The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-18
ADAYDEAR TO IRISH HEARTS
The st. Patrick Celebration with Music,
Procession and Addresses.
The Streets We're Thronged with Observers
of the Marching Militia and Societies
Speeches of Col. Matson and Others.

rare for that time -honored celebration. About
noon, though, the clouds shrea tened either rain
or snow, but within an hour the sun shone
brightly. and for the rest OF the afternoon no
better outdoor conditions could have been de-
sired by the procession and the crowds OF sight
seers. The first small. but the latter was
great. making the thoroushfares about Illinois
street, Kentucky avenue and Washington street
almost impossible From that point
east TO Delaware the people moved
in unbroken stream, with green
ribbon displayed in quantity to suit the taste of
the wearer Some measured their loyalty to
the memory of Ireland's patron saint by
breadth of ribbon that made the modest little bow
thousands wore appear Insignificant. but those
who had sprigs Of genuine shamrock thought
themselves possessors of an emblem that nothing
could outshine. The women, young and old,
were out in great force, con-
sttutine one-half the threng and there was not
Que OF them without a bit Of green. Patiently
the thousands waited for the procession, which
was long in forming at the intersection of Ten.
nessee and Maryland streets. A half hour after
the time fixed for moving the first notes of the
band were heard down Kentucky avenue, and
the march began. With i6 there was q move
ment in the waiting crowd for better position.
The fortunate ones who got an unobstructed
View along the curb were soon crowded into the
street by the pressing throng behind them and
when the procession did file into Washington
street 1t was through narrow limits, the
width OF the street on either side being short
ened by the of obssrvers For sonares
there was no break in the crowd, and. although
the line of Irish militia and soclesies was mnch
smaller than in previous yeas. it had the same
attraction for the people al il il were pageant
rich In the glitter of gold and sheen of silken
banners. In Many of the stores along the route.
as IN houses off the business streets, were dis
played either portraits of Irish patriots and
Leaders or attractive decorations
a platoon of police was at the head of the line,
after which, preceded by the band of the Emmet
Guards came the Emmett Guards themselves
and knights of ST. George. Following these
we're several carriages. ex Governor Porter and
Coi. ~ e. Matson occupying the first with Faith
ers ODonaghue and Spellnan in the next while
EatEers Bessonies and Alerding rode in the
snlru. Other carriages filed this part of the
procession, with Milers band coming next at
the head of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
VINO turned out in large numbers. Coming up
kentucky avenue to Washington street the
marcn extended east to Alabama thence north
TO Market and west to Tennessee, where the
procession hlej South to Washington and then
west again to West, when, countermarching it
came back to Masonic Hail.
AT this point there had been in waiting a
large mum Der OF men and women tor the doors
70 open. the managers having kept them locked
until the societies came. In the narrow hail
way. leading TO the spacious rooms in which the
speeches were to be given, there was a mass of
people, packed so closely that every body stepped
npon every other persons toes or pressed them
tight against the wall. Bet the crowd had to be
tninned out by persevering officers to give the
marching militia aud societies precedeuce
Within the hall it did not take long TO fill the
seats after access was once gained. Hundreds
5000 up, the stream continuing from the door
down 10 the sidewalk. 1t was expected that SEN
ator Voorhees, would deliver the principal ad-
dress. but his duties in Washington pre-
night before last Colonel M ats n was
invited to supply his place. While the audience
was being seated the Emmett Guards Band gave
one or two pieces of music. following which ex
governor Porter. introduced by Captain
Sweeney as the presiding officer, briefly returned
MS thanks and congratulated his hearers upon
tnis strong evidence of honor to the memory Of
the good priest. the large minded and jealous
bishop, the lofty patriot and great saint With
TINS he presented Colonel Matson as the speaker
of the day.
In his opening remarks the Colonel explained
tue unexpected circumstances and unlooked-for
inVltatlon which gave him the honor of address
ing the Irish people that occasion. 1t was
through the forced absence of that distinguished
statesman who had been asked to address them
whose fame was not bounded by the confines of
his own country. But the Colonel was truly
glad to join in the celebration of the great
patriot whose example has kept alive for centu-
ries the loyalty of the Irish people to their faith
and country. st. Patrick is the only great
Character known in the history of the Christian
religion which can now command the homage Of
national gratitude each recurring ami
versAry. Giving brief outline of the life and
career Of the Saint, the Colonel said no mortal
has ever lived in the Christian who has
saint as St. Patrick. He had, political
character, but his fame and work were
based on unlimited faith It was because his
teachings and character prevailed that the
nation grew and developed the virtues faith,
hope and charity. But ireland has now no
place at the Preside of nations. she sits a
SiafA INT nrff paF all he holD
establish. Thus her people were driven to seek
other lands to enjoy the liberty denied them at
home He impressed upon. the Irish
their friends in Ireland in securing
what they enjoy in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Home
rule always remains when is is once established.
and he appealed TO them as lovers of liberty to
aid their friends at home. The world never
Witnessed more unselfsh devotion to a cause
than that Of the Irish Americans in assisting in
the great struggle against British tyranny. The
Colonel's speech short. but it's sentiment
reached the hearts of his hearers. who frequent
The next speaker Father O'Donaghue deliv-
cred. eloquent address the work of ST
Patrick, who found the Emerald isle very much
as st. Peter found Rome. All of the apostles
poured out their blood for the faith they
preached, but thanks to the Irishman's pagan
ancestry St Patrick was not required to do this.
The Milesians were not like other
people. They may have been no
better, no more intellectual, or had more
prowess, but their conversion to Christianity
showed that they had strong virtue that
sponded TO the new religion. Before st. Pat
rick's time they had created q civilization which
aided in their conversion At that time the
country was divided into four Kingdoms
with one supreme king, which. perhaps,
gave the idea to Washington and his COM
patriots when they formed the American
federation. The Milesians Their had code of laws
which guaranteed to the people, even to wom-
en-, rights which the American laws nowadays
secure Barbarians reduce women to slavery,
but the Milesians guarded her with sacredness
equal to that of modern civilization. When
St Patrick came to these people he let them
tain their laws and customs, and only asked
them TO conform them to the Christ
ian instead of q Pagan religion. The
400 years that followed were years
OF great prosperity for Ireland and her people.
In the educational Institution alone there were
10 900 students who came from all parts of civil
Izad Enrnne Then the invasion of fha