The Irish standard., 1889-10-05
but. now. everyone must admit that
they are a power.

Duts 10 CONSIDER, Ln6r6 must D6 come
characteristic about the Irish people
more than common that give them this
prestige of recognition. Those charac-
teristics, | believe. are displayed IN the
field of valor, in the field Of religion. in
the ield Of diplomacy and in the field
of literature.
| can't say that the Irish excel in
metaphysics, the Germans ars superior
IN that respect. I can't say that the
Irish excel in fashion, the French sur
pass them in that respect. 7 can't say
the Irish excel as inventors, the Ameri-
cans out do them in that respect, La
valor the lr sh are the peers, if not the
superiOrs, OF any people III the world.
lrishmen are no towards Irishmen
have ever been foremost in leading the
charge; whether under Napoleon he
meath the pyramids of Egypt; whether
under O'Neill in Spain; whether under
Mcmahon in France, or whether under
Corcoran at Bull Run. Irishmen al.
ways die with their wounds in the
front. Irish blood has swelled the
streams of Ireland; has tinged the riv-
ers Of the continent; has upheld the
stars and stripes wherever the fight
was the hottest. 1t has resounded
above the din of battle with the words:
Our country, our home, our flag"
We now often wonder that our Ameri-
can compatriots should have. at one
time, perpetrated that adage: mo Irish
need apply" We will be charitable,
however. and ascrlbe it to the intoler-
ance Of the age We will do more than
this, we will say that Irishmen's sons
were the most rabid in penetrating
such doctrine. We are assured that
Llncoln did not think Of it when he
made his call for 5000 volunteers; that
Hancock did not think Of it in his three
days fight at Gettysburg; that Sheridan
did not think OF it at Cedar Greek, nor
Grant at Vickshurg. Irishman always
applied when our nation was in danger,
and they were only too willingly ac-
1cepted.s Irishmen, Of late years, have
been leading factors in political conven-
tions of either of the great political
parties.
But leaving out valor patriotism, wit,
religion and diplomacy, believe that
in the field of literature the Irish people
can hold their own with any people on
earth. Ireland has produced no Shake
speore; yet it has produced such men as
Garrick and Sheridan and Barrett that
have brought the truths suggested by
Shakespeare home to the people,
If the essential requisite of the true
poet is to unfathom the human mind,
its countless hopes. its feetlng fancies
and its waking vagaries, then Ireland
has no poet; and the true poets are Mil
ton. Shelley, Poe and Robert Browning,
If, on the other hand, true poetry con
sists in painting nature with tints
drawn from nature; portraylng love as
| it wells forth uncalled from the human
heart; depicting sorrow, fear and pair
as felt by human hearts an6 seen By
human ewes, then Irish poets stand higt
on the list.
| Irish scenery is known world wide
Irish wrongs have stirred up patriotism
in many breasts besides their own Tht
Irish have entertained traditions from
the old Drnidical time These tradi-
tions have peopled the world with fair
les, and given a semblance Of life Il
ruined castles. to unknown mounds
They have courted the weird and ths
supernatural.
The bardS and Ministries of Ireland il
her palmiest days had fame that ex
tended throughout Europe. The rngge,
cliffs, the mossy banks, the crysta
lakes, the pearly brooks Of Ireland at
forded themes about which they Wrot
or sang. The deeds Of the hero wer
sung by the minstrels, the lover sang t
his mistress beneath the castle window
and the banshee's wall was heard fad
ing in the distance as the scion Of som
noble house was summoned out into tn
Great Unknown. Dean Swift inauguI
ated an era in the literature Of ireland
He wrote faultless poetry and vlgorou
prose. He equaled O'Connell in wit
Cervantes in humOr, and Juyenal an
Junius in sarcasm. His "GulIiyer
Travels" was perhaps the most scathin
caricature or satire eyer perpetrate
upon the Anglo-Saxon race. Goldsmith
in a gentler vein, wrote of the '.Tray
eler," THE Hermit and s'The D,
serted Village" That poem Of ssTh
Deserted Village" shall live throug
ages. Sweet Auburn, L0veliest vi
lage, ETC., is handed down to US wit
the Idea of reverence more than {
worth. 1t deals with the commonplat
around the Irish iresides; with Iris
hopes. and weals and woes. But aboy
and beyond these. it suggests nationa
ity and love Of home. 1t had an inf
ence upon the Irish people. Why th
: deserte village? Why those unhapr
! homes? were questions which agitate
2 the Irish people long after the time