Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-19

dom may for a time be stricken down
and tramped upon in the persons of its
upholders, we believe that though de-
feated, it does not perish, but, being i'm
mortal, like the soul, which cherishes it,
will in time rise in triumph, victorious
over its enemies.
Truth, like the sun in the heavens,
may be obscured for time. 1 must ex-
press the qualification l feel arising from
the fact that the bold and honest, the
faithful and steadfast men of Wexford,
have not ignored their religion or sighted
its ministers while celebrating the men,
DRY of their historic ancestors. They
have clearly shown that their national
aspirations have not weakened their de-
votion to the faith of their fathers. The
men whose memory we honor today rose
in dark and evil days; these days have
passed away, and much of their dark
ness with them, but the memory of these
men remains cherished and honored by
all Irishmen, but in special manner by
Wexfordmen, in whose hearts the fire of
independence they kindled by their ex-
ample still burns with bright and steady
fame, which time will, trust, never
extinguish.
When this memorial, whose first stone
has been laid today, is completed, it
will be looked upon with reverence as a
just and grateful tribute paid by the men
of Wexford to the patriotism of these
noble ancestors who gave their lives to
win their country's freedom. In after
years, when our country has resumed her
honored place among the free nations
of the world, the freemen of the future,
gazing on this monument, may say,
This was a tribute the men of 1898
paid to their and our ancestors who faced
fearful odds, and fell fighting bravely
for the glorious cause of civil and relig-
ious freedom. The men of 1898 did we'll
and wisely in raising this monument to
virtue and valor, to the memory of the
martyrs of religion and patriotism. In
future and more prosperous times greater
wealth may enable our people to erect
stately and more costly memorial monu-
ments to departed worth, but none of
these, however imposing their architect
ure, will appeal to memories more touch
ing, more cherished and more honored,
than those which were designed to per-
petuate the fame of the devoted patriots
of our race who fell fighting heroically
in defense of the trampled liberties of
their country in the ever-memorable,
ever-glorious year of 1898.
Father Kavanaugh then, amid deaf
ening cheers, laid the foundation-stone,
which came from the historic Three
Rocks, camping ground of the insur-
gents and the scene of skirmish with
the British soldiery.
Alderman Captain Mcguire moved:
l. THAT this meeting, representative
of all parts of the County Wexford, as
sembled on this memorable occasion OF
laying the foundation stone of a national
memorial in honor of our gallant ances-
tors who so bravely fought for faith and
fatherland in '9S, hereby pledge our
selves to continue the struggle they be-
queathed us until we see Ireland take her
proper place among the nations.
2. THAT we call upon the men of Wex-
ford aud all who claim the honor of being
descendants of the heroes of '98, to assist
in raising a memorial on this historic
spot to the brave insurgents of whom ali
Wexford men feel justly proud"
Alderman James Stafford, in secondinG
the motion, said the men of Wexford
would never surrender their rights, be
cause they remembered the butchery car
ried on $50 years ago in the place where
the monument was being laid and the
sufferings inflicted on them hundred
years ago. They depended for the com
osity of the Wexford men, not only a
home, but all over the world. They il
Ireland would never cease working in tn,
cause of '9S until, in Emmet's words
their country took her place among thu
free and independent nations of thu
world.
Mr.. Peter Frenah, in supporting thu
resolution, said that that great meeting
proved that, despite Mr.. Chamberlain
sneers, there was still real live Irisl
question for England to face. Their
were thousand proofs of it there tina
day. Too much praise could not be givei
to the valor of their forefathers who
after suffering intolerable persecution
and infamy, rose in their strength ant
swept the English force out of the coun
try as the winds swept the mist from
their Irish hills.
MR.. JOHN Z. REDMOND, M. p,
who was received with prolonged cheers
said: -Wexfordmen-I thank Coz
that it has been my good fortune to b.
able to take part in the proceedings o
today. No Irishman. no matter from
what part of the land he may come, bu
would have felc an intense feeling O
|, pride at witnessing the proceedings O
today; but for Wexford man, for on
bound to this old town by so many an
such tender ties, 1 confess that my feel
ings of pride and of joy today are sue
as can not be translated into words.
suppose no more historic scene was eve
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