The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-07-11
PATRIOTIC Sons Of ERIN.
Celebrate independence Day Pa.
triOtically and with En-.
thusiasm.
An Admirable Grafton by Father
iFFitzgerald-a Full Days
Fun.

iFitzgerald-a FUN Days
A large concourse of people assembled
at Kinsella's Grove, four miles south
west of the city, TO participate in a
pleas ant and sensible celebration of the
Fourth of July. The Irish Catholic
church ofthis city had issued general in
vitations to participate with them upon
the occasion, and no one who accepted
the invitation will ever regret it. Album
dant provision had been made, the
grounds having been fitted up with a
dancing pavilion. tents, acres OF dining
room in the thick shade, band stand, re-
freshment booths-in fact crowd was
expected and had been provided for.
Nor were either the managers or the
people disappointed. Everything was
propitious. excepting only that high
wind prevailed all day.
. The dinner served, was not only abun-
dant, but appetizing, the music was
frst;class, our own band being present
most of the day, and an orchestra kept
the merry dancers busy all dav and far
into the night. Base ball aud other
sports were INDUCED in. and everybody
felt that freedom from restrant, which
never degenerated into license, which
is of the spirit of day. It was happy
crowd, and not an unpleasant feature
marred the proceedings. The groveis in
the heart of slice of Americanized Erin,
in the neighborhood of the Kinsellas,
the Costellvs, the Mahoneys, the
Nevilles. the Moores, the Campbells, the
Grahams, the Rooneys, and not so far
away but our old friend Michael Allen
found his way thither-American Irish
men all, prosperous, hospitable and
happy.
An improvised band composed of Fred
Jacob, George Ingram. Herman Donart,
AL. Kinnamon, OFT. Janecke. Bert Van
Camp and others, was feature of the
day.
But the livest interest cent.red in the
admirable grafton delivered by Father
Fitzgerald, which. by permission. the
HERALD takes great pleasure in laying
before It's readers IN It's entirety.
but the greater portion Of it. The rev.
erend Father said:
LADIES AND conference.-the storm
still cettinues, and assure you it is with the
depression of heart attending one in a race
terribly handicapped that dare raise my
voice with the hope of being heard above a
Minnesota storm. had hoped after all the
preparations had been made-tents erected,
platforms built for speakers and musicians
and the grounds so nicely decorated by the
kind and Intelligent children of my church,
and now in the presence ofso large an assem-
blage of fellow citizens, would still hope
that proper voice might give utterance to the
admiration, esteem and reverence we feel
for our great country, whose natal day we
celebrate on this occasion. But it would be,
in the presence Of this storm, physical en-
deavor, and what would be labor to me would
entail labor upon you in listening. So, will
only state, in the form of instruction, as mat
tiers of fact, what under other circumstances
I would love to utter. So convinced am of
the truth Of what shall utter, and so beloved
and dear to me is America in its miraculous
birth and its pfodigious existence and life,
with the zeal and enthusiasm and sweet con-
tentment OF heart, that would employ a song
oflove, ofhome, of religion and of principles
most dear to my heart.
This morning, as rose the early sun. touch
ing with gold all that its radiance reached,
the1e leaped before its greetings-save only
the cross of Christ our Savior-no other stand
ard more pure, more indebted, more admira-
bic than the stars and stripes-born first in
wisdom and justice, and ever since cause Of
Joy and tower of strength to humanity.
You can see no folu stain on its folds. 1t
has never been borne by a mercenary soldier
in search of conquest; it has never led the
way in war Of cruelty or tyranny-oppres-
sion! MOI more could sin find entrance into
heaven, than oppression hide itself within
the folds of the banner of American national
ity, liberty and equality.
The flag of the United States is not like
the flag of Of other nations: it does not mean
empire, conquest-nor is it an emblem Of ar
istocratic or family power; nor does it betok-
EN- military or naval power. 1t means Unity
-Usam ex Omnibus. 1t means, first Of all,
in the blending ofthe alternate stripes off
and white, the unity Of the thir teen colonies;
and secondly, in the group Of white stars on
! the blue background, the unity of the forty
four states. The very colors Of the hag--red
white and blue, speak OF yalor justice and pu-
rity-purity, the loveliest Of all virtues, the
loss Of which leaves man or woman as the
FIRE or the tempestle leaves the copse. Where
in all the wide world is less open offense, al
least, given this most beautiful of.virtnssl
If proper respect and reverence of woman.is
an indication Of. its possession, then Arheri-
cans cannot sufferin comparison with other
nations. valorl It covers the home of the
free and the brave. Justice! The first pee
pie to exemplIfy ii. after Christ announced
ard preached it SO emphatically, were the