The Irish standard., 1894-08-11
NEVER FALTERED.
The Part the Irish Have Taken in
Building and Sustaining
the Republic.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

TO the Present Time Neither Their
Loyalty or Patriotism Has
Ever Been Questioned.
The secret political society recently or
ganized and known az the A. p. A. has
announced the reason for it's existence,
opposition to American citizens of Irish
extraction. The ostensible fight Of this
Or anization is against fellow, citizens of
the Catholic faith, but if an impartial
student. of it's literature is to judge
rightly from it, the real purpose OF the
A. P. A. is to harass, humiliate and prac-
tlcally disfranchise American citizens of
Irish blood, says writer in the Nash
vile, Tenn. Banner. Men whose svowed
purpose is the protection of American
institutions, it goes without saying,
should be American, and who are Ameri-
cans? There can be but one answer to
this question, the Indian being the only
true American. This country was orig
inally settled by a conglomerstion of all
creeds and countries and the modern
essence Of this conglomeration repre-
sented by the A. P. A. would now begin
the disintegration of the Union by elm
insting the green piece of the perfect
mosaic, representing those Of Irish birth
or blood. Who settled and built up this
great country, the members OF the A. p.
A. and their forbears or those against
whom they are now waging relentless
battle Of abuse, villifcation and misrep.
resantation? Has the citizen OF Irish
blood any rights in this country the A..
r. A. is bound to respect? Let us see
what history has to say of the part taken
by Irishmen in building up the grandeet
republic on the face of the earth to-day
After the Boston massacre, which may
be cited as the first overt act of the
struggle for independence and in which
one Irishman, Patrick Carr, fell, came
the capture of the fort at Newcastle and
the seizure of 100 pounds of gunpowder
and fifteen light cannon, besides small
arms used later at Bunker Hill. This
was effected by Mai. John Sullivan and
John Lsngdon, both 1rishmen. For this
act both were elected to the Continental
Congress and Maj. Sullivan was appoint
ed Brigadier. General and commanded
the northern division of the Continental
army; was member of Congress, Attor.
ney- General and thrice President Of New
Hampshire. At Bunker Hill the New
Hampshire contingent was largely Irish,
led by John Stark, and after retiring re-
formed by Gen. Sullivan. OF the eigt t
brigadier.generals under Washington at
the first council of war held at Cam
bridge, Its, two were Irishmen, Richard
Montgomery OF New York and John Sui
livan of New Hampshire, and fully one
third of the active chiefs of the army
were of Irish blood or descent. In Ulster
and Chester Counties, Penn, when, in
l775, Congress ordered several regiments
to be raised in that state commissioned
as colonels were Anthony Wayne,
Stephen Moylan, William Irvine, William
Thompson, Walter Stewart, John Shea
and Richard Butler, all Irishmen.
The regiments Of Wayne, Stewart,
Irvine and Butler formed part of the
famed "Pennsylvania Line" also styled
the "Irish Brigade" the picked men of
the whole army sent by Washington to
guard West Point on the discovery of
Arnold's treason.
An Irishman, Col. Fitzgerald, was
Washington's favorite aide de-camp.
Richard McAllister, born in Ireland,
commanded the second battalion York
County penny Volunteers. The same
battalion had among it's officers Lieut.
Col. Daniel Kennedy, Maj. John Clark,
and Capt. McCloeky, all Irlshmen. It
was an Irishmsn, Joseph Rsed, the pri-
vate secretary of Washington, to whom
the British Commissioners offered $50, 900
and the best Office in the gift Of the King
IL he would desert the almost hopeless
cause of the colonies. His reply was, 81
am not worth purchasing, but the King
Of Great Britain is not rich enough to do
it, This patriot was appointed Adju-
tant- General by Congress. Heheld high
civil trusts; was elected Chief Justice OF
Pennsylvania, and was thrice elected
Presidentof Pennsylvania. Gen. Walter
Stewart, the boy Colonel. noted ae the
handsomest man in the Revolutionary
army. and fearless fighter, was born in
Ireland. Our friends, the a. 2. As
should sit down with their children and
read the history Of their town. and only
country. Andrew Pickens. who saved
the day at Eutaw, whose son and grand
son filed the governors seat of South
linn Andrew . of Irenton,