Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-23
The PATRIA CLUB.
The Members Celebrate Fore
fathers Day.
Speeches by Editor Guild, Gov. Brown,
Rev. Father Kinnernsy and Others.

Hall building and, led by Gen. Olney Ar.
mold, president, assembled to the Assembly
rooms where an excellent banquet was
served In celebration Forefathers Day.
Gen. Arnold presided at the banquet,
and at his right were seated Gov. Brown
and Rev. A. McCregor, and at his left,
Curtis Guild OF the Boston Commercial
Bulletin and Rev. II. +. Kinnerney.
Among the Others present were Hon. IL.
b. Metcalf, Hon. p. Il. Tilling-
hast, Hon. l.. b. Darling, President
Pierce OF the Common Council, Alderman
Adams, Councilmen Davis and O'Brien,
Medical Examiner Kelliher, Messrs. Nc.
Gregor, Tobie and Butterworth OF the
School Committee, Supt. Fisher and
number OF the leading citizens of the city.
Divine blessing was invoked by Rev.
Theodore 3. Coats, after which full Just ice
was done To the excellent menu provided.
Gen Arnold, after the good things were
disposed OF, arose and addressed those
present, saying that when he accepted the
Presidency OF the club he was doubtful OF
it's utility, or need, as we had the Grand
Army and other organizations to perpet-
uate patriotism. However, IL was good
organization and would do good no
doubt.
After feeling allusion to the death OF
ex-Gov Littletield, he said he would wait
and see IL any person had any matter to
present concerning It.
Mr.. Metcalf moved that the executive
committee prepare a suitable minute for
entry on the records and that COM
mittee attend the funeral. The motion
was passed unanimously.
Gen. Arnold then presented the speaker
of the evening, Curtis Guild, editor OF the
Boston Commercial Bulletin.
MIR. Guild was well received and put his
audience In good humor by his opening
and then made an excellent address upon
patriotism.
Among other things lie said that the
Grand Army furnished beautiful lesson,
and 1t was also furthered by the much.
abused "Fourth OF July orator" Flag
raisiDgs, discharges of artillery and mar
tial music all tended To make men more
patriotic.
What he would consider an ideal citi
zen was one who, Ia any station in which
he may be placed, rises to the occasion In
any emergency; whether 1t be on the seat
of justice or on the battlefield, or in any
public position discharges his public
duties cons cientiously.
Inc pstrlOt cares TO 90 rlgnt because III
Is right.
He made quite fling at Tammany,"
but no allusion was made to Quay OF
Pennsylvania, or Plstt OF New York, but
possibly that may have been his standard
of patriotism.
He criticised quite freely those who
refrain from exercising their political
privileges, because OF their "standing" in
the community.
He admitted, however, that parties will
always exist but still measures affecting
the country at large should be settled
upon the principle OF patriotism and not
upon narrow party lines as the present
Congress seems to be working on. He
would like to make patriotism more un-
derstood because, IL 1t was, the people Of
the West would not be supicious OF those
OF the East, and those OF the South would
not consider those OF the North to be the
sort OF people whom they think them to
be- He closed with a ringing peroration
on what should constitute an ideal
American citizen.
Gov. ID. Russell Brown was next pre-
sented, and he spoke OF the neediessness
OF yearly registration and of compelling
the foreign born citizens to show their
papers once year; he also favored
limited veto for the Governor of this
state and, with a word OF thanks for the
invitation, he closed.
Pres. Arnold next presented Rev. II. Il.
Kinnerney, who paid compliment to
the chairman of the evening.
After pleasant introduction to put his
hearers in good humor he spoke on citi.
zenshlp, taking for model Gen. Arnold
He also paid a warm tribute to the
memory OF ex-Gov. Littlefield. Patriot.
ism was heavenly virtue, nc said. He
would not be pagan enough to say his
country alone. He therefore said: "God
and My Country"-Goo first, and native
land afterward; God blesses he true pa.
trlot, and thus patriotism Is a divine in
stitution.
The Pilgrim fathers he lauded as a peo.
pie who almost emulated the Santa Maria,
bearing the God fearing Columbus to our
shores. They were God. fearing people,
trustful In God and I'm every way the men
OF their time; they built the foundation
II the town from which came the
Commonwealth and afterwards sprang
this grand American nation.
While he took no part In politics, he
had an abiding faith In the American
people and he was proud OF being an
American citizen. Racial distinctions
should be eliminated. He learned by exper.
fence that in America a mans a man.
He related an incident OF his trip to
Europe, showing what a verse OF the Star
Spangled Banner could do. Charles
Carroll of Carrolton, Stephen Moylan,
| Gen. Sheridan and several other Catholics
were good citizens. He pointed out what
was getting to be bugbear that the Pope
vas coming over to New York was sheer
nonense and might be dismissed. He
then suggested that conscience should
control the Catholic at the polls and not
party.
lie also pointed out the inconsistency
| OF the criticism of the parochIsl school,
for no demand was ever made for n divI-
sion OF The public school fund and none,
in his opinion, would be. To be a citizen,
then, we must obey the law but God
must be recognized first, so that both
could go hand In hand.
lie closed with aquotation from Richard
Lalor Shiel, which suggested the improp-
riety OF denying the Catholics OF this
country, because of their religion, an
equal share OF glory and immunities they
fought Tor, and, by their efforts, were
secured TO the American nation.
Rev. Alexander McGregor was next pres
ented. lie spoke briefly, quoting a poem
OF John Boyle O'Reilly on the Pilgrim
Fathers as embodying his sentiments
better than any words he might attempt.
Gen. Arnold then declared the pro-
ceediDgs, OF what was considered a sue.
cessful celebration, at an end.