The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-07-23

Suuorln2S, the eOTrOWS ana Inc WOES VI
the conquered, and history tells US they
were soon lost either by the corruption
or lie .ntiousness Of the Legislative forum;
that the triumphs Of righteous war in
this c untry we're welded into constitu-
ton for our guide and government for
our protection viii, b will continue to be
handed down through long line of adj
vancing generators. ever honored and
cherished as the greatest Inheritance OF
man.
In contemplating the high advance
ment of the present hour and some OF
the causes which led to it, the French
man naturally turns to the names which
inspired and animated the revolutions of
France; TIE Englishman to the brave
barons upon the historic fields of Run
nymede. We OF Irish birth and Irish
parentage will in all comparisons of the
genius and devotion of craftsmanship re-
member with peculiar pride the saga
cious Flood and eloquent Grattan; 'Sher-
idan in the senate and Curran at the
bar; Grattan electrifying the house OF
commons and brave young Emmett dying
because he loved his country. We will
remember also that grand historic char
acter who battered down the walls which
800 years of pride and prejudice had
raised against his people, who gave to
the Irish people their first degree OF
liberation emancipation-and
to the brightest pages of the struggles
for human right the illustrious name Of
Daniel O'Connell. We will remember
also, perhaps with tinge of sadness,
that other leader who came upon the
scene of action with new gospel in be-
half of the old cause, the eclipse of whose
life constitutes the saddest chapter in
the history of the Irish race. He who
now sleeps in his silent grave while his
name and memory are cursed and
praised alike by his divided and unhap-
py conntrymen; he of whom we may be
pardoned if we say, with all his faults
we love him still 1t is needless to add
J. refer to the name and memory of
Charles Stewart Parnell.
With fitting justice toward all these
names, to the principles tor which they
fought and the victories which they
won, still contend that of ali the names
that live on history's pages, the myriads
which crowd the centuries Of the past,
there are no names more worthy of un-
dyipHx rememb, ance than the names Of
the patriots of this country. There may
he some who will deem this the language
of exaggeration, but where, let me ask,
on history's pages do you fnd period
to compare with that golden era of our
history which gave a Washington to
freedom, and Adams and Jefferson, a
Franklin and a Bishop Carol to immor-
tality; Steuben and DeKalb, g. Mont
gomery and Sullivan to glory?
Our pop ulation consists of sixty mil
lions strong. A distinguished writer
describes us as sixty millions, mostly
cc}oneis.'
Our people have come here from the
shamrock fields of Ireland and sunny
hills of Italy; from the land of the lordly
Ehine and the rock ribbed coast Of Nor
way; in short, they have come from
every land and every cline. They differ
in nationality and customs, in language
and in creeds, but through their COM
mon hatred of oppression and common
love for liberty, through their rallying
around the same standard and fighting
shoulder to shoulder for the same cause,
through the broadening influence Of our
educational system, We have grown to
be one grand homogeneous people, the
most progressive, the most enlightened
and the most liberal beneath the glisten-
ing stars. The fidelity Of our people to
the constitution end flag Of this country
was demonstrated upon every battle
field from Sumter to Appomatox. The
loyalty of our people in that time OF ma
tional trial is we'll illustrated by that
brave young Irish officer who received a
fatal shot while leading a gallant charge.
AS he lay bleeding upon the field of
death he shouted above the din OF con-
flict, ION to victory, loyal comrades, but
wrap the flag around me and lay me
down to die
We, as citizens Of this country, make
no apology for our devotion 70 the cause
of Irish freedom, because freedom the
world over is but the common cause of
mankind Love for that land where the
cross of liberty has been crucified for
centuries, devotion to that cause which
has come down to us through 700 years
Of blood and tears, only tends to make
II more loyal and better citizens Of this
country, the as, lum for the oppressed,
the home for the homeless, and the para
disc of the universe. Whenever and
wherever we fasten to our mast head the
flag OF Irish liberty and independence,