The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-04-10
TIE PAST HUNDRED YEARS
The American Revolution the
Greatest Fact In History.
1t Started the Irish Revolution, the
French Revolution and Gave
Birth to European Democracy
Life by the Voice Of Patrick Henry
and the Cannon's Roar Mt Lcxing-
ton-An Eloquent Address.

SOAA>~AA AAAO4ucAl 4Au0GCoDs
Hugh O'Neill, an eloquent member of
the Chicago bar, made magnificent ad-
dresss in that city on st. Patrick's Day,
of which the following is the closing
portion:
"The greatest fact in the worlds his
tory was the American Revolution. It
was the deathknell to slavery-the toe
sin of liberty. 1t was the cause of the
Irish Revolution in 1882, and the cause
of the French Revolution, which has
tened the fall Of tottering dynasties and
gave birth to European democracy. All
Europe caught the spirit of American
liberty; but the Irish were the first to
become imbued with American ideas.
The tramp of armed men in the new
world set the nerves of the old one
tingling, and filed the souls of suffering
millions with a strong desire to be free.
The military spirit which gave to the
breeze the Stars and Stripes inspired
the unfurling of the green flag above the
Irish Volunteers. What gave life to the
Volunteers? What but the words Of
Patrick Henry, the cannon's roar at Lex
ington, the shot heard around the
world the fight at Bunker Hill, the fires
that burnt in every heart, the swords
that cleaned in every hand, the Ameri-
can cry for liberty.
'From all parts of the land, as If by
the magic wand of an enchanter, the
Volunteers gathered under arms.
Ger the green hills of Ulster their ban
ners are spread;
The cities of Leinster resound to their
tread,
The valleys of Munster with ardor are
stirred;
And the plains of wild Connaught their
bugles have heard.
"Who can describe the sentiments of
exultation and hope which then leaped
up in the Irish heart? Every city, town
and village had now it's company of Vol
unteers. Who was competent to collect
these scattered elements and make of
the magic power to call up the fires that
smouldered beneath the calm exterior of
suffering people, to manage the wild
whirlwind of fervid enthusiasm; to dash
it's fitful currents agains. the battle
ments of the oppressor; to fill the veins
of brave people with the hot tide Of
purpose, passion and patriotic ardor ?
Who could inspire the faith and glorify
the mission of the Volunteers except the
immortal Grattan? At the head of 1O0,-
900 men Grattan entered the Irish Par
Lament to trace the Rubicon across
which the English should not ad vance,
and beyond which the Irish should not
wander. When he spoke for Irish i'll
dependence, his fiery accents sent indig-
nation coursing through the souls of
men. Men had but eyes for him, and
ears for the burning thoughts that he
alone had power to utter. His energetic
denunciatfon of wrong, persuasive advO-
cacy of right, rapid accumulation of
imagery, poetic fancy, nervous declama-
tion, elegance of diction, beauty of ex-
preston, famed the fires of Irish pa
triotism and made the English people
feel that "a country enlightened as Ire
land, chartered as Ireland, armed as Ire
land, injured as Irelan'l, would he satis-
fed with nothing less than liberty
when Grattan resumed bis seat in
the Irish parliament there broke forth
from the vast assemblage such an out
burst of applause as was never heard
within those walls before, and the cheer
was kept up by the multitude outside,
telling the people Ivy it's proud signifi-
canoe that the Volunteers had triumphed
ard that Ireland was free.
''As in the spring time the cataracts
leap down from The mountains, and the
streams rush out from the valleys and
the rivers roll on to the sea-, so came the
Volt nteers from the hills and wales,
the towns and the villages, the cities and
FIOVAACeS III tAeA y CJAAI't:1Ae'o AS6.'nculS
ard brigatles until they unite and co.
al2sce in the comraueshio Of arms, the
fraternity of patriotism, the splendid
army of 1882.
"The spirit of the Volunteers is still
alive in Ireland. was born and raised
on that soil; I have stood upon the con-
secrated graves of Irish patriots; I have
stood on the battle-aelds mady holy by
the blood of heroes; have felt the pulse
beat of the Irish nation, and say here
tonight, that the Ireland of today, if the
opportunity presented itself, is as brave