The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-03-24
4le4's es' O.. Il. CELEBRATION.
unrTIND -
-Eioi ,ont and Patriotic Addresses by
- G. p. Connolly and James
M Donovan.
A Grand Dance and Splendid Ban
quet in Honor Of st.
Patrick.

The fathers and mothers and o N and
daughters of the Irish race in Great
Falls appropriately celebrated the ami
versary of st. Patrick, the patron saint
of Ireland, last night in Elks' ball. The
room was beautifully decorated with
flags, and red, white, blue, anG green
bunting and wreaths and the brilliaucy
of the electric lights added TO the scene
of decorative grandeur. The committee
of arrangements mad procured chairs
enough to scat 800, and before 9 o'clock
they were all occupied,
The literary exercises were opened by
the master of ceremonies, j. \. Sullivan,
who, after "a few appropriate remarks,
introduced as one Of the orators Of the
evening {. u. Connolly. Esq, OF Helena,
who spoke for hair an hour on "St. Pat
rick's Day lie reviewed the history OF
the Irish race from it's origin and recitcd
in eloquent language the trials and hard
ships the Irish people had endured for
centuries in battling against tyranny
and oppression, lie told how the Irish
had fought and won renOwn on the bat.
~ ltiN'N VI lllD ~ w W h'il lliO l'Ni Z
they took in the war for American Indc-
pendeuce and liberty, As warriors and
statesmen they were leaders and IN
poetry and literature uneXcelled. lie
paid a glowing tribute to the grand Old
man'-Gladstone-for the efforts he had
made in the past and the glorious battle
he is now fighting for the liberation Of
Ireland from tyranny and oppression
He related several anecdotes Of Irish wit
and closed his mastery address with an
appeal to the members of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians to stand 10y the
stars and stripes as the only emblem on
the face of the earth of liberty and good
government.
S. S. Hawkins was then called 10 Tho
stage and sang that song dear to the
heart of every lrishman. The Dear Lit
tie Shamrock Of Ireland
james Donovan was then introduced
and delivered an eloquent discourse up
on Irish as AmgTiC3ns.' lie said the
Irish race commanded the ree0CCt and
admiration ~ the civilized world for
their courage, horOlslu and fidelity 10
principle. and that they owed all the
nigh and robIc thpugrtE and actions Of
their lives to the teachings they had 30.
Cci,ci at their mothers knee. Tho Irish
as Americans We're hrt,or Iriehm.u than
ever they were or c0u.! "vcr hope tu ,".
They we're true 70 their q loptod country
and we're hOnorcJ and respected c|itiznus
and stood in the front rank Of American
craftsmanship, lie closed with an c.D-
qupnt tribute to the fathers. mothers,
Sons aud daughters Of the Irish-Ameri.
cans.
i'ue Irish song "kerry Dance" was
sung 10y Messrs. Wilcox, Hawkins, Ben
Jones and Coleman, after which the lit
crdry exercises of the evening closed.
and the ch IRIS were removrd and dancing
commenced.
At IL o'clock supper was %announced
and the tables. laden with the choices.
of good things, were speedily surrounded
by IA throng Of ladies and gentlemen who
enjoyed the repast. After supper dancing
was resumed and kept up to an early
hour this morning.
March II, 1893, will long be remem-
bered by the Irish SON and daughters If
Great Falls as one Of the brightest spots
in their lives in concentrating the al
niversary Of st. Patrick.