The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-10-24
American citizens: sAll that we have
to fear is that passions and selfish inter-
,ests may lead our people astray from

ating into any desDotlc or oppressive
form so long as their shall remain any
virtue in the body of the people, no1
the oft-repeated warning that there
can be no true liberty without morality,
and no morality without religion. Nor
can we close our eyes to the evil intlu.
>ences that are at work. and to the dan
gers that threaten both religion and
liberty. We know but too we'll the
tendency to substitute expediency for
principle, selfshness for patriotism and
darkness for light. But our faith is in
God and in our country's providence,
and we would rather seem to err by
being too sang ulne than sin against
Him by want of trust. Only we would
implore our people to remember that
now, as in the days of old, perpetual
vigilance is the price Of freedom;' we
would beg of them to appreciate the
pricelessness of our country's liberties,
and to recognize that Christianity is
their only safeguard
Nor can I forget that it was this same
learned and eloquent Irish American
Bishop who, on that memorable occa-
! slon, uttered the PRAYER of Americans,
of his own race and of every race when
he supplicated the Most High 'sthat He
would render our social principles ever
lasting; that He would guard and shield
them against any hand which. from any
quarter whatsoever, or from any motive
whatsoever, might seek to attack them,
or change them, or misuse them
Here IN Bishop Keane's clear and
frlnging toner, we have declared and
emphasized the feeling of the Irish in
America to this republic Of which we
are citizens, the republic which bids us
not forget the land of our ancestors to
which America itself owes SO many Of
its triumphs in war, In craftsmanship
and in literature. We are here, sir, in
the midst off, people at heart friendly
to us. but keenlY alive to all our short
comings and !. failines. They know
that from our ancestral home we have
brought with us that same proneness to
dissension and to discord which has so
long enslaved and degraded 1t, and for
this they thinka's8k us. If we want
to be here gesseeeted as our numbers
and our goodqualities call for us to be
respected; United we must be. A
squabbliag, scolding and divided people
are Satl object of contempt to the by
stannderss Our failures, and we have
been guatA of failures in America, can
not betaxsd on fhe German American,
the Spanish American or the Italian
American or the American of Puritan
stock ana descent, they are to he
ascrlbed to our own folly. We have
suffered the ward politician aud the
political "boss'' to acquire influence in
our societies., and too often allowed
these associa5;pns to be used for the
base partisan paFposes of these men.
Is it not time sthat we should have
learned a lessonsof prudence and Of wis
dom? Our differences are advantage
Gus only to the enemies Of our race.
The hearty friends Of our cause and of
our people are provoked and disquieted.
The false ins1dlous partisan alone re-
joices, for he sees the fruit of his dis.
h0aest industry ripen beyond his hopes
and reiolces in a banquet delicious only
to such a depraved appetite as his own.
As far as the Ancient Order Of Hiber-
mans is concerned it is time for those
who really mean the Irish cause and
the Irish people, who have no purpose
of private selfish advantages, who are
endowed with virtue enough TO prefer
the general good to the qualification Of
personal animosities, 1t is time for such
men to interpose. This is the aceepta-
ble time, the propitious hour of recon-
ciliation when differences are to be
sunk and dissensions buried. Can we
make no sacrifices for Ireland's sake?
Are we deaf to the appealing voices
Of the mighty, deathless departed ones?
Do we forget Hugh O'Nelll and Owen
Roe and the heroes Of ;98? Are We for
ever to hear 1t sung Of Ireland at nome
and abroad that weeping
She saw where Discord, in the tide
Had dropped his loaded quiver.
Lie hid, 9 ahe cried, we veDomed darts,
Where mortal eve mayshun you,
Lie hid--for OIL the stain of hearts
That bled for me is on you"