The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-11-12

life, but crowned with the laurels of
great soldier won in the army of his
native Germany, drilled the raw recruits
of the patriot army and impaired the
discipline and training that carried
their flag to victory. In December, 1878,
Richard Montgomery, son of race
whose children have shed their blood on
every field where liberty has drawn a
sword fell before the stockades of
Quebec and died soldiers death
worthily and we'll. as became member
of the race of Sarsfield and of Sheridan
These, and men like these, were the
comrades of Lafayette. Venerate their
names, and not only in your studies
here, but in your after lives remember
their deeds and study their careers, for
it was largely through their efforts that
independence was won, and that you
and | are able today to salute the flag
which is the emblem of our country's
power and majesty. In this connection
there is another thought which 1t might
be we'll to express, not for the purpose
of evokng the latent hostility of Amer
leans to any foreign power, but in or
der that the truth of history be spoken
and claims of international gratitude be
admitted. The United States is now a
mighty force on land and sea- Within
the past six months our country has
emerged from the isolation of the past,
and in the cause of humanity the
American soldier and sailor have taught
the world that henceforth America
must be reckOned with in underworld
affairs. With power comes responsible
lily. Hitherto, in obedience to All the
dictates of prudence and the traditions
OF the fathers, America has refrained
from participation in the disputes of the
old world. She has pursued the tenor
OF her way without entanglng alliances,
needing neither friend nuI foe beyond
her borders | believe that that policy
should be adhered to and that neither
territory nor trade should tempt us from
the teachings of Washington and JEFF
?erSon. but also believe that from this
time in the military force of this ma
ton will be mighy factor in the So
luton of problems which are as extens-
I've as civilization itself. The guns of
Dewey and Schley ushcred in a new
era OF American activity and opened up
new theater for American statesman
ship, The nations realize that the re-
public of the west has burst the letters
or provincialism, and they appreciate as
never before, the mighty strength of
their new competitor. | speak not now
ol material power, of battleships and
cannon and all the treasures of thc
earth. but | speak of the keen intnlli
gcncc and the courageous cons. sance
which cnergiZe the things of earth and
give them vital force anu irresistible
power A few short months ago the
carplng critic of our institutions n,,ppod
himself in fond belief that the st,rdv
vlgor OF this people had been sappcd Inv
the haDlts OF commercialism, and that
the heroic virtues of our sires had de-
generated to the vices of a colorloss and
unromantic money-getting. But when
from farm and factory. from mctrono,i-
tan city and rural village, from lumber
camp and cattle ranch came Million
are and COW boy and all tho flower of
the American people to shed their b,oo,,
That human beings might be free we
Know that the age of chivalry had not
passed, and that the heart of America
was uncorrupt. And when the skill and
Vaior of the American sailor shone out
over the water of antipodal seas. when
the American soldier charged to victory
on the heights of Santiago and before
the ramparts of Manila, scorfers were
turned to suitors. and they who before
had pitied would now become ronfcdor-
'Ites ana allies. Is it not we'll to remem-
Der, when alliance with that power from
when we won our freedom is being dis
cussed. that from her came no proffor
or alliance in the days Of our weakness
'th" adversely, but that from the land CT
Lafayette came Rochambeau and lis six
thousand soldiers to fight beneath our
nag until 1t waved In triumph over tho
defeated battalons Of CORVALLIS? If Ia
said that republics are ungrateful. Inf
the time will surely never come when
the people of this land will forget tho
timely and unselfsh aid that in the in
fancy of their country came from tho
gallant people Of France. TO the glorv
oil Lafayette it should also be remem-
bered that it was largely due to his Der
sonal influence and energy at the court
or France that the military force which
has been referred to. was sent to this
country.
1t is impracticable in this paper to
more than point out the salient events
In his life. You are all familiar with
that dark page in our history which
records the treachery of Benedict
Arnold. After Arnold had been frus-
trated in his plan to surrender West
Point to the British. Lafayette served
as member of the military commission
that condemned the brave but unfor
tunate Major Andre to death, and by a
strange vicissitude of fortune. the
French general conducted the campaign
in Virginia against the British troops
commanded for a time by the traitorous