The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-03-26
AN ABB & ADDRESS.
Such Was That Delivered by At
q torney General O'Connor at
Hudson, Wis, on
THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH II
Interesting and Convincing, the
Speaker is Received With I'm
bounded Enthusiasm.


successful celebration on St. Patrick's
day Than that of March II, '92. Fully
eight hundred people were present at
Armory hall in the evening, where Hon.
J. L. O'Connor, attorney general OF the
state, delivered the following address:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I am here
tonight in response to your call
to address you upon this occasion.
Ny presence here at this time affords me
intense, pleasure, but assure you 1t is
pleasure which is not entirely unmingled
with feelings of embarrassment. 1t is
source os pleasure to nue. to meet thus
gathering of Irishmen and their friends
assembled under the auspices of this
branch of the Ancient Order of Hiberni-
ans. The fundamental principles OF this
organization are, benevolence.
The political organization performs the
functions of advancing political princi-
pies and overcoming the opposition. The
business organization is constructed on"
tirely upon the selfshness and avarice OF
men. But benevolent organization is
the result of the grandest impulses of our
nature. It is organized for the simple
purpose of smoothing down the pillow of
death and furnishing material aid to sor
rowing widows and their helpless orphans.
The world witnesses no grander mission
than this, and it is indeed high compli-
ment to be called upon even in an hum
bic way to promote the interests Of such
a worthy purpose.
Ny embarrassment alluded to arises
entirely from my lack Of preparation. In
the midst of other labors L have not
found the time to make such preparation
as is appropriate to an occasion of this
kind.
We are assembled here tonight like
millions of our countrymen in the crowd
cd cities and spacious prairies to com
rnemorate this our national holiday.
Wherever the Irish people have found
home, wherever fate has beckoned, or
persecution driven them, they are as
sembled tonight in honor Of their patron
saint, renewing their devotion to that
faith which has made them better mon
and purer women; renewing their pledges
of nudying fidelity to the land of their
fathers. The annual recurrence OF this
national holiday recalls TO mind mingled
memories of joys and sorrows. 1t is
day upon which the gray haired Irish
men and women scattered alb nut the
world wander back in memory 20 the
scenes Of childhood TO the old home
with all it's sad but loving memories. 1t
is day which perhaps recalls to some OF
Won about me the tins when circum-
stances tore you from the scenes OF your
childhood--the time perhaps when you
saw famine stalking unchecked tn ough-
out your native land; when you sa"
thousands "hying atfrighted from the
land of your birth, and thousands more
remaining home to die, their pale white
lips rttering the last faint cry for bread"
We meet to celebrate upon this occasion
not because of the centuries OF persecu-
ton and the cruel wrongs which Ireland
has sustained, but because OF what has
lived and hourished in spite OF them-the
uncomfortable fires OF faith and patriot
isrn-the understandable fidelity to Irish
nationality. IF to suffer, endure and die
for truth and freedom is the highest test
of heroic deads, then indeed may the
Irish people claim brilliant chapter in
the history of the worlds valor.
hope in the course of my remarks to
suggest some facts which will bear out
this assertion. It involves the following
considerations:
|. The sutferings Of the people because
through the temptations of wealth and
the trials of woe they stood steadfast by
their convictions OF conscience.
2, A ,nsideration of the dauntless
heroes of every creed who have pined
away in prison cells, or died upon the
scaffold because they dare attempt to
break the CALLING chains of peoples
bondage.
In the morning OF Christianity, almost
Thousand years before the discovery of
this continent, ''ere the Frank had crossed
the Rhine, and while the Saxon was yet
a painted savage" the cross of Christi
anity was planted successfully on Irish
soil, and the letters of Paganism at once
were broken The conversion of the
Irish people is one OF the strangest facts
in the history Of the Christian Church.
It was rather the Itriumphal march of a
king than the trials and sufferings of a
missionary. We all know it is not con-
Eenialito the, instincts of fallen man to
cheerfully accept the gospel Of Christi
anity-itj means the conquering Of pride
and passion--it means self-denial and
prayer, purity and honor; it means loy-s
atty to home and marriage VOWS, and the
highest quality Of obedience to the laws
&c government. Hence it is that the in