The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-18

are proud or the snare Wnlcn our coun- trymen have taken in the formation and growth of the American nation. And well may we proclaim our un- varying allegiance to the institutions and flag of this republic. Upon them we have claim of ownership acquired through the valor and faithfulness of the men whose Irish intrepidity and daring so strongly aided in Vanquish- ing the enemies of the nation. When our flag was attacked none rushed to the front more readily OF shed their blood more freely than did the Irish American soldier. Yet in this devotion to the republic there need be no lessen ing of our interest in the land from whence we came Love for the mother land only intensifies and deepens our regard for the principle of liberty, seen and enjoyed in it's highest form by the citizens of our republic.
 May the name of our patron be continually praised and honored? And may it be the fortune of our native land to have upon it's career the benefi- cent guidance of St. Patrick's faith, bringing it in Gods own time out of bondage into the fullness and dignity of a proud and triumphant nation hood"
 COLONEL HEALY'S TOAST.
 q can't believe that you intended that I should reply to this toast, else you would have notified me that I might at least have put few thoughts to- getller that would please myself, at least, if not my hearers. Yet I would like to please you, too. I was notified at o'clock yesterday and as I'm not master of my own time I couldn't pre- pare a fitting reply to the sentiment.
 ''The Day We Celebrate" is really the popular toaost to-day wherever Irish men are gathered together to celebrate Ireland's hope for freedom. What a patient race we are. For seven hun dred years battling for freedom, and to-day in the fight ever hopeful, ever on the alert, and with tireless and un- ceasing vigilance. Tonight with song and story the wrongs inflicted on Ire land are brought viyidly before our mind. And we renew our baptismal vows to our dear land of sorrows. The love of nationality is grand love, sur passing any other in it's intensity The terrible scenes of 179S when Emmet and Wolfe Tone and other great lead- CTS pledged their lives for Ire land are before us. We know the history of their heroic at tempt to free it, of it's failure; and yet the fight goes on, and ever will. In few days thousands of Irishmen and their descendants from all over the world will make a pilgrimage to the old land to celebrate events of hun dred years ago, and there renew their pledges of loyalty to never, no never, give ur the struggle for liberty. The career of Emmet was the most glori- ous in Ireland's history. The celebra- ton of his birthday was but a week ago, and in our own loved city the dis tinguished Judge Fitzgerald related the story Q. Emmet's fife. We are better men by such a celebration of the day. The great gathering within her bor- ders socn will, I trust give her new hopes, or rather strengthen her hopes for independence. Haste the day of Irelands freedom.
 How long, 0 Lord, how long!
 Shall Crime breed Crime forever? Strengths aiding still the strong?
 No. say the Mountains: No! the Skies
 Erins sun shall proudly rise And songs ascend instead of signs.
 MIR. TROUP'S LETTER.
 "Gentlemen of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick-Another year has rolled round, and Irishmen and sons of Irish men the world over met round the fes- tive board to do honor to the memory of Irelands patron saint. There is no great character of whom we have any knowledge, whose entire personal his- tory is shrouded in deeper mystery than that of St. Patrick, whose birth day is so generally celebrated on March F, though it is wholly a matter of con- lecture that he was born on that date. A witty Irish clergyman has written on the subject, as follows:
 On the eighth day of March 1t was, some people say,
 That St. Patrick at midnight he first saw the day
 While others declared twas the month he
 was born,
 And twas all mistake between midnight For mistakes will occur in hurry and shock
 And some blamed the baby, while some blamed the clock,
 Till with all their disputing sure no one could know
 If the child was too fast or the clock was too slow.
 But both of these factions so positive grew, That each kept birthday, and Pat then had two,
 Till Father MuIcahy, who showed them their sins
 Said No one could have two but a fine pair of twins.
 Don't always be fighting for eight or for nine;
 Don't always be fighting but sometimes Eight and nine add together-seventeen is the mark;
 So let that be his birthday. Amen said the clerk.
 This account of how the birthday of | Ireands' patron saint is celebrated on March IT is as authentic as any ,,ther | information we possess concerning him. | All the early English calendars name March r as the day Noah entered the | ark.
 England, Scotland, Wales and | France have claimed the honor of hav- | ing given birth to St. Patrick, but the bulk of traditionary evidence tavors | Scotland. His native place was Nem- | thur, now Dermbarton, and the date of | his birth about A. D. 395. His original name was Tuccath, Patricius being the | Roman appelative of which he was | known, indicating that he came of a | patrician family. He was captured by ! pirates and taken to Ireland in his six | teenth year, sold to a petty chief, whom | he served as a swineherd for six years | claiming to have been miraculously converted while tending his flocks. He | escaped prepared himself for the