The Irish standard., 1888-03-31


words were as he signed the pledge,
Here gees in the name of God.'' The
society which was thus started became
at once a prosperous gathering and 80
much good was effected by 1t that Father
Mathew went about from place to place
preaching and teaching, everywhere
meeting with gratifying success. Oh !!
what Joy and gladness filed the heart
of this good and Jealous man, as he
witnessed his countrymen taking his
advice and fortifying themselves
against their worst enemy. Not con-
tent with his success in his native
land, Father Mathew sailed for our
own shores, and preached and admins
tered the pledge to thousands among
the Irish people in the Eastern and
Southern States. Returning to fire.
land, he continued his good work I'M
til the great majority of his people
were redeemed from that terrible curse,
their worst enemy, whiskeY.
Father Mathew lived, worked and
died as a jealous, Godfearing priest.
asaman whose whole soul was given
to relieve and redeem his people from a
vice in which they had too easily fallen.
There is DO Disgusting the fact thai
|iouor has been one Of the worst, yes,
the very worst, enemy that the Irish
people, not in Ireland alone, but in
other countries as we'll, have had to
contend with. In too many instances,
I fear, they did not try to contend
with the enemy. Whiskey is a bad
thing Tor any people to partake Of, out
it is damnabIe thing for the Irish peo-
pie to give way TO. Our people, as is
we'll kllswn, are whole-souled, gen
erous people. They desire the comfort
of their guests, the nistak n happiness
which liquor brings. They are quick
to detect an Insult, and prompt to re.
sent an attack upon their countrymen.
These are good traits when practised
by sober men. but when brought into
use by men whose passions have been
aroused by strong drink, they become
the means of lowering the race in the
eyes OF moderate men. Irishmen,
whom sober. are noted for their far
common sense, adhesion
to religious principles, and general
God standing among their felIowmen.
Irishmen, when under thu influence of
Iiquor, are Che most noted-what term
will use ?--;he biggest fools on earth
Now, nav friends, you know this to be
the case better than do. Let as not
speak excjtediY. Let us know what
we are saying but is it not fact,
known to you all. that when an irish
man gets about three sheets in the
wind, is he not one OF the most silly
specimens Of humanity that you ever
saw? He who, in his sober moments,
is model uan, a kind parent, 8 good
pyovider, al upright and honest citizen,
becomes in his tipay moments the di-
rect antipodes Of his sober self. Why
is it that in DAYS gone by the irish peo-
pie even in America, yes, right here in
our own State, were laughed at and
r:diculed by our neighbcrs +? Was it
because Of our poverty Well, we
were poor, tits true, b'1t that was not
the cause of our ridicule. Was it be-
cause we were we'll developed people
physically? No. Was it because we
were lazy? No. Well. why was it ?
It is easy, very easy, to dnd tue answer.
It Was because too many of us had q
fondness for liquor. Yes, that is the
reason. Whjskey once down an irish
mans stomach rohs him OF reason,
takes away his motive power, and
leaves him a helpless and worse than
useless being. But, thank God, the
work inaugurated by Father Mathew
WAS taken up in this country, aud more
especially in this our OWE State. It is
now nearly 20 years since there was or
ganjzad in this State a Father Mathew
Total Abstinence Suciety, which still
lives and hourishes now as it has never
tlOuyished before.
Another priest, an Irislman, too,
seeing the dreadful ravages Whiskey
was making among the peop!e he loved
80 well. resolved TO form a society to
combat the enemy, and we'll did he
succeed. From that beginning, nearly
10 years ago, he has had the pleasure
and satisfaction of seeing his race re-
deemed from their enemy, alcohol, and
to-day nearly every parish of his vast
diocese has a Total Abstinence society.
Have told you my friends VINO this
benefactor of his race is? You have
but to think of the little green isle
across the sea which gave US our fathers
ard mothers and you have the name Of
this good man on your tongues end--
Bishop ireland To Bishop ireland
more than to ali other agencies COM
bined. do we Irish and Irish descend
ants owe our present high standing in
the estimation Of our fellow-men. In
many home where misery, caused by
a too frequent indulgence i'll the flowing