The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-04-12
= TIM Q ITO " RDs.
Entrants { rom a. Address by Hon. E. NJ
y Durant, of Saltwater.

Market hall, st. Panl, Hon. p W. Du-,
rant, Of Saltwater, was called upon to
respond to the roast, America, z which
he did il manner that called forth
most hearty and generous applause. The
following passages from Mayor Du-
rants magnificent speech on that oeca-
sion are herewith given 81
England, said the speaker, boasts
that the sun never sets upon her vast
dom1nions; and America boasts. and
truly so, that the sunlight Of freedom
never sets or even pales upon the rights
of American citizenship; battles have
been fought and won for conquest;
thrones have tottered, emperors and
kings have trembled over what might be
the result Of single battle. Americas
contests are for the rights of the people
and the weapons used, the ballot. The
spirit that aotuated the men of l776 ex-
lists in the sons whose forefathers laid
the structure Of this republic cemented
with their blood. Che duty devolves
upon them not only to maintain intact
the glorious inheritance bequeathed
them, but to perpetuate it not only on
this continent but wherever the strength
of the freeman's arm can be exercised to
aid the oppressed.
"That there should be- and there is,
bond of sympathy between the Irish
people and the citizens of America is to
De accounted for from the struggle of
each to obtain that liberty of personal
freedom due from man to man. Civil1-
zatlon has developed forms of govern
|ment necessary to better the condition Of
mankind; any act of government that
aims to retain the shackles on it's people
or dependents, shackles that had been
forged centuries ago, and IN later years
have been thrown aside as relics of bar
barism, cannot possibly stand the scru-
tiny of the present era of enlightenment.
America, the cosmopolitan citizen
ship embracing the nationalities of the
civilized world, claimed for themselves
and asserted their rights at the point Of
the bayonet and at the lannon's mouth;
men who signed the constitution of the
United States of America and affixed
their signatures TO that immortal doou-
Ement marked the grandest era. the most
important epoch in the world history.
They pledged their fortunes, their iber-
ties and their lives to the principles set
forth in the declaration of independence;
the story of the war for American free
dom illumines the grandest page record
ed in the worlds history. The expert
ment of popular government. people
governing themselves for themselves has
been tested on American soil; the foun-
dation was firmly laid; the structure is
complete. It was left for the people of
the United States of America to demon
strate to the world that the comm IN citi-
zen OF the country was the most favor
able factor for promoting the general in-
terests and perfeoting that government
which recognizes the rights of each cltl-
zen, however humble his position may
be. America has gained her present
proud distinction among the nations of
the earth by the use of the ballot; it
matters not how obscure the origin of q
citizen may be, yet, wien he is endowed
with citizenship and the right of fran
chise, he is eligible to the highest posi-
ton that the suffrage Of his fellow clti-
zens can confer upon him; in America
the title, the only title recognized, is
first, American cltiz enship; second, abil-
ity to serve in the councils to which he
he may be called, 50 as to meet the ap-
proval of his constituents. America; no
castles, because American citizenship
stamps each citizen with the right Of
nobility, recognized the world over.
.sAmerlca, continent four centuries
ago unknown, the morning that dawned
upon It's discovery revealing the exist,
ence of this continent was the beginning
of quiet revolution destined to change
the policies Of the governments of the
world.
america. peopled by a population
early Injured to the hardships OF pioneer
life, and valuing personal freedom at a
price too high to be purchased by kings,
were we'll calculated to form and per-
petuate system Of government assur-
ing equal rights to all it's citizens.
America, possessing these elements
of strength, with it's wonderful natural
resources. it was not strange that the
eyes Of the world watched with interest
the attempt of Americas sons to estab-
lish republic.
Great Britain, fully understanding the
value Of this dependency to the English
crown. sought by the use Of gold and
the force Of arms to maintain their au
a u.