The Irish standard., 1893-06-03

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y1ls \ y
MooRE's ANNIVERSARY
Archbishop Feehan. Delivers . Magnifcen
i Address on Irish Nationality.
The Irish Nationalists of Chicago hell
q meeting in Central Music hall on Sa
turday evening, May ~, in connmemora
ton of Moores birthday. The speeches
of the evening were made by Arch
bishop Feehan and Hon. John F. Fin
erty. Calm, dignified and stately, says
the Herald, the Archbishop arose and
began in low voice by referring to the
Moore celebration OF last year. He said
that such gatherings could frequently
take place with pleasure and profit to all
concerned.
He was very much gratifed that the
interest aroused by the last celebration
was likely to lead to the erection Of a
statue to the greatest Of Irish poets. He
went on to say that it was in accord with
the feelings and sentiment of mon in
every place and age, for races to COM
memorate the memory of their great
statesmen, soldiers, actors and the rest.
In Chicago popular movements had al
ready fittingly erected statues to the
German poet, Schiller, to the French
discoverer, LaSalle, and to mon of other
nationalities, by the people Of their race;
and why should not those of Irish birth
or blood erect monument to one great
man sprung from the Irish race? There
we're, in Irish history, many men great
IN various ways, but, as yet, in this new
land of their adoption the Irish had
made no effort to honor their memories.
Looking back through the centuries,
there were countless names whom the
exiled sons and daughters of Erin would
be glad to honor with monument and,
in honoring them, they would be doing
honor to themselves. But some might
ask why monuments should be erected
to men whose lives, as rule, had been
failures" Great figures doomed up in
Ireland's story of struggle-men who,
their genius, their
courage and their devotion, did not sue
coed.
When the Archbishop reached this
point the pallor had left his cheek and
his eyes were flashing. His heart was
throbbing in tune with the notes of
Moore's Irish battle SONGS and many in
that hall wondered, as they saw revealed
8 character that had been long yelled be-
hind the mildness and benevolence for
which the Archbishop is noted. He did
not cease, in any sense, to be the digni-
fed churchman, as he stood there, tall
and stately, but one forgot that he was
looking at and listening to al Archbishop
and could only see>the Irish patriot
touched into fervor by the memory of
his country's wrongs.
Men of other nationallties have built
to those great among them
who suffered defeat; why should not
we?
Glance back through the years. We're
the Greeks who fell at Thermoplyae not
more noble than the Persians before
whom they fell? Disaster is not dis
grace. There is often glory in defeat.
And if ever this was true it has been
true in the case of Ireland. And, in this
we pin our faith in the sue
cess of Irish nationality to the great
truth that Lord Byron sung:
Freedoms battle, once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son
Though baf1ed oft is ever won.
To be true to the land of our birth and
the land of our forefathers, does not
mean that we canpot be loyal to the land
of our adoption. "A man with no love
for his native land is selfish as we'll as
a heartless and soulless creature. He
goes down
To the vile dust
From which he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung.
We are here tonight to honor Moore,
the greatest lyric poet of his own, or, in
deed. of any age. A year ago ex-
pressed the hope from this platform that
Moore's melodies, the music of all Ire
land, would be taught to the rising gen.
eration among us; that the young ones
should be taught to sing those beautiful
Irish airs, which are the sweetest of
tunes. We love the music of France, of
Germany, and Italy. Why should not
We Irish men and women love the music