Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-17
HAL, GLORIOUS APOSTLE"

nAtl, GLOniOpo tTOOttc!
Today is ST. Patrick's Day. The green
that Is so well known TO the nations, and
20 dear TO the Irish heart, win be the pre-
dominant color with he friends of Ireland
<on this day. II is color that has been
3own TO history for many a hundred
rs, and that has been ridiculed no less
I'm II has been honored. II was COM
non thing In the famine days, when
ships loaded with human freight, landed
from the Emerald Isle, and the only
pleasant recollections that these exiles
could carry with them from their native
land, were the cphemCral shamrock and
the short lived sod of Irish turf, 10 hear
among the ilrst words spoken OF them on
American soil, jests and ridiculc at their
green mementoes, and epitaphs OF "Pad-
dy" and the like. hurled at them because
they were fortunate enough to be born In
a land whose natural color IL the green
and whose chief distinction, aside from
the fact that it has populated the earth,
vas that II was the home of fair and vir-
tuous women, Of warlike and manly men,
Of saints, scholars, bards and statesmen.
Forty years ago what satire was heaped
upon the paraders in New York and other
cities, as they marched with the sunburst
and the stars and stripes through all OF
the principal streets of these cities In
commemoration of the anniversary day
OF Ireland's patron saint. Was 1t poetic
Justice, that brought 1t to pass in tho
great metropolis of the country, that In
our day the green flag should float from
its city hall on this great Irish apniver-
saryY Was !. retributivo justice, that,
during the late war, tho sixty-ninth and
other Irish regiments should show to q
new world the incompatible fighting
qualities Of Irish soldiers, and that these
soldiers should break the front of the en-
emies' serried columns before their COM
patriots courage had scarcely reached
the ebb of fighting? Perhnpsl But these
days are gone. Peace to their ashes We
live in an era of enlightenment, when the
good qualities OF the children of Ireland
and whatever bad qualities II has been
their lot as human beings TO inherit or
acquire are better appreciated Men un-
derstand one another better; the cosmo-
politen population OF our country has
led all men 10 believe that no certain
class held all, right, title, and interest in
il by fec simple, but that they were all
tenants in common, all loving and hon
oring, and when necessary lighting, yes,
and dying for the land Of their birth or
their adoption.
There arc still left, even in our own com.
paratively small community, some OF
these persons who at one time thought
they had exclusive ownership of the
United States ana of this city. But these
persons have reached, in their own esti-
nation, that saddest OF all positions, and
that most unhappy OF all reflections,
thst they are exiles In their own country.
The friends OF Ireland, the truer they are
10 their old land, and the moro devoted
TO their great patron saint, the bet
ter Americans they will be IN the
best meaning OF that much abused word.
We may all, then, enter into the spirit OF
st. Patrlck's Day, whatever our creed or
BIRTH land, for all Americans must Join
in admiration of the great qualities,
ioveable in every sense of the word, tha,
Irelsnd's Apostle possessed. AS all
Christians must admire the words and
works OF 81. Paul. and the disciples OF
christianity, so they must, II consistent,
tove and respect the great st. Patrick,
the Evangelist OF Ireland. In celebrating
the feast OF the patron saint of Ireland,
let bis friends and her friends remember
the nearer they initiate his great virtues
on this day as we'll as in their daily lives.
the more honor will rebound to the land
that they love so we'll and which tho
great saint. 90 thing unheard OF in other
ostions) converted from the mountains
TO the sea without the shedding of one
drep OF blood.
Let our citizens bear in mind, in their
celebration OF ST. Patrick'a Day, those
burning words OF the lamented Irish
orator, Father Tom Burke: '.Lct Ireland
In America ~ Catholic, be temperate, be
obeiIent 10 law Fail River Advocate.