ciansman hearkened to the summons
and bnwed down in willing obedience
to- the voice OF Gvd s appointed mes
senger. a beautiful tradition has it
that as the Saint expounded the sacred
mystery OF the Holy Trinity, in illustra-
ton Of the three-fcld personality OF the
divine Unity, he stopped to the green
swarCi and pluckinG Il shamrock held It's
triple leaves aloft as emblematic Of the:
Deity. BE- this as it may, it is a fact
attested Beyond doubt or peradYenture
that ireland is ths only nation which
listened to the voice Of Christianity
without shedding the blood OF the her
aid who bore the divine message. Joy
ousiy she received the faith~-stead-
lastly has she chung to it through four.
teen hundred years Of 1nartyrcsom.
Well may the Irish race on this day,
sacred to the memory Of their Patron
Saint, RAISE tl,eil lofty song OF triumph
in The language Of the Apostle OF the
Gentiles that neither death nol life. nor
municipalities nor powers, nor things
present noc things to come have been
able to separate them from the faith
which Patrick brought.
For more than seven hundred years
the irish people have undergone con-
tinuous exile. Force and fraud. penal
law and famine have driven them. from
their ancient hone. They have gone
forth in all those years to every land
which offered reward to industry and
enterprise. They have merged with
new people and sworn allegiance to new
flags. Hu however separated from the
old land h5 distance and ivy t1me on this
St, patrick's Day, the sea divided Gael
renaws his vows of feslty to the Old
Mother across the sea and proudly bears
alOft that h4g ct green, faithful unto
tue end to the holy cause for which his
ancestors laid down their lives Gu field,
III famine and on scsiifod. rs we look
into our hearts tonight, men and
women OF Irish faith and blona. we find
that withia the memory Of those who
are SILL young, now and strange assoeI-
ations have become connected WITH this
day. On former anniversaries our
thoughts drifted int the pass, and the
speakers theme was the ancient glory Of
our people and the sad bug ever welcome
tails Of defeated hopes and ruined plans.
Tonight the tender memories OF the
past are with us but only to clasten the
joy that swells our hearts as we gaze
upon q living present rich with hope
aud promise. The struggle for the free
dom Of orr people is no longer the
revolt Of the undiscipiined Celt against
the military power of q mighty empire.
The conflict has shifted from the battle
field TO the forum Of reason and HUI
mainly. Our leaders have stepped from
the prisoners dock to the Parliament
house Of our ancient foe. Strangest
spectacle of all, from the ranks Of our
old antaganist have CONS forth It's
brayest spirits, wiser than secs, nooler
than kings, to fight our battles and
bear our burdens. Ireland has pleaded
her case before tribunal when al the
humanity Of the civilized world sat in
judgment and all civilization sweeping
aside the barriers Of sect and national
ity has attested the justice Of ner cause
and voiced it's inestimable demand that
the wrongs of centuries shall be righted
at once and forever. The people Of this
great republic to whom the cause Of
human liberty never appealed in vain,
have exposed the cause Of Irish Nation
atty aud with nobility which no other
nation On the earth could parallel have
moved il solid phalanx at che command
of Davitt, parnell and Gladstone. The
Irish question is no longer in the realm