The Irish standard., 1888-03-24
prejudice against our fellow citizens of
Irish blood by the false and hypocriti-

cal cry that their loyalty to the old
land endangered their allegiance to the
American Republic. The history of
the Irish race in the United States re-
flutes the SANDER and furnishes proud
testimony that they can be faithful to
the Mother across the sea and faithful
to the land OF their adoption. 1t seems
to me that history shows to him who
can read Alright that the Irish mind and
heart have been SO moulded in the cen
turtles by determining cause as to be
compelled of necessity to love this gov
eminent with its republican institu-
tions with love SURPRISING and en-
during. Of all the people which have
found their resting place beneath
the protection of cur Constitution the
Irish race is the only one which in the
strict and literal sense Of the term
came here an exile from home. Broad
~ speaking, immigration to the United
States On the part of other peoples have
been voluntary and uncompelled.
| They left behind them home of COM
paratiye comfort and a government be
loved and respected i'll spite Of its
faults. The Irishman who came to the
! United States fled from famine and
from fever and from the cruelty OF a
government which be hated. When he
stood upon the deck of the immigrant
ship and looked back upon the reced-
ing shores of his native land, his last
glance fell upon the flag which symbol
lied the rule of q usurper and remem-
bering the history Of his race. he cursed
that banner in the bitterness of his woe,
And when fer the first time he stood
| upon the soil of free land and gaIed
upon the radiant flag which had waved
triumphant in two great wars over the
ensign Of ST. George, his hnar1 was
warm with love of our free institutions
and his oath OF al;egiance was no empty
Formally when he renowned forever
all fealty to the sovereign Of Great
Britain and sWore in the sight OF
Heaven to defend the Constitution OF
! the United States. If it be true that
men Of other natonalities have loved
| this land because the genius OF our in
situations has given free scoDe 60 bhe
aspirations that old world n1onarchies
crushed and fettered, is it strange shat
the fair goddess OF liberty won the un-
dying loye Of a race whose only crime
had been their love OF Alotherland !?
Chastened and purified by the long
agony which his people had suffered in
their fight for freedom, it is perhaps
accurate to say that the exile was able
to appreciate tbs dignity of our citizen
stjp and the value of the privilege
which it conferred in a way that was
impossible to those who came from
happier and more favored lands. Be-
meath the protection Of q government
Of equal laws Irshmen have expanded
to this full measure Of the manhood
which God had given aud which man
could never take away. They have
been faithful law-abiding citizens OF
this great Republic, true 70 the Consti--
tuition which they 5wore TO support and
prodigal OF their hearts blood in de-
Tense of the Land which had sheltered
them. Their loyalty has been attested
with their blood and sealed On many a
eeld of fight by the death OF their best
and bravesC sons. Their love for the
old land eDnobled their love for this, the
sacrifices which they had made in their
own struggle for liberty. were but a
preparation and ST incentive for the
heroic part which they have taken i'll
the history of this country. lu the
war for the Union the children
of Erin carried the flag OF
green side by side with the stars and
stripes on thousand fields OF carnage.
Let history call the roster tonight On
the battle fields Of the South aud mar
shall in shadowy phaianx the men who
died for liberty, and the roll call will be
answered in the bcogue Of every one of
the 5hirty-tw0 counties, from the ac~
cents OF the South, sweet and mellow
as the sound of Shandon bells, to the
words Of the North, stern and rugged
as the shores which break the storm OF
the Northern ocean. On the awful field
of An1ietam the Irish Brigade, raising
the War-cry with which their brothers
had charged to victory at Fontenoy,
"Faugh d Ballagh'' (clear the Way),
struck the rebel ranks like whirlwind
and scattered them like frosted leaves.
In all the records of sublime achieve
ment there is no graDder sight than
that which met the eye Of history When
on December Is, 1862, Thomas Francis
Meagher's brigade, each man wearing
in his cap sprig of green. hurled itself
SIX times against the wall OF living FIRE
that crowned the heights Of Malvern
Hill. Twelve hundred of our race, bear
ing on their foreheads the badge that
told their loyalty to their native land,
responded to the summons of their gal.
liant leader and carried the stars and
L-.--