The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-03-23

81. estrick's HanuusR-
And though slavery sclood' certify morning
The full moon OF freedsm shall bean round
Erin. o Erfni theugh long in the shade
Thy star will shine ost when the Rroudest
shall fade
So wrote Sir Thomas Moore, aReland's
sweetest poet nearly a century ago. AS
yet the prophesy remains unfuliIled and
Irish liberty is but q dream, but IKE time
Is fast approaching when the last trace OF
English despotism ON Erin's grsen soil
shall be oblitesated and the fairest spot on
Gods footstool receive the rights 90 long
denied her. The question of how TO gov
ern Ireland Can never be settled until once
again her parliament meets in Dublin and
once again home rude is granted.
The position OF Ireland in the worlds
history is unique one. England was
successfully conquered by Romans. Sax
ons, Danes and Normans but Ipeland
during all these years retained her free.
dom, but she was early alive to the Agher
and more permanent interests Of christian.
ity and civilization The conversion of
the Irish nation was due to the jealous
efforts of St. Patrick. buck in the fourth
century. Many cities claim the honor of
being his birthplace. but though his per
soRal history is meager and mainly
legendary. the prodigious results Of his
work remain and are to-day working Cor
the amelioration of the human race. For
at least three centuries after st. Patrick,
Ireland was the leader of the western
civilization and we see her in the seventh
century sending her missionaries to Eng
land, France and even across the Alps into
Italy. Her learning was such that she be-
came the Mecca Of students from all
western Europe. Her universities, estab-
ished in later years, always maintained
the cause of education and during the dark
ages were among the great beacon lights
of progress. What has caused the change
from this happy condition of the Irish
people of six centuries ago TO their posi-
tion today Has it been loss of energy
from internal corruption? No, the gal
liant sons of Erin are to-day the same
liberty loving, generous and God.fearing
men as of yore, but the heel of oppression
has for 700 years, and over, attempted to
crush their sanguine spirits, and to that
the result has been the loyal, warm heart
of the Lishman ceases to beat in unison
with the Englishman. Since the day
Henry ii. invaded Ireland there has been
constant warfare between the two islands;
coercion has been the attempted mode of
control but the innumerable instructions
have proven it failure and the memory
of Emmett, Gratten and O'Connell signify
that it must ever be so.
AT present the cloud that has so long
darkened the bright sun of prosperity
seems to be breaking away and ere long the
Emerald Isle will herself Illuminate in a
perfect freedom. In Gladstone she has
secured the most powerful orator and |
most successful moulder of English poll. |
tical thought that this century has pro
duced. In Parneil. she has another of
those potent leaders Of which every page |
of her history is filled and above all she
has the sympathy and hearty support of
all the world, where liberty isappreciated.
The banquet at the rink Saturday night
was in all respects success. The toast
master, Hon. Hugh McCurdy, was at his
best and more could not be said. With
his 'shillalah" imported directly from
across the sea. as he maintained, he sue
ceeded to some extent in REFRESHING the
frequent bursts of applause from his
audience. After the supper had been
served in manner calculated to make all
wish il was a weekly spread instead of
1early, the program was carried out as
ollows:
Toast-"The Day we Celebrate" Re-
ponse by Rev. Father Deman.
Toast-''The Irish Question" Response
y F. H. Watson.
Toast-''The Shiawsssee County Bar" :
response by J. w. Turner.
Toast--"The Harp of Erin" Response
y s. e. Parkll.
st-"Parnell." Response by s. s. ,,
|omau
Toast-"A Free Press" Response by =
60. NJ. Dewey. ;,
Toast-"The Ladies'" Response by g. r
!. Lyon. \
Jas. Osburn returned thanks on behalf =.
the citizens to Father DOMAIN for his in =,
tation to join in the festival. =,
The responses to the toasts were all well :,
ceived and were efforts worthy of the =.
,eakers. That of S. E. Parkill being =
brilliant. =
The exercises were interspersed with :,
'ngs by Jerry Collins, Mr.. Freeman, and - =,
ISIS Lizzie Keifer. =.
The rink was tastefully decorated d
it'll evergreen. the stars and stripes =,
I'd pictures of Father DOMAIN and Bishop .,
urgcss, and the happy crowd in atten-