The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-18


a VITAL RACE.
Yesterday the Irish racs celebrated the
birthday Of Saint Patrick. the founder and
organizer Of Christian civilization in Ire
land. The authentic history OF Saint Pat
rick IL obscure. but enough Is known to
establish the fact that he was great and
good man, Who by his natural gifts Of
spiritual wisdom and practical philan-
shropy Led ancient Ireland out Of the will
dsrness Of heather barbarism MP TO the
higher level Of primitive Christianity; he
was 70 pagan Ireland what Moses was to
she Israsiites. whom he redeemed not only
from material bondage but from the gross
worship Of heathsn idolssry.
The memory OF Saint Patrick IL justly
held In reverence by oil thoughtful stu
dents Of history - one Of those men who.
like Moses. Socrates. Alfred the Great and
ChArlemasns. seem TO compel circum-
stances rather than TO be the fortunate
creatures OF irresistible circumstances;
men Of unique and exceptional powerful
psrsonality; men Of both spiritual wis
dom and utilitarian leadership. Saint
Patrick was one of those men who was
% far able 10 organize the talk Of the side
walk ~ to formulate II into the practical
public opinion and law Of ths land.
The Celebration of Saint Patrick's day
fifty years ago was generally as convivial
and mercurial In its character as the old
time American Fourth OF July. II was .
day when every Irishman drowned the
shamrock In poteen. day Of song and
mirth; but oven ~ the American Fourth
Of July has become less a day Of powder
burning and spread eagle oratory, 50 the
ceiebration Of the birth OF Ireland's patron
saint has taken on q more serious char
acter.
The time was when the Irish seemed a.
far OF from domestic independence As
Jews were from the reoccupation of Pale
slime, bat during tho last fifteen years tho
organisation Of Irish public opinion in
favor OF home rule has been so effective
under the lead of English and Irish con-
to feel tina, ''the Promised Land" is in
sight. Gladstone has led them up so close
20 IL that even his dim and failing eyes
can see IL from the top of Seho. where he
stands pionsly thanking God that he has
at least lived to see the rising Of the sun
of full-orhed day. So yesterday thought
full Irishmen congratulated each other that
home rule was finally assured, even though
their venerable Moses died In prayer on
the mountains tor.
Gladstone has lived long enough 10 make
II certain that the mending or ending of
the house Of lords Is not far off: with that
I'm prospect Irish home ru'c Is sure TO pre-
vail, and With that in prospect the Irish
home rule party cannot afford TO quarrel
with Gladstone's successor; they must
help him mend or end tho hereditary
house ofloreis. and with that msnded or
ended the home rule party is no longer
confronted with an insuperable obstacle 10
the fruition of all its hopes. Tho ending
or mending OF the house OF lords IL the
popular issue before tho English masses
today. John Burns. member Of parlia.
England. recently said:
THE country which had sent Kiug
Charles Ia sleep without his head would
stand no veto from Queen Guelph or l.orl
Salishury.A The people were ask King for new
things in new way. and the tight would
require cohesion. let them present to the
upper chamber such a front as would ia.
duee the queen and the Prince of Wales IN
say TO Lord Salisbury, Threaten yonr
existence a. peers Il you ike, but don't vou
damage the right of nav succession and M y
occupancy Of the throne Il the queen
we're bali as good as. IN spite of her helnr A
queen. ne believed she was. and II tic
Iriacs Of Wales vas half - shre1sd rs OF. y
Guelph could lie. they wouid both take
The lords l,y the scruis OF the neck aud kick
them out"
This is reugh talk, hus the mass Of the
labor vote in country and town In Great
Britain would cheer it 10 the echo, and
whea the house Of lords H. mended or
ended the real statesmen OF the Home
Raie party know tia, the victory for Ire.
land is practically wen.
What al igeepvessihss, vital race are
these Irish people, itis nearly eight hun
9Eed years sines Henry the Seeard landed
in Ireland snd planted his colony 81 Anglo
formsns about DGbsln. From that dav
Ireland has NOT been independent, If Eng.
land. and yet what thorn in ihs flesh she
has been TO England. Though not a ma.
sion. the Irish individuality Ia. slwav.
been as intense. vital ana irgspress.hi. a.
that of,he Jew. and like the Jew he is wha,
he Is today from environment and cirs.ur,.
stances rather than blood. bat yen can no,
wholly explain him by environment and
she s;ress Of circumstances Tie ancient
Jews were . warliSe Ana an Agricultural
people. not mercantile sad peaceful
people: race and religious persecution snd
consequent civic ard social disshlli,ie.
forced the Jew 20 concentrate himself in
the few eaIAngs ihs, we're lsft open 80 h.ga
By the law, or into which he sometimes
bought hls Way By eElhiug princes aud 20
teniatss 10 suffer the las 10 sleep [ ndsi
the Ian Tor several centuries ia Eurore iae
Jew coa.d TO, he q soldier. could nos Re a
iandhosaeF. and peFtores a rsre TIA, ss,
originally race Of vasllAs sasgssEds aad