The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-04-01
S'I.PATRICK'S DAY
Irish Influence on Civilization
Was the Subject OFF H.
O'Brien's Address
AT IRoNWooD, MICHIGAN.
The Interesting Topic Was Skill
fully Handled by the Brilliant
Young Attorney.

delivered at Ironwood, Mich, by attor-
ney P. Ell. O'Brien, of West Superior,
Wis, his subject being "Irish Influence
on Civilization"
For at least a thousand years before the
birth of Christ, said the speaker, Ireland
had a well-defned system of government.
An unbroken succession of kings reigned
over the land and their deeds of hero
ism we're chanted by the bards who cul-
tiyated music and poetry to high de-
gree of perfection.
In fact, the Irish bards were the first
to adopt the present system OF rhymlng
which was unknown to the Greeks and
Romans. The rank of a person was as
certained in that ancient land by the
number of colors that were repre- sented
in Ills clothing. The costume of the no.
bles contained five colors A bard Or
druid wore six colors, and the members
of the royal family we're decked out in
seven colors. So we see that next to
ROYALTY itself, the learned men of Ireland
were the most powerful! and Influential.
Can we say the same for any other ma
ton? Let Greece answer through So
crates, her despised philosopher, drinking
-the poisonous hemlock. Let China speak
Wy the lips of Confuclus. home must
answer for Cicero, her eloquent orator,
diving an ignomigious death Oh her
streets. And how is it today in this
most enlightened country OF the earth?
Is not the possession of mere wealth too
often regarded as one Of greater Import
ance than learning? Is it not easier for
a camel to go through the eye of needle
than for poor man to enter the national
senate?
RI is often cause of wonder how such
a fierce nation as the Irish people were
converted to Christianity without the
shedding of single drop OF martyr
blood think it is on account Of the re-
markable intelligence of the people of an
Gent Ireland. St. Patrick did not come
to the Emerald Isle to preach to race
of uncivillzed barbarians. On the con-
trary he found bright, intelligent, edu-
Gated people, whose learned Druids were
ready to argue every point with him and
to split theological hairs in a manner
that would do credit to consistory OF
cardinals.
He found people who could not be
converted by telling them that other ma
tions had embraced Christianity: but
who, on the other hand, did not kill him
because he happened to preach some
thing they had not heard before But
when he convinced them with his logical
reasoning; when he took up the little
spray IF shamrock that was racy of the
soil, and in dwelling on the mysteries of
the three persons in one God used it as
a happy illustration, he appealed directly
and forcibly to the warm Irish lmaglna-
tion, brilliant then as it is to day, and
nation embraced the true faith and knelt
in silent worship before the true God.
st. Patrick found nation that had
settled Scotland, had conquered and col,
onized Britannia and had penetrated into
Gaul and Germany. He found we'll
defued system of laws and men who
we're we'll versed in the same, and above
all. he found warm hearted, chivalrous
people, who we're ready to spread the
light they had received through every
land and every cline. Is it any wonder,
then. this western race was destined for
the next three hundred years from the
middle of the fifth century until the end
of the eighth century to be the reposi-
tory of Christianity and of civilization;
that the learned and the unlear1ed were
to flock from all parts of Europe to the
green isle: that the whole island became
one vast monastery and university, from
whence saints and scholars were to be
supplied to the whole world During
this most glorious period Of Irish history
poverty had disappeared from the land;
the large-hearted Irish princes dispensed
charity with an ever open hand; whole
clans became monks and the chief of the
clan became it's abbot of the monastery.
The warm Celtic fervor sought strange
lands to spread the light of the gospel.
The Cloths and the Vandals had overran
all Europe. Anarchy reigned supreme
on the whole continent and it was feared
for time that all civilization must 60
down before the dreadful scourge from
the North.
!. 1t was then that Ireland, like David
of old, young in her faith but courage
GUS as lion, sent forth her scholars to
grapple with the Goliaths of hatred and
ignorance. 1t was then, as you will see,
she set in operation cause whose effects
on the future progress of the world and
on the amelioration Of mankind are re-
sponsible in large measure for the
civilization that we now enjoy. Her
I saints learned every tongue; they broke
forth praising the true God with natural
irish elOuuence on every soil, and the