Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-06
THE FOURTH At WHITEFIElD.
An Eloquent Grafton by Rev. Fr. Harrington
In G. A. r. Hall.

WHIrEFIELD, July Especial. THE
people of Whitefeld turned out en- masse
last evening, to celebrate the 4th by grand
display of fireworks at Turner'S Corner,
a hill of some prominence, overlooking the
rich valley of the Sheepscot, where the pick
and shovel have been assiduously applied
during the past month, constructing the
Wiscasset and Quebec Railroad that is to
be. The old and the young looked on.
Doctors, lawyers and clergymen, as fire.
work displays in that section of the county,
are novel and curious sight for all.
The Catholic clergyman of that place,
Rev. FIR. Harrington, who delivered the
memorial addres last May, before the Frs
kline Post, lectured last evening also in the
G. A. II. hall, on the "Celtic Race in the
American Wars" His Grafton was evident
ly given considerable time in preparation,
being replete with historical "reminiscences.
lie spoke nearly one hour, and was enthu-
siastically received. He said in substance,
that the deeds of some are always kept
before the public gaze, whilst those of
Others are consigned to unmerited oblivion;
that the veriest defenders of the flag are
oftentimes assiduously ignored, and are
even made, on certain occasions, to appear
as III avowed enemies. He pleaded for the
reversal of many unrighteous judgments
against the Celtic race, aud laid before his
searers the historic deeds, of what he
termed. "the unsung heroes of the Ameri-
can battle grounds"
IL, spoke of the famous battle fields of
the Iast, where Irishmen were the principal
actof; he mentioned the capture of Fort
Williams and Mary, by Sullivan; the nsva,
bath in Machais bay by the O'Briens;
Commodore Barry's daring exploits the en-
gagenents wherein took part Moylon,
Irwin, Wayne, Montgomery, Clinton,
STARK Stewart, Haud. Knox, Thomson,
Maxwell, Rutherford and Il host of others.
He portrayed the bravery of Jackson,
Shieks, and Kearney; the patriotic feats of
Sherilan Sherman, Coveoran, Mesgher ,Gui-
ney, nulligan, Carroll, etc. He hymned the
praise Of the G9.h N. Y, lauded the deeds
of ths 9th Mass.--the famous "Faugh a
r ailuebs !" expounded the worth of the
Emme Guards, and the Shields Guards,
and tfn Gloria or the "1mmortal' Irish
brigads.
He tainted the noble service at York
town md Savannah Of the old Sarsfield-
of Linnrick fame-brigade where Brown,
Dillon, Roche and Lynch. endeared them
selves % the Americans by their intrepid
brayer,. He told of the truly heroic deeds
of JasIer and Plunkett; apostrophized the
Celtic raves over whose graves the Amer
ican fig keeps silent and sacred vigil;
spoke # the empty sleeves, the wooden
IeOs ami the mangled forms of the disabled
Celtic pldiers, and he called upon those
mutilatai relics and armless heroes OF the
war. to answer the bigots of today, and to
saw if tiey, the veterans. were menace to
that fla, under whose folds they sought
nrotectiu, and under whose colors they
tonight. n every battle from Bull Run to
Appomatox. He called upon the Grani
Army vterans who were present in the
hall aud who witnessed the heroic
sacrifice, of the Irish soldiers during
the war, % say if the Celts were recreant to
the land that received them, or ever be-
trayed th trust imposed upon them by the
America, republic. He said. that those
glorious leeds of the past should never be
forgotseI by grateful people as long as
the Rockies lifted their heads on bigh, or
the miclly Mississippi swept on its trium-
nhant cosrse to the sea. He brought for
'..ard thee historic facts, he said, to show
49, the celtic race has done and suffered
g.. me ~ca, and to give rebuke to those
;nsolent s u . wnothings of today, who wish
to Give no,redit 20 foreign element, ana
who act although this country were 'nelfs
and theirs exclusively.