The Washington critic., 1888-03-17
WAXEM AND THE IRISH
The Member from the WaybaCk
District Organizes
A BOOM FOR ST. PATRICK,
Backed by the Contingent i'm the
National Legislature from
Ireland.

Hibernia Hall was green sea of glory
this morning, and the shamrock and the
shillelah swung loose at the sport of the
blizzard i'm honor of ST. Patrick, and the
Harp of Erin twanged its bravest notes to
the success of the Emerald Isle. The
Hall was filled to its fullest capacity to
hear the orator of the day, Hon. w. q.
Waxem, the Member from Wayback, and
the enthusiasm was something never to
be forgotten. At 1890 o'clock sharp the
st. Patrick Congressional Committee
filed in, headed by Jedge Waxem and
the Marshal Of the Day, and the dis
tinguished body took its seat upon
the platform. The Committee present
consisted of Hons. O'Neill of Missouri,
O'Neill of Pennsylvania. O'Ferrall of
Virginia, O'Donnell of Michigan, Nc
Adoo of New Jersey, McClammy of North
Carolina, McShane Of Nebraska, Nc
Creary OF Kentucky, McComas of Mary
land Mckinney of New Hampshire Nc
Millin of Tennessee, Patrick Collins of
Massachusetts, Peter Mnhoney, Tim
Campbell and Bourke Cochran of New
York, Frank Lawler of Chicago Tom
Ryan of Kansas, Tim Tarsney of Mich
lRun, W. H. NIhnt VI ltAhS, lJOuHntTlN
of Florida, Phelan of Tennessee, Kelley
of Pennsylvania, Senators Reaganennd
Riddlcberger and S. S. Cox of the Ireland
District, New York. Mr.. Cox, while not
an lrishman direct, Is one by implication,
owing TO the pronounced nature of the
district he represents, and he is, so TO
speak, an eX-otlicio member of the Com
mittee.
When the applause which greeted the
4 Inn m mr. ho1 nj
the Hon. S. s. Cox rose and introduced
Jedge Waxem as follows:
"Mr Chairman and fellow-CitiZens, |
take pleasure in introducing to you to-
day our distinguished colleague in the
House, the Hon. w. Q. Waxem, who Will
address you. He needs no comment AS
patriot he is worthy of being an Irish
man; las statesman he is an Irishlnan,
and as good citizen he is q noble exam
| pie TO every man in tins house. [Great
| applause. He needs no introduction
at my hands, fellowcitizens, and that is
why ] am introducing him. Ladies and
| gentlemen permit me-this is the Hon.
W. @. Waxem."
Amid the waving of handkerchiefs,
green scaris and vocferous cheers, the
| Jedge stepped forward, and with q sweep
ing bow, which semi-circled the whole
front of the platform, he began;
The Jedge's Grafton.
Friends, countrymen and feller-Irish
citizens" he said, "as l stand here in my
place OF this platform and look upon the
honest faces of the representative men
settin' round me- and from them look
| out onto the sea of honest faces spread be-
| fore me of them that is represented, feel
| to rej'ice that we air American citizens.
| Cheers And when | look agin and see
| the liniments of them faces that shows
thar is tie even closeter than citizenship,
| congraterlate myself that your chic
fell onto me to stand on this middle
ground, and, in the name of st. Patrick,
Jlne your hearts and purposes agin in the
annual rej'inin'. Loud applause lam
sorrer of my old age that an overrulin'
Providence should have saw fit to bring
me into this world as plain Waxem, when
OWaXem er McWaXem would have been
votes in my pocket and a credit to the
family. Applause with, We are with
you, from Riddleberger, Cox and
Reagan.1 Gents, this country and us
| statesmen owes debt of gratitude to Ire
land that nevercan be liquidated [cheersl,
and our annual celebration ofSt. Patrick s
day is only small eflert at doin it ON
the installment plan, but we air faithful
and we git our reward. [Applause from
the Democratic statesmen on the plat
form.l What would the politics of this
crate and glorious Republic be to-day,
teller-pattriots, if it wasn't fer our Irish
citizensY ['Republican by q large ma
ority" shouted Hon Bardwell Slote,
who had come in late and stood back by
the door, Amid considerable excite
ment he was hustled ont on to the side.
walk, and the Jedge resumed
gents, I'm much obleeged to you fer
remoyin' that obstruction to the harmony
OF this neetin' [Cheers.] We air law.
abidin citizens, and don't want no dis
turbin influences present, and we must
have peace If we have to fight fer It,
[GTeat applause.l Fourteen hundred and
fifty years ago the distinguished gentle
man that we honor to-day fust landed on
the sea -girth shores of the Emeral Isle
and when he retired from the public ser
vice and the emolliments tharof he haG
a record Irishmen fer all generations car
be proud of [Cheers.] In one respeck
am like st. Patrick, aint an Irishmar
by birth, but / am one in sperrit, and
want to be identified with 'em. Pm agir
the British Lion, body, soul and britches
and as long as thar is an Irish vote il
this broad land of freedom we will b.
Iined in common cause to twist th
tyrant's tail. [Uproarious applause.l Thi
is great day, one of the greatest in TIN
calendar of our country, and as a fer seein
|
maxim it national holiday. [Great aI
plause]
"The Fourth of July, the 22d of Fet
ruary and st. Patrlck's Day, gentlemen
is combination no power on earth ca
stand up agin, and when that time come
I'll be in favor of changin' the blue squai
in the American flag to green, an
the tune of Yankee Doodle and Erin G.
Bragh. Loud applause.l Thar is in m
deestrick to-day many patriotic Irishme
that stands by me, and thar's NOR
Z comm. Every Irishman thar has got
dozen Children, and the little fellers take
to politics like ducks to water. It's
material gift, feller citizens, and in a goN
, erment of the people by the. people fe
the people politics is as needcessary 0
money Is. tCheers.l But feller citizens
thar is Americans IN this country thf
aint with the Irish cause, and tears come
/ to my eyes when think of it. Only tn
week we have saw the tvrannical Mayo
, of New York city, whar the Irishma
blossoms as the rose of Sharon and th
lily of the valley, and iiourishes like
green bay tree, refusin' to float the Stal
; and Stripes in honor of our patron sain
and in ,insultin' langwldge sayin' Il
would not review the Irish perccssior
[Groans and Kisses, with sobs, frol
Messrs. Cox, Campbell, Cochran and MI
honey
"And, feller-citizens, he perfesses to b
, Democrat. Why, sir, a Mugwum
would have more craftsmanship tina
that, and he ought to be ruled out of tn
party. [Shouts of Wait till we git 'ul
Down wild de 'rishtecrats etc, etc
Eft wasn't fer the Irish. feller-citzens
whar would he be to-day They vot
him into office. They boss his kitchen
they rule his household affairs; they driv
, his carriages; they nuss his children, an
; yit when they ask favor of him he fol
!, gifts all his obligations and refuses ther
; with insultin' langwidge [Groans.l Blu
/. let us not dwell on this sad scene. Iii
= funeral is appinted and the corpse will b
/. ready. Great applause
= "FelleP citizens, am not to-day goir