Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-03-18
ORATORY AND SONG.
Yesterdays Celebration of
Ireland's Patron Saint.
FATHER BBRMINeHAM's LECTURE

An Eloquent and Patriotic Address-A
Superb Musical Program In which
wilminxton's Amateurs Did Themselves
Credit with Artists OF Established
Reputation.
An immense audience was at the
Auditorium yesterday afternoon at the
lecture and concert given in celebration
of st Patrick's Day 1t was under the
auspices Of the Ancient Order of
Hibernlans.
A more enjoyable celebration was never
held In this city. Beautiful music by
renowned artists, and powerful eloquence
by one OF Wilmington's best known
speakers will make the occasion a green
spot In the memory of those who were
present.
First and foremost OF the singers was
Del Puente, the famous Italian with his
laug hing bsrltone; Helen Campbell, his
wife, contralto; Nine Fisher, soprano,
and Giannini, tenor. They were on the
program for several numbers, and gave
/ numerous encores. James Warhurst was
their accompanist.
Local singers who took part In the
program we're: The Misses Schwab. Mrs
E Harkins, Messrs Donovan, McOullin,
Currau, Gillespie, MRhoney and McNulty
Miss Agnes Curley was accompauist.
Father Bermingham's lecture was a
masterpiece Of oratoTy. For two hours
the vast audience listened as one person
as he told about the Shamrock En-
twlned Among the Laurels Of 1776.n
II was in part, as follows. Il speak
to you as citizens Of this great common.
wealth, to reveal, not so much for your
qualifications as for the instruction Of
those dupss Of ignorance who dispute the
| justice Of your claims, theIhistory OF the
gallant services OF Irishmen and the CONS
OF lrishmen in securing and maintaining
and defending our liberties. our institu-
tions and our national integrity In one
word. am come to discourse to you on
Irish loyalty to American liberty
| 'lt Is the evidence of experience aud Of
the concurrent testimony Of all intelli-
igent and fair minded men, that no class
Of citizens have been more loyal to the
cause of constitutional liberty in the
American republic that those who are
classsd IS children of Erin. Freedom is
not the inheritance alone of the nobly-
born-it is the birthright Of every son
and daughter Of Adam The mere thought
Of 1t warns again the fast copgealing
blood Of age, quickens the pulse Of youth
and looks from the eyes Of tender maid
anhood with the eloqnence Of Peter the
1 Hermit and Bernard of Clairyaux.
$50 II was from the beginnings so 1t
ever shall be, for nature does not change.
| The past, with It's luminous scroll, Is
ever the teacher OF the present The
/ camping ground of q people may be
fertile may be barren. 1t matters little
lit is Home, Sweet Home'-hence the
fairest spot on earth The clank Of
fstters may be heard there: the trophies
Of ths past may be dust; but thought is
free, and the naked hands Of unwilling
thralls may one day prove more powerful
than the very bayonets Of tyranny.
"We,of America, we OF the ocean .laved
republic, we were born with the same
uncomfortable longings, the same divine
birthright. That we we're true 0 these
promptings, the battle6elds Of the past
bear fitting testimony-b battle6elds where
men born in different climes, speaking diff
| ferent tongues, rushed under a common
banner and with q common purpose, to
/ death or to victory On heroism such as
| the world seldom witnessed, the founda-
tions of our country were planted, and
4
formed the freest, foremost nation of the
world.
Her virtuous public service alone
makes man superior to his fellows, for
Americas citizenship wisely recognizes
neither class nor caste. Her primal
fetters were severed by lovers of freedom
from many lands. and her glorious Gag
has been the shroud of champions from
every quarter of the globe, united In life
and in death by the all embracing word
| American
And who am I. and for whom do l
| plead? | answer with the lofty pride OF
Rsgulus; l am an American citizoni
This is my patent OF nobility; this,
humanity speaking is my all. And yet
would not barter the right to call
Columbia my home for the proudest
diadem Of the Casars. An American
citizen oh, words of beauty, words Of
grandeur Climb to the summit of our
Rocky mountains and shout them on
the frosty air, and crag and peak
will catch up and repeat again
and again esrth's proudest title
AN American citizen. And / plead the
cause Of my people-the mRtchless valor
Of the lrish-American soldier. Hail to the
Irish men, the rugged farmer who quit
l tno scytnei lns plOWt 10 oieak the
shackles Of the tyrant Hail to the Irish
heroes who sleep at Lexington, Concord,
Monmouth and Eutaw Springs. Hail to
those who on the banks OF the Brandy
wine and by the csnebrakes Of Savannah
met and put to flight England's hired
soldiers.
Testimony Of the most convincing
character establishes the fact that at
least half Of the Revolutionary army was
composed Of men Of Irish birth or near
descent George Washington Park Custus
says: 'Of the operations OF war, | mean
the soldiers up to the coming of the
French, Ireland had furnished in the
ratio OF 100 for any one Of any nation
whatever Mark what the Loyalist
Galloway said, before 8 committee Of the
House Of Commons in London. Among
the questions he was asked was: What
were the troops in the service Of the
Congress composed Off He replied i
can answer that question with precision
There we're one-fourth English aud
Scotch, one-fourth natives of America.
and about one half Irish. We need not
J wonder then, at Lord Mountjoy's un.
| IchalIauOed sratauaur In tba Houaa of