Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-07-05

the French l can recall nothing hut

the French can recall nothing hut
pleaSurahle associations. Nor is
there anything remarkable in this,
for to my mind it is only natural
that the French and Irish ever main
tain close relationships of cordiality
and goodwill with each other. The
tirs, link in our bond Of friendship
WAS formed when St. Patrick, the
"Apostle of Irelaud," 4 son of
France, conferred upon the Irish the
greatest boon of civilization-to
know Christ and him cruzi6ed. And
to the credit Of the Irish be it said
that the blood of Patrick did not
stain tho altar of martyrdom. Then
again in the different attempts Of
tho Irish to overthrow the oppres-
sive yoke of England the French
were our foremost ally. "Greater
love hath no man than that he lay
down his life for his fellowman.
When the patriotic sons Of Erin
were hanished from the Emerald
Isle, twenty thousand of them sought
refuge under the Fleur de Lis. And
perhaps some Of you, my Frenoh-
Canadian fellowmen, are lineal des-
pendants of those homeless wander
ers whom your compatriots sheltered
from the storms of tyrannical in
humanity. l say the French people
are gifted with as great a share Of
intelligence and enterprise as any
other nation existing on this float
ing mud ball. They were not the
discoverers of America but We're the
first to foreseo the vast possibilities
Of this great country. 1t was their
ind dcfatigable perseverance, their un-
dying courage which explored the
valleys of the St. Lawrence, Ohio
and Mississippi from Nova Scotia to
tho Gulf of Mexico. This being q
day of jubilation it may be inoppor-
tune for mo to unearth the trials and
tribulations of those courageous pio-
necrs whose cabins and corn hills
dotted the fertile hill sides and val
leys of New France. 1t is not neces-
sary, nor is it possible, to enumerate
their many scalps which dangled
from the waist of tho red man. l
shall not attempt to ventilate those
blood.curdling tales, descriptive of
tho privations which the pioneer
Franks endured that you and !
might rest in happy security. The
French were also noble factor in
libemting this country from the
dospotic rule of it's unaffectionate
mother. Come with me to Mt. Yer
non and in the ear of him who there
lies patiently awaiting a glorious
resurrection, softly whisper the name
Mafayette," and do not be surprised
if the pearls of joy course down the
timc-honored checks of George
Washington. The French and Irish
not only assisted in laying the foun'
dation of this magnificent garden of
the world, but also aided in keeping
the fence around itintact duringlthe
internecine civil war of 186l.65.
Come with me to the CORY fields Of
tire South and behold to thousands
of French.Canadians and Irishmen
who lay there in bloody cerements.
Will anyone ask them if they were
loyal citizens of this country? Shall
wc ask them why they sacrificed the
love of life and the love of home to
standing shoulder to shoulder and
knee to knee fighting under the.
upiou.inscribed banner that was
held aIoft by Honest Abe Lincoln
the rail splitter? In the settlement
Of this country, in the foundation
of this republic, in the preservation
of this union the French and Irish
were baptized in fire and blood, thus
giving substantial testimony Of their
faith in the liberty.loving spirit
which pervades the American atmos-
phcro. TO those Of you who were
born in Canada, who have quilted
the haIlowcd fresides in the land of