The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-03-24

have not been found wanting; that they
have been true to this nation IN peace
and in peril; that they have been true
to that dear old ancestral land IN the
rast, and that they will be true to i,
until it is as free and prosperous as il
was in those blessed days when St.
Patrick brought the pure, radiant light
of Gods religion to its shores and its
people.
Judge j. 3. Quinn. in responding to
the to the toast, 1.-The Day We Cele-
brate." said:
Mr. President and Gentlemen: What
a world of meaning there is in the toast
just read, and to which am called up
on to respond, 'tYhe Day We Cele-
brate." And why celebrate this day
St. patrick's Day? We are not here to
celebrate this day because St. Patrick
was an Irishman. because he was not.
We commemorate him for the princi-
pies which he taught. ELL men pass
away, but principles alone survive. The
career of st. Patrick in Ireland marked
an epoch in the civilization Of the
world, and there is no civilized country
on earth that has not shared the fruits
Of bis labors in Ireland Not a native
of the Green isle, his first advent as a
captive and "a slave, he studied the ma
ture OF her people and saw what glori-
Gus things might be accomplished
there. Having prepared himself he
returned. and what has been the result.
In few years he converted the whole
island from paganisnl to Christianity.
This conquest was not by the SWORD,
but the Cross. Barring III his hand the
olive branch Of peace, he conquered.
He appealed not tc the passions OF
men, but to their hearts, their con
sciences, and not q single drop of blood
was shed in her conversion. On ac-
count, of her sanctity she became
known as the Isle Of Saints. All
Northern Europe, prior to his labors
in Ireland, Was in pagan darkness. The
aroma of her sapctjty, borne on every
breeze from her shore, djffused itself
throughout the world. Though living
only In tradition, his memory today is
as fresh and green in the hearts of the
children of the Emerald Isle as the YER
dure of her fields, and will remain SO
| to the end Of time.
There is no civilized country on earth
that has not felt his ulagic poWer--uo
Christian country but that the follow
ers of ST. Patrick have been and are q
potent factor in her advancement.
There is no free government on earth
in which the children Of St. Patrick
have not been Instrumental in the
cause of freedom. AL! Christendom
o.daY is reaping tl,a fruits OF the labors
of ST. Patrick in Ireland. st. Patrick
taught obedience to law. There are 10
anarchists among his followers. Ehe
seeds Of social disorder never pene-
trated the breasts of the men who wear
the shamrock, nor will they ever. They
haYe never invaded the rights Of others.
Their only foe has been oppression.
tyranny, and they have always battied
for the common rights of man. Their
only object is freedom from their op
pressors-liberty! And the day is not
far distant. Aud we trust, before many
anniversaries Of St. Patrick shall come
again, that the Green Isle beyond the
sea-, the field Of his labors, will take
her place among the nations of the
earth
Great, glorious and free;
First flower of the earth, first gem Of the sea-
]. II. Downing, OF st. Paul, respond
ed to the toast, Our Sister City" in 81
manner that drew forth rapturous ap-
pIause from his many hearers. He gave
a brief resume of the history and
growth of the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians of St. Paul--the struggles and
trials the organization had to contend
with in its infancy. 1t was a speech
full of good points and sparkling with
wit throughout. In behalf Of the gen.
tlemen from St. Paul, he closed by
thanking The A. O. H. Of Minneapolis
for the kind and generous treatment
received at their hands, and hoped that
the no.distant future would allow them
the opportunity Of returning the COM
pllment so pobly paid them on this oc-
casion.
State Secretary w. S. Bayley, of the
A. o. H., responded to the toast "The
Standing Of the Order i'll the State Of
Minnesota His remarks, though un-
usually brief on this occasion, were lis
tened to with marked interest. Among
othec things he stated that twenty-nine
counties had heen organized, and that
there were at the present time about
3. 500 members of the Ancient Order in
good standing in Minnesota, 1,ltO Of
whom were insured in the life insurance
department of the order.
Michael Mogan, Esq, responded
briefly to the toast, 'Ihe A. o. 81. in
Minneapolis. he spoke substantially
S3L ;olo I