The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
LOYAL KNIGHTS
OF ST. PATRICK,
They Observe Washington's
Birthday With Music
and Song.
PATRIOTIC SENTIMENTS
Charles M. Shortridge Writes Of
the Man Whose Memory
the Country Hcnors.
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE.
A Trip Around the World Beautifully
Reflected on Canvas-A Pleas
ant Evening.
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE

ho w pAAtAooy SOAVpAoV2OA
under the auspices of the Knights of st.
Patrick at Metropolitan Hall last night
was great success. There was an i'm
mense throng present, and the greatest en-
thusiasm prevailed. Hundreds were un-
able to gain admittance and went away
disappointed.
The National colors draped the hall.
Love of country and the historical figure
generally spoken of as "Father George"
were everywhere manifest. There were
National music, National songs and Ma
tional sentiments.
The opening number on the programme
was piano selection with Janko key
board) by Miss Alice Tisdall.
This was followed by soprano solo,
''In Seville's Groves by Miss MIllie
Flynn, an artist of much note. President
jeremiah Deasy made brief Introductory
address in which he eulogized the first ex-
ecutive OF the Republic. Mr. Deasy ex-
pressed regret at the absence through i'll
ness of Charles NJ. Shortridge, who had
been announced as the orator of the even
ing. He said, however that letter had
been received from Mr.. Shortridge. 1t
was read by Frank Shea as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Feb %, s96.
Hon. Jeremiah Deasg, President OF the knights
Of st. Potrack-DEAR SIR: regret exceedingly
tnat a serious and prolonged illness confines
me to my home and prevents my presence
among you tonight.
l had looked forward with eagerness and
pleasure to the prospect of being with you
upon the occasion of your entertainment in
honor of Washington's birthday ana in loving
and loyal remembrance of him whom our Ma
tion and all civilized men delight to honor. /
assure you that l feel the disappointment of
my enforced absence more keenly than your
selves, and this especially because / esteemed
it a m ost fitting time and occasion 10 enforce
with my all too feeble utterance certain prin-
ciples of liberty and of loyalty to our Ameri-
can institutions, of which the life and char
acter of Washington give apt and ample illus
tration. II there is any one characteristic of
that great soldier and statesman which lifts
its white summit above the rest OF his high
qualities, 1t Is to be found in the standard of
excellence which he set for the selection of his
friends and associates in the mighty task of
achieving liberty and nationality for the
American people.
1t was loyalty to American institutions
which George Washington especially required
friends and to whom he intrusted the COM
mand of armies and the control of affairs OF
state. 1t mattered little to him from what
country, cline or race men came or what
might be their social station or religious creed
ii only they loved liberty and were resolved
with him to see it perpetuated upon American
but single illustration of the broad liberality
OF the Father of His Country in this respect.
The four American patriots whom President
Washington selected above all others as his
Cabinet advisers were Hamilton, Jefferson,
Knox and Randolph OF these, Eami ilton was
q native of the West Indies, Jefferson and Ran
dolph were Virginians, while General Henry
Knox was born in Boston of Irish parentage
and was noted throughout his illustrious
career as soldier aud statesman, for his pride
of fextraction and his affection for his fellow
Americans OF the Irish race. / point to this
example for the purpose of emphasizing to
your minds and hearts tonight, the truth that
the foundation stone of our republic is the un-
divided loyalty OF its citizens OF whatever race
or creed to American ideas OF liberty and law.
The love OF liberty under law filled Washing
tons mind and inspired his whole life. That
love breathes in his every written utterance
whether 1t be private correspondence or seri-
Gus state papers. He knew that liberty to be
preserved must be hedged round by just ana
equal laws, and he tnculcated reverent obe-
dience to such laws.
Neither love, nor patriotism, nor poetry, nor
oratory can magnify the value of the services
he rendered to America and to the world. His
labors on the field were no more brilliant or
valuable than his services in the convention
that framed our constitution and in the execu-
tive chair. Grave, serious and religious, de-
voted to liberty and welded to constitutional
government, scrupulously honest in all his re-
lations to individuals or to the State, and de-
manding an eXacting unqualified fidelity to
every duty assumed or delegated, he rose and
stood and stands as the great model for his and
future generations.
l am debating these few lines from sick
bed. l cannot tell you of my love and admira-
ton for the great man whose fame encircles
the earth. The mighty theme oyercomes me.
For assistance | turn to the land whose sons
have battled in every struggle for liberty. and
who deservedly enjoyed the fullest confidence
OF Washington Let those words OF Charles
Philllps, the eloquent Irish orator, express my
thoughts and yours:
at matters very little what immediate spot
may be the birthplace of such man as Wash
appropriate him; the boon of Providence to
the human race, his fame is eternity and his
residence creation. Though it was the defeat
OF our erms and the disgrace of our policy,
almost bless the convulsion in which he had
his origin. II the heavens Numbered and the
earth rocked, yet when the storm passed, how
pure was the climate that it cleared; how
bright in the brow of the armament was the
planet which it revealed to US!
I'm the production of Washington 1T does
really appear as If nature was endeavoring to
improve upon herself, and that all the virtues
OF the ancient world were but so many studies
preparatory to the patriot OF the new. lndi-
vldual instances no doubt there were; splen-
did exemplifications OF some single qualifica-
tlon: Caesar was meTciful, Scipio was conti-
nent, Hannibal was patient; but 1t was re-
one, and like the lovely chef d'euver of the
Greclan artist to exhibit in one glow of asso-
ciated beauty, the pride of every model, and
he marshaled the peasant into a veteran ana
supplied by discipline the absence OF expe-
rience; as a statesman, he enlarged the policy
or erst tne cabinet into the most cemprehensiye "
wisdom of his views and the philosophy of his
counsels that to the soldier and the statesman
ne almost added the character OF the sage.
"A conqueror. he was untainted with the
crime OF blood; revolutionist, he was free
from any stain of treason; for aggression com.
menced the contest and his country called
MIN to the command. Liberty unsheathed his
sword necessity stained, victory returned it.
II ne had paused here history might have
doubted what station to assign him-whether
at the head of her citizens or her soldiers, her
heroes or her patriots. But the last glorious
act crowns his career and banishes all hesita-
tlon Who, like Washington, after having
emancipaied q hemisphere, resigned its crown,
and preferred the retirement of domestic life
TO the alteration of land he might De almost
said to have created?
How shall we rank thee upon glory's page,
Ihou more than soldier and just less than sage;
All thou hast been reflects less fame on thee
Far less than all thou hast foreborne to bel"
once more expressing my profound regret
that cannot be with you in person tonight,
l beg to remain, dear sirs, very sincerely
yours, CHAs. NJ. SHoRTRIDGE
Mr. Shortridge's sentiments were well
received by the audience.
After soprano solo by Miss Julia Sulli-
vynv 4