Evening journal., 1898-03-17
WHAT THE IRISH DID.
Heroes of the Revolutionary
and Civil Wars Recalled.
MUSIC, ORAToRY AND Patriotism
DIR. ]. M. HARRINGTON, OF MAINE,
GIVES PAGES OF PATRIOTIC
DEEDS OF ERIN'S SONS AT THE
GRAND OPERA HOUSE-sT. PAT
RICK HONORED

GRAND OPERA HOUSE-ST. PAT
RICK HoNoRED
Americas Debt to the Children Of
Erin, was we'll propounded last night
in the Opera House before a large au-
dence, by Rev. DR. j. NJ Harrington,
S. T. L., of Portland Maine. Previous
to the lecture a musical program was
given, in which William f. McNulty,
Herman Gossen, John Finnegan and
the children Of St. Patrick's School
participated.
William Michael Byrne, in introduc-
ing the speaker said Music and ora
tory have ever been the accomplish
OF mankind. Irishmen are as musical
az any other race on Uhis great globe
Look at our great institutions and pa
rochial schools throughout the country
Are they not monuments of our great
| loyalty and progress? Patriotism and
religion-what grand union. a union
so glorious that IL alone causes the
heart to swell and palpitate with just
pride and loyalty, for what is patriot
Ism but religion? What more appro-
pirate, when the nation is face to face
with crisis, for us to do than blend
harmoniously religion and patriotism?
Let the bigots shout andhowl about
the Irishman and let them challenge
our love Of country. We but turn 10 the
| past. There our work is emblazoned
Inever to be obliterated."
DR.. Harrington then paid eloquent
tribute to the gallant sons OF ireland.
In part he said:
Ladies and Gentlemen Honest men
stand aghast at the sight of the rank
/ tool frr rfxrn NO I'm tod
prejudices that are still nourished in
many bosoms for a race whose record
adorns the proudest and most brilliant
pages of American history Doesn't II
seem strange that there are men at the
close of this progressive century who
cannot be persuaded that the Irish race
has any right Of existence in this free
land. Yet, unfortunately this is the
case. War TO the knife should, accord
ing to them, be declared, not only
against this race, but also against the
religion which has been it's glory and
its boast for fifteen hundred years.
A large percentage OF our society
periodicals is pregnant with tendencies
decidedly anglomaniac These un-
American sheets would have us believe
that this country was made what IL Is
by men and women OF Puritan descent
(for it has been the policy Of the Anglo
Saxon, wherever he has dominated, to
usurp all glory and claim to merit) and
that all others not OF that lineage who
share the freedom which our Constitu-
tion guarantees, are here not by right
but by toleration: by the benign per.
mission OF those who arrogate to them
selves a kind Of high dominion over this
fair and free republic OF the West.
The emigrants who cleared the vir.
gin forests, and drained the marsh and
built the town, are designated as the
''vomit of vessels, "a degraded, super
stitious element" foreigners. 81
"aliens," "a menace to the peace OF
society, "a danger to all that is dear
to Americans"
They declare that, unless this dis
loyal. turbulent and aggressive element
among us be suppressed, the laws and
institutions governing this great COM
monwealth will be overthrown, and
this glorious and free republic, whose
shores are laved by the fawning waves
Of the mighty oceans, will never live to
usher in the dawn of another century,
The fanaticism and bigotry Of our
times grown insolent, try to stife
American history and to thrust aside
the patient merit and well-won fame OF
the children OF Erin. But their history
; in America is one which we may read
with pride and pleasure, for II Is a rec
ord Of priYations endured with manly
fOrtitude, OF difficulties overcome by
invincible determination. OF unselfish
patriotism, OF answering fidelity to
the cause OF freedom, and persistent at
tachment to the principles to whose
maintenance this republic owes Its
glory, progress and prosperity.
Let us therefore tonight draw aside
the faded portieres of the past-broid-
cred, as they are, with the heroes OF
history, and gaze into the vaulted
chambers Of departed years, and there
we shall find children OF Erin, who were
true to their manhood and country in
times OF trial. We feel proud of them,
as we think OF their valor in the valley
and on the mountain side, on sea and
land fighting in the battles van and
shedding their blood for America, their
adopted country. Fleeing from the
tyranny which robbed them Of the
homes which God gave them, they
found an asylum in this land, and when
danger came, with all the chivalry of
their race, they rushed to the front
The very first act Of war; after the
Continental Congress, at Philadelphia
in 1774, was the capture Of Fort Will
liam and Mary by General John Sulli-
van, the hero Of the first battle for in
dependence waged by the colonists
against England This was the first act
on land Of open and direct hostility
by a military force against the royal
government, and the commander Of the
heroic exploit was the son OF an Irish
man, and lineal descendant OF the
0Sullivan Bears OF Bantry.
In May, 1775, the first naval battle
Of the revolution took place in Machias
bay. Maine, where three armed British
cruisers were met by the liberty-lovine
sons OF Erin. This" says Cooper
was the Lexington of the sea; for like
that celebrated conflict. it was the ris-
ing Of the people against a regular
force, was characterized by long chase
a bloody struggle and a victory. II was
the first blow struck on the water after
the war Of the American revolution had
actually commenced" and that blow
was inflicted by Captain jeremiah
0Brien. son of a sturdy Irishman from
lCtorlr-"GOd'c oyu-n foxun huf fha daxflfo