The Irish standard., 1897-10-09
GEM OF SOUTHERN 0RAToRY
A Most Eloquent Tribute to the
Children of Erin.
EMINENT IRISH = AMERICANS
El0quence Not Yet a Lost Art in
the Sunny South.

One of the finest specimens Of south-
ern oratory which we have seen In a
cng time is the speech delivered IN
lrish-American Day" at the Tennes-
see centennial celebration in Nashville.
by Gov. Taylor, and which is as fol-
lows:
II l were a sculptor. 1 would ch1sel
from the marble my ideal of a hero T
would make it the figure of an Irish
man, sacrificing his hopes and his life
on the altar of his country, and would
carve on its pedestal the name of EN-
met.
If were a painter, would make the
canvas eloquent with the deeds of the
bravest people who ever lived, whose
proud spirit no power can ever conquer.
and whose loyalty and devotion to the
hope of free government no tyrant can
ever crush. And would write under
the picture, Ireland.
If were poet, I would melt the
world to tears with the pathos of my
song. I would touch the heart of hui
manity with the mournful melody of
Ireland's wrongs and Erin's woes.
would weave the shamrock and the rose
into garlands of glory for the Emerald
Isle, the land of martyrs and memories,
the cradle of heroes, the nursery of lib
Ilrty.
Tortured in dungeons and murdered
on scaffolds, robbed of the fruits of
their sweat and toll, scourged by fam
Inc and plundered by the avarice of
heartless power; driven like the leaves
of autumn before the keen winter
winds, this sturdy race of Ireland's sons
and daughters have been sca..ered over
the face of the earth, homeless only in
the land of their nativity, but princes
and lords in every other land where
merit is the measure Of the man.
Where is the battlefield that has not
been glorified by Irish courage and
baptized with Irish blood? And where
is the free country whose councils have
not been strengthened by Irish brains,
and whose wealth has not been in
creased by Irish Drawn?
Wherever the flag of war f1utters the
spirit of Irish chivalry is there, painting
for the battle and eager for the charge.
Whether it be Wellington leading the
allied armies at Waterloo, or Clarke fol-
lowing the eagles Of France; whether
it be Sam Houston crushing the armies
of Santa Anna at San Jacinto, or Davy
Crockett courting death at the Alamo;
whether 1t be Andrew Jackson at New
Orleans, or Stonewall Jackson at Chan
cellorsville; whether it be Phil Sheri-
dan in the saddle riding like god of
war in the thickest of the fight, or Pat
Clebourne leading the forlorn hope and
dying at the cannon's mouth on the
breastworks of the foe, it is the same
intrepid, unconquerable spirit of SUBJ
lime courage which flows like a stream
OF inspiration from the heart of Old
Ireland to fire the souls of the worlds
greatest leaders, and to burn forever on
the altars of liberty. (Great applause.
Wherever the banner of peace is un-
furled over the progressive English
speaking nations of the earth, this same
Irresistible Celtic blood has ever been
present, shaping the destinies of en-
pires and republics.
1t warmed the heart of Edmund
Burke, whose brain was mighty loom
which wove tapestries of glory for Eng
land and for mankind. 1t inspired The
souls of Swift and Sheridan, whose
dreams will linger in English literature
forever, like the fragrance of roses that
are faded and gone. 1t lighted up the
brain Of Oliver Goldsmith, who broke
out in song sweeter than the song of
the nightingale. 1t kindled the soul
OF Tom Moore into flame, and like an
angel of light from the realms of
dreams, he swept the burning strings
of Erin's harp, and 10! the whole world
thrilled with it's melody. The body of
Iom moore was dust long ago, but his
spirit lives in his songs, and breathes
more hope in every Irish heart and
happiness in every Irish home.
II l were asked why our Southern
people are so impulsive, 1 would an
swer it is not so much the effect of
climate as it is the predominance of
Irish blood in our veins. It was this
that fired the Irish heart of Patrick
Henry to preach secession from Eng
lish wrath, and the power of English
arms.
1t was this that nerved our Irish.
American president, James K. Polk, ia
have Mexico thrashed before breakfast
1t was this that woke the lion in The