Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31

green shamrock or its substitute, the
green ribbon, in bis cap and with
overfiowing soul and wild transports Of
native joy, sing the inspiring airs of his
country and chant aloud the magical
tune of est. Patrick's Day in the
morning" Around the entire world
they form a girdle of National love and
patriotism which reaches from the east
to the west, and couples the north and
south poles within the wide circle Of
their exiled but glorious affections.
enterprising nor the best educated
people. They have defects which no
honest man, which no friend who
wishes the advancement of their race,
would conceal from them. But despite
their drawbacks and shortcomings, the
Irish are, of all other nations to-day on
the earth, the noblest people. 1t is not
our aim to indulge in vain national
Qualifications nor to offend the sensibil-
tiles of men of other races. Talk Is
cheap and the braggart can put on airs
and make big pretentions equally with
the tried soldier. Even on the man
who can substantiate his claims,
modesty sits becomingly. But words OF
honest praise sometimes do good. The
Irish people rest under cloud OF
Misrepresentation For centuries the
| hut 70
the storm of persecution has abated,
the descendants of the prosecutors, as
if to justify the acts of their sires,
studiously libel the offsprings of the
men whom their fathers wrOnged.
Historians testify that the Irish even IL
pre-Christian times had attained to
highly civilized state. We have it on
authority also that their heather rites
were purer than those of any other
pagan nations. The Scribe shall not,
however, take up musty old chronicles
to hunt out quotations bearing on these
things. We content ourselves with one
well known fact-the civilized reception
given St. Patrick by the pagan Irish.
st. Patrick, a commissioned priest
from Pope Celestine, invaded Irish sol
with the avowed purpose of waging
war on the religion of the Irish people
and substituting Christianity in its
stead, and this he did in the most open
and public manner. Not only did he
vest himself in ecclesiastical robes, but
contrary to Druidical Statute he
lighted the paschal fire on the hill OF
Slane to announce his advent to the
people of the surrounding country.
The Irish did not stone him nor tear
him to pieces. TO be sure he was
arrested and brought before the council
and asked to give an explanation of his
action This he did and whilst giving
his explanation some of his very
judges were converted. After the said
explanation he was released and
travelled through Ireland and before
the close of his life succeeded in
bringing the whole Irish nation under
the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ.
We sometimes hear of the instability
of the Irish character. Was the con-
version of Ireland due to fckleness?
Was it the novelty of the new religion
that charmed them? No. For if it
were so, then how shall we account for
! the failure of other religious novelties
to fascinate them. The stolid Saxon
people who, it is said, form an opinion
with deliberation, but who when it is
formed hold it tenaciously, had Christi
anity preached to them twice in their
history, and twice in their history they
apostalized from it. How about the
"Fickle" Irish? No heresiarch ever
showed his face on their soil. No alien
"reformer' backed by the myrmidons
of foreign tyrant ever made himself
understood by them. The invader
caused rivers of Irish blood to flow at
the foot of the altar Saxon and Dane
did their worst. But from the day st.
Patrick lit the sacred fire on the hill
| tops of Ireland, no storms of persecu-
| ton, no clouds surcharged with
| crimson rain have been able to put out
their light Does not this prove fidelity
to principle? The Irish have proved
themselves fitted for high and pure
order of civilization. From the fifth to
the ninth century Ireland was known
over the globe as the Learned and
Holy Isle" Science and religion
fourished but Ireland did not keep
these talents locked up in her schools
and monasteries. Her monks went
abroad to distant landsimporting letters
to barbarians and divine faith to the
heather. The Irish are liberty loving
race. 1t is worthy of note that the
Irish, of all the European nations of
the middle ages, were the only people
that sturdily resisted the claims of
| Feudalism. The Normans could never
naturalize that sy tenn on Irish soil. 1t
is worthy Of note, too, that of all the
nations of the middle ages, the Irish
were the only people that denied the