The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-26

Ireland ana unless the British gov
eminent can discover some way OF lock-
ling up Irish patriotism with Irish
patriots. sooner or later the real griev-
'ances of that gifted people will be num-
bered among the things of the past; but
an oppressed people must Eberate
themselves. It can never be accom-
plished by the efforts of outsiders.
Whatever advantages the Irish have
wrested from their masters has been
due TO the persistence of the former
not the informer, of course. As an
Irish orator in the house of commons
once stated the case: las long as Ire
land was silent under wrongs England
vas deaf to her cries"
The New York Irishman rot only
contributes Literally to assist his friends
at home to carry on the political fight,
but, no matter how humble his lot, he
never neglects his destitute relatives
across the water. The aggregate
amount of money sent TO private par
ties in Ireland from their more pros
porous relatives in this city is simply
astounding. AS it has been wittily ex-
pressed: 1.-THE real Irish question Isl:
Has the registered letter mail come in
from American"
In no other city in the world does st.
Patrick receive such an ovation, as it
were, as he does in New York. In
fact, there are not few with whom
getting ready for st. Patrick's day is
more pleasant than getting over the
effects of it, which suggests a CONVEX
sation l once overheard between a ma
tive American, who was skeptical as to
St. Patrick's eradication of snakes, and
n Hibernian, who was slightly under
the influence of some slim ulating
tonic.
DO you really believe. as q sensible
and reasonable man, that st. Patrick
Sctually drove the snakes ont of Ire
iand?" asked the incredulous one.
''Indade, do, sor," was the emphatic
reply.
Now, just look at it for a moment,
and you can't help seeing the utter alb
surdity of such thing. If St. Patrick
drove out all those suakes, where did
he drive them top
"Bedad, it's mesilf that's thinkin' he
drove them into the whusky."
As for Patrick himself, there is no
other historical parsonage whose mem
DRY is so profusely honored excepting,
of course, the founder of the Christian
religion. And what is still more sin
gular is the fact that almost nothing
Is really known of his life and antece-
dents. AS priest once candidly adj
mitted: very little is really known
about Irelands patron saint, and that
little is very uncertain"
According TO the statements of con-
fiicting historians, he was born in Eng
land, Scotland, Wales, France and
other countries at different dates from
A. ID. 372 to 4. ID. $50, and his death Oc-
Cured in any and all of the years be-
tween 461 and 4ss. There is, however,
no doubt, after the clusters of luxuriant
fiction are removed, that he was an ear
nest, plain preacher OF the Gospel. with
considerab administrative ability in
the establishment of congregations and
churches. and much homely eloquence,
with which he brought the doctrines of
primitive Christianity within the very
limited range of his hearers compre-
henSion.
No other race has so many lights and
shadows; but the former are much more
numerous than the latter. Physical
courage, amounting even 10 reckless
ness, is as inherent a trait as ready
wit, in which respect they excel every