The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-07-15

I have read with throbbing heart in
boyhood's years, how Greek valor fought
tho Persian hosts at Marathon and Their
mopy|@. The cheek glows at the heroic
story of Andreas Hofer and the Tyrolese
Swiss, who rose against the Austrian op-
pressor and flung the eagles of the Haps
burgs down those Alpine heights. The
bravery of the Netherlands against the
Duke of Alva and all the power Of Spain,
strong as the Dutch dykes that beat back
the angry seas, challenges The admiration
of every lover of freedom. But these ex-
amples of national uprising against fear
ful odds pale before the revolt of the
American colonists against the colossal
resources OF English power. Think OF a
mere handful of ragged, undiciplined
troops, whose unshod feet marked their
march IN blood through the winter
SHOWS, contending against the veteran
hosts of Britain! But the right was
theirs, and they besought the God OF bat
ties, not in vain, to consecrate their ban
ners and to bless their cause.
AS if to mark thus early the fusion Of
many ra ial bloods in the citizen alenlbic
Of the Republic, there seems to be somS-
thing more than chance in the presence
of several noble representatives of divers
nationalities in the Revolutionary strug-
gle and who mingled their blood in that
sacred cause. There, for instance, was
Lafayette from France, DeKalb and
Steuben from Germany, Pulaski and
Kosciusko from Poland. AS for Ireland,
Barry, the "Father of the American
Navy" from Wexford, Gen. Moylan from
Cork, and Gen. Montgomery from Done
gal-and about half the rank and file Of
the continental army repressnted her.
In that struggle, too, Catholic and Pro-
testant, men of every creed and none,
fought side by side under the same starry
flag; just as they did in later and in q
Tar different struggle, a quarter of a CEN
tury ago, when the evil Genius Of slavery,
with his dark wings, sought to qnench
universal Freedom in our sunny skies.
Should you ask me the secret Of our
marvellous national development, l would
answer that, aside from the enthusiasm
which free institutions never fail to inn
part, and the showering blessings of the
skies. the secret Hes in action action
action. This is the motto which Ameri-
can enterprise emblazons upon the crest
of it's highest endeavor. The Ideal
American regards Kerner's lines as an in
splration:
The sun never stands.
s Never slackens his motion.
He travels all lands
Till he sinks in the ocean;
The staBs cannot rest;
The wi d winds have no pillow,
Aud the shore from its breast
Ever filings the blue billOw.
This is the ceaseless action that has
felled our forests, pierced our mountains,
whitened seas with our sail, changed VII
lagos into towns, and towns into cities,
covered the blue Of our sunny skies with
the smoke of factory and mill, and made
the whistle Of the steam engine glad
music throughout the land.
Yet with all our material activities, we
find time for high intellectual pursuits,
large scholarship and the indulgence OF
artistic tastes, especially Of music, the
crowned queen Of them all. @ nsider,
too, the general diffusion of education,
the spread Of intelligent and independent
journalism, the multiplication Of pamph-
lets, magazines and books; the many
avenues opened up to women for respect
able livelihood, and the yearly increasing
libraries and literary associations where
useful and attractive knowledge ID inn
parted to the youth Of our land. And,
Oh, was there ever q people with heart go
large and generous to the tender plead
ings OF every species Of misfortune?
Would that I could dwell upon this
blessed theme. But I have already trans
greseed my allotted time.
Oh, it is meet and proper that we
should heartily celebrate this day Of days;
that the youth Of our land should be i'm
pressed, as never before, with all the
heroic memories to which they are heirs,
and consecrats their hearts anew at the
altar Of their country. It Is IN no spirit OF
foolish yaunling that we celebrate this
day, but rather with, . feeling Of reverent
recollection and grateful praise. Let
.boundless enthusiasm, then, rule the
hour, and the laughter Of happy children
chorus music's sweet refrain, while the
floral tributes Of the be utiful year watt
their incense to the memory Of days that
are gone. For, oh! on this day we turn
With ,throbbing hearts g the land q
washington, of jackson and Of Lincoln;
"a the land sc battl stained banners and
|consecrated battle-fie where sleep
the ashas off the brave; q the land q
generous thought and high ON nprises g
fhis land of yours and mine which We
love better than any Other, and e
|prondlys hail her o the 1od- l.ope