The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-04-14
A GRAND GALAXY.
The Loyalty and Patriotism Of
Irishmen in Revolutionary
Days Illustrated.
FRIENDS OF THE REPUBLIC.
Calumniators of the Irish Race
Should be More Cautious in
Their Statements

Calumniators of the Irish Race
Should be More Cautious in
Their Statements.
The following passages from Thomp-
aon Westcott's History OF Philadelphia
from the time Of the Firat Settlements on
the Delaware to the Consolidation OF the
City and Districts in 1854" u Ill be inte
esting to our readers, says the San Fran"
cisco Monitor. Tt furnishes splendid
illustration OF The patriotism and loyalty
which actuated the Irishmsn Of the
United States dunng the trying times Of
the Revolutionary War. Now, when it
is the fashion 10 ignore what our coun-
trymen have done for the Republic, anu
even to call their loyalty into question, it
may be useful to reproduce such chap
ters Of our national history as Will con-
found all maligners Of the Celtic race
wherever they may be. Impartial judges
will acknowledge that it ls almost impos.
sible II, oyerrate the services rendered to
she cauae of liberty by mon Of Irish birth
and blood. They were friends of Amer
ica, not alone when standing OH Amer
can soil, bns ut home in Ireland ard in
the halls OF the British Parliamsnt.
Their attitude has not changed up to the
present DAY. They are nowsexaetly what
they were in T6. And England knows it,
too. If 1t wers not for their attachment
to the Union the probability i, that no
concessions on the part of this country
S.ould have warded off hostiIities on the
@,ccasion of the Trent affair. But the
Irish people, in public meetings assem-
Bled, spoke out mautully their resolve
that nc war by England against the
United States should have their syrnpa
thy or Sheir support. British statesmen
knew what such declarations meant; and
war, despite the frantic excitement IF all
England, was avoided. 1t is not too
much to prophesy that in all future
emergencies of q similar character their
conduct will be uualtersd. Such being
the case the calumniators of the Irish
race should be somewhat more cautious
in their statements.
The Society of the Friendly Sons OF St.
Patrick met without interruption until
near the time when the British took pos
session OF Philadelphia. After that Pc
riod no meetings were held until Septem-
Der, ITS. Several members in the pub
lie service were at that time noteu as alb
sent in camp or absens at sea. At q
meeting held JuLe II. 1879, at which
General Anthony Wayne was present,
resolution was adopted ''that such men,
bers OF the society as are officers in the
army shall not be subject to fine or ab-
sence while in service in the field" The
society embraced in it's ranks many
prominent men. Among them were Rob-
ert Morris,the eminent patriot and finan-
cier; John Dickinson, author Of 'The
Farmers Letters" General John Cad
walader, of the Revolutionary Army;
Governor Richard Penn; William Bing-
ham, afterwards United States Senator
from Pennsylvania, man OF high social
position; General John Shee, of the Re
evolutionary Army; William Hamilton, of
the Woodlands, one OF the largest landed
proprietors in Pennsylvania at the time
OF the Revolution Judge Richard Peters;
Captain John Barry, of the Continental
Navy; Thomas Fitzsimons, member OF
the congress from Pennsylvania; Gene
ral Edward Hand, General William IT.
vine, Major-G General Knox, General Wal
ter Stewart, General William Thompson,
Major General Anthony Wayne, Colonel
Stephen Moylan, Colonel John Patton,
Colonel Francis Johnston, Colonel Lam
bert Oadwalader, Richard Bache, son in
law Of Franklin. and many others.
On June II, 1880, twenty seven of the
members Of the society signed a paper
setting forth the necessity of vigorous
management of the war, and reclting
that "the subscribers, deeply impressed
with the sentiments that on such an oc
oasion should govern US in the prosecu-
tion of war on the result Of which our
own freedom and that of our posterity,
and the freedom and independence of
the United States, are all involved, here
by severally pledge our property and
credit for the several sums specified and
mentioned after our names, in order to
support the credit OF bank to be estab-
lished for furnishing supply Of provi-
sions for the armies of the United States"
This was the organization Of the institu-
tion known as the Bank OF fPenneylvania,
which was subsequently, superseded by
tho Bank Of North America, chartered
BY Congress. There were ninety three
scrabsn to this paper, . the amount
b SSS sSE sSa 4a2