The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-07-04
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40 more loving or q nobIer tribute than be
did at the dedication. OF the monument 1T
Fslaassnloelth ! In his poem on the Pilgrim
Il fathers? We all feel that the world was
better for his having lived IN It. II the
wealth, the influence, the talents that God
1 mas gtven any man are given him to be
used In his day and generation for his
1 q o'Reilly IS used his great gifts asa
public speaker. He had two great ne
lit paasionately; as a journalist he was al
ways in earnest and intensely vfrile
God made him a poet, he had. the divine
af1atus. he reached all classes and was
universally read, h appealed to the. Ia
tellectual, and touched a tender chord
in all hearts. And now that he, has
passed from our mortal ken to an eternf-
ty where we trust he finds refreshmenI,
peace and light, we come this day to erect
this -memoriaf, not for the dead but for
the living. A monument which in its
conception and design is. an exquisite
piece Of sculpture, worthy of the genius
Of Daniel French. "A group that q recent
writer says will be immortal and will
fittinly adorn this entrance to cur public
park. &s .e,.y
We believe that the feelings and mem
cries here evoked will inspire us to- APP
precfate the lesson which the life Of
Boyle O'Reilly teaches eSs !s4
beg leave Mr.. Mayor, on behalf OF
the committee and the thousand of. sub
scribers to present this memorial to the
City of Boston, through, you its chief
magistrate, entrusting it to the care and
protection of the municipality. Its beau
ftifuily exemplifies the life and attributes
of O'Reilly as a man, poet, a patriot and
a Christian. ~
We offer this memorial to the City of
Boston in the belief that it will Irove:sa
striking object lesson. We: trust that
those who. come here to view this smag-Y
niicent creation of the genius of; the
sculptor, will recall the life of the Irish
exile who came to this city without
friends or influence, with no. fortune but
his talents, yet by his honesty of purpose,
his manly courage, his untiring industry
and indomitable perseverance entered
into the very heart and life Of Boston,;
winning for himself the respect and ad'
miration of the cultured and holding a
place in the hearts of ali. The life of
every man or woman who has achieved
success or fame is interesting and teaches
a lesson. One Of the lessons that his life
teaches us is that the freedom we. enjoy
is but an opportunity to make ones self
a good, true, a noble man or woman.
We hope that all who come here will pro-
fit by the lesson That the weary and OPP
pressed will feel their burden lightened;
that the poor whose friend he was may BE
comforted.. That the exile will learn pa
tience and depart hence with new hope.
That the young and ambitious will re-
ceive new Inspiration from the story Of
his life and believe it will make us bet
ter men, as looking upon his face turned
to the sunlight Of the morning we recall
those opening lines from the poem on the
Pilgrim Fathers: 5s%g+,
Zone righteous word for law-the common
-, will " 80
One living rule Of faith-God regnantt
still"
AS the years go by his fame will in
crease. We will cherish him as one of
the noblest of the adopted children Of our
city We will recall his spotless integrf-
ty, his work for the unification of the peo-
pie and whenever we remember absolute,
unselfish devotion to the cause of human,
ity We vial indissolubly associate with
such devotion the name of John Boyle
O'Reilly.