The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-02


knecl by the graves OF the martyred dead
Of 'oS and acknowledge with tears of
gratitude that from their suffering dawn
ed the inspiration that made a reunited
Ireland possible. Irishmen and descend
ants OF lrishmen the world over speak
with pride Of the heroes of '9S and the
object CT the old land in celebrating this
| centenary OF the united Irishmen is to
show cur oppressor that Ireland is a ma
ton STILL That she rejects with scorn
the badge OF a British province. That
her people, great and small, defend the
| men and honor them, who by any and
every method sought to shake off tho
shackles Of foreign tyranny Their
names will bo forever associated with
tho word liberty, and so long as the
desire to be free aninates the breast
Of man their names will be remembered
as thoso for when the world was better
| for their having lived. For the sake
OF liberty many of them bowed their
| neGks to the stroke Of the hcadman's
axe. Exiled and scattered the world over
as their children are fated to be, all
| Irishmen are near akin this year.
/, Their hearts beat in unity, they throb
/ with tho Same deep feelings; they recall
the same llallowed memories of the past;
.,they cherish the same bright hopes for
! tho future; they breathe forth the same
| fervcnt prayer to God chat Ireland shall
again lie FREQ from foreign thraldom,
| free as when St. Patrick crumbled
paganism and took up the cross of
Christ in bold relief against the eastern
sky, which was accepted at once and
cherished by tho Irish people as the
symbol Of their faith which would never
weaken or wave". though it led to the
mount OF crucifiNion, and required their
hearts best bleed in its defense. Near
that sacred symbol and depending upon
it for life and protection stands the sun
burst OF Erin, with the green shamrock
entwined i'll its fold cherished second
only to tho cross, and which shall again
be unfurled with the sign of victory en-
bazoncd On it, like the hammer Of Con-
stantne, when the sorrow and gloom Of
her calvary shall lie changed to the
glory OF her resurrection. Irishmcn in
Ireland should persevcrc in patient FIRM
ness, abandoning no one Of their Clailns
and yet pursuing with sef-contrCl and
through means as fair and as just as
tho cause itself to be united. The
enemy will strive to divide your ranks
knowing that in division Turks defeat,
in union success. Irishmen OF America,
DO all that is good and great in the ewes
CT your follow Americans, winning by
your civic virtues and your high bear
ing as men. as Americans, tie approval
OF this republic for the cause of Ireland.
Sons OF Erin Throughout. the land have
learned love Of country as they have
learned to love their Creator. Gray
headed grand srcs have told their de-
scendants standing at their knee the
story OF the Irishman's love for the
Emerald Isle. Seven hundred years has
the fight COMO on. seven hundred years
has hope been crushed out to rise again
phoenix-like as strong as ever. Driven
from their own shores they must seek
another. Is it any wonder then that
they should lovo that which represents
liberty to them? The emigration Of
other nations has been a voluntary emil
grafton, that Of the Irish has been
forced. 1t is Il law Of human nature
that when men are obliged TO give up
anything they value it the more. These
facts will in a measure account for the
lrshman's love in America for Ireland.
Ireland is the virgin daughter of the
church; she has never made any affilia-
tions with those in hcresy, and her peo-
plo havo never fallnrcd IL their I'M
swerving allegiance to the church of
Peter. She has chung to the faith and
preserved it in spite Of three centuries
of tho bloodiest persecution in all the
pages of history; When her faith vas in
question it maltcreI not if her fair cities
wcro destroyed and delugcd with the
life blood of her children, if her green
hills and smiling valleys were laid waste
1t mattcred not if famine invaded her
homes and carried Millions to ,lntimely
graves in a land Of plenty. She still
chung to the faith when apostasy would
have saved her from thrs, sufferings.
Her faiil was the one priceless treasure
for which she willingly sacrificed all
things else. and today after II centuries
have passed she still! possesses that faith
in all It's entirety. The cross and the
shamrock will forever be enshrined in
the hottest associations OF the past, and
our brightest hopes for the future. They
havo been cementel and sanctitied by
the blood of orr ancestors, so generous
ly poured cut in their defense, and to us
they symbolic all that is hottest and
best for faith and fathcrlannd.
Brother HIbernians, we are all Ameri-
cans, first, last and all the time. But
besides being good Americans we need
not forget the land Of our faith or the
land Of your ancestors. Let us pray for
Ireland. God holds In his hands the des-
TIMES of nations no less than individuals
In vain we plan and labor and hope, I'M
less Flo bless our endeavors. Remenl-