The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-28

joice that am SO nearly allied to q country
which has so much to recommend 1T to the
good wishes of the world. lam well aware. sir.
that Irishmen have never been backward in
erty They have fought, sir, for this
country valiantly, and l have no
doubt would fight again were it neces-
sary.'
General Phil Sheridan, who struck the final
blow at Lee, was born but one year after the
arrival of his Irish father in New York; Gen
eral James Shields, the honored hero OF two
wars, was the only general who defeated
"StonewalP' Jackson, and General Kearny
and others make lllustrious company of
Irish officers. The common soldier of Irish
birth is also identified with every battle in the
war. Irishmen composed whole regiments,
like the Ninth Massachusetts, the Sixty ninth
New jersey and the Sixty-ninth New York.
Unqualified opposition to foreigners is q
survival of Puritanism. The Puritans had a
wrong idea of freedom. They wanted it all for
themselves. You could worship freely their God,
own salvation alone. 1t is said of them that
they first fell on their knees and then on the
aboriginees. They were austere and intoler-
ant. They deprecated bull batting, not because
it gave pain to the bull but because it gave
pleasure to the people. They sold slaves.
They burned witches and exiled good men like
Roger Williams for the assertion of reli-
gious independence; those they did not exile
they hanged And yet their descendants have
vastly improved and have become good Amer-
cans; in proof of which it has been shown that
whereas tney originally SOlQ the Save 10 the
South for the love of money they took him back
for the love of God So, you see, there is some
hope for the descendants OF the Irish, and one
or two generations may remove all their faults
and raise them, by evolution, into the highest
heaven of patriotic reward.
Dlsraei said 81 wish that the republic OF
the Puritans had blended with the tribes OF the
wilderness" Then, thought he, there would
be real homogeneous people and American
nationality, and not until some such amalgam-
alton took place. But he was mistaken. A
and a skin of their own might have resulted,
and while this would have gladdened the
poets heart it would not have added to the
substantial happiness of mankind.
No; the essence OF an American nationality
must be found in the republican form OF gov
eminent and all that flows from it, for the
distinguishing characteristics OF the American
people are not in the color of their skins. but
in the color of their minds; not in the words
they adopt to express their ideas, but in the
ideas themselves. The American, the loyal
American, possessing the essential elements of
good citizenship, is the man who, irrespective
of birthplace. religious belief or language, I'M
derstandS and appreciates American instltu-
lions and for their defense is willing to lay
down his life. Are not the Irish by this test
good and loyal Americans History proves it,
SO wise were the fathers of the Republic that
they gave US a cons titution which, after guar
anteelng our liberties, prevents us from laps
ing into despotism by reactionary wave. so
often experienced in human affairs, under the
stress OF bigotry or forgetfulness of historic
the assaults of mere majorities, and requiring
two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths OF
all the states to alter the great fundamental
law. So there is no danger of our again re-
turning to the tyrannies of the past, from
which we emerged after sanguinary war, and
in which our American saviors were not only
our colonial sires, but the French the German
and the Irish soldlery. 1t was victory for the
cause of mankind, and all mankind, under
reasonable restrictions, should be permitted TO
enjoy 1t.
Tris how mir for oh
as ours for centuries and were ripe to appre-
ciate its benefits. 1t has been to them refuge
from oppression and has given to them in
hn1tely more than their native land ever con-
ferred, and it is their duty and it is their right
to love the stars and stripes with patriotic
fervor
few friends a great Irishman spoke in her
Cause; and permit me to quote his words, which
show, in line, the patriotic value of the Celtic
element American nationality: depend
upon 1t, the lovers of freedom will be free"
He also spoke of Burke, Sheridan,
O'Connell. Emmet. Wolfe Tone, Gold
smith, Berkeley and others as champions
of liberty. His fine effort elected frequent
and hearty applause.
w. T. O'Brien rendered "The Holy
City" as barytone solo. and Miss Lillian
OConnor, who was introduced as a de-
scendant of the great O'Connor, recited
1.-The Dandy Fifth" in such an effective
claimed in touching style "The Wearing
of the Green" Next came Miss Mile
Flynn, who gave Because I Love You,
Dear as soprano solo. Frank T. Shea s
recitation of 1.-THE Star-spangled Banner
concluded the evenings exceeding enjoy
able features. Miss Julia Heffernan acted
as accompanist.
Among the honored guests on the plat
form were: William Greer Harrison,
Charles M. Shortrldge, James D. Phelan,
]. ]. O'Byrne and other prominent citizens.