The true northerner., 1898-06-01
Irishmen In Our C,vii War.

sonaliy taking any interest In political
affairs He is earnestly working In the
cause of temperance.
Irishmen I'm Our CIVIL War.
II came 10 America i'm 1862 for the
purpose Of entering the Union army"
says Patrick O'Ferrall. a prominent
| Grand Army man in the national CAPT
tai
II go 10 the national cemeteries on
Decoration cay every year to put some
flowers on the graves OF the Irish boys
who came here at the same time that
did and who gave their lives for the
cause of liberty on the battlefield OF the
new world.
The people OF this country can never
understand what thrill of patriotic
interest swept over Ireland when IL be-
came known that the republic OF the
new world was in danger of dismem-
berment. All of the English newspa-
pers were filed with predictions OF dis
| aster for the United States. and they
gloatingly repeated again and again
the assertion that no government can
exist without head BY that declara-
| ton they meant, OF course. king or
queen or other hereditary head.
mot less than 20, 900 young men came
|
| civil war for the purpose Of entering
| the Union army. We young Irishmen
| felt that IL the cause of liberty was lost
| in the new republic. II would be lost
| everywhere throughout the world. and
| the chains upon Ireland would be drawn
tighter and tighter by the relentless
hands OF the British government.
No wsvering or Doubling.
There was no wavering or doubling
in this matter, but the opinion was
strong throughout Ireland. Therefore
il was that the best and strongest
young men OF many families left their
homes and came TO America. not for
the purpose of advancing their own in
terests, as immigrants generally do.
but for the purpose of enlisting in the
cause of human liberty.
Il came TO New York in 1862, and i'm
mediately went into the Irish brigade.
/ found there in every company and
in every regim nj OF that brigade,
young men from ireland. who had come
over just as | T. |. with patriotic pur-
pose | found them fror3 every county
in Ireland. but treY we're most numer-
Gus from the Ca.hoic counties.
THE Protestant courties of Ireland
hence thev arc rct Interested in the
cause of nbcr as the Catholic coun-
ties where he'd OF Croat Britain is
a part Of the ~ eiCn % the people.
'I have a record e all Of the Irish
soldiers who served with me. and
wherever | can reach their graves on
Decoration day I 60 20 show that there
is still in the land Of the living one Of
their number WHO will keep their graves
green as their ~ mos are green and
fresh in tro anrals e this new country.
In the Car So Of Liberty.
"You viii nj in the armies that are
now preoarng for another war many Of
the young men OF Irish parentage in
this country. and if you could meet
them ard talk with them you would
learn that It is i'm the cause Of liberty
that they have enlisted. Wherever a
race or a people makes a struggle for
personal and political liberty you will
always find some members of the Irish
race fighting in the ranks for that peO-
pie Our race has a spirit that may be
broken but never bent. The superior
number and wealth Of Great Britain
was able to break us down, but our peo-
pie have never bent knee and do not
acknowledge their subjugation until
this day.
"The Catholic counties OF ireland are
very liberal politically. They do not
question a mans religion so long as he
represents their political ideas. 1t was
on this account that Benjamin DIS
raeH. the Jew. having been defeated for
parliament in England on account of
race prejudice, was able to go to Kill
kenny and be elected 70 parliament by
Irish votes II IL had not been for the
lberality Of the irish people in Kilken-
nv. who elected DIsraeli because Of his
superior ability. he never could have
gone to parliament nor have obtained
distinction.
Turned His Back on the Irish.
after getting to parliament, how
ever, and after having displayed his su-
perior ability, secured an election by an
English constituency. he then turned
his back upon the Irish people, and be-
came their bitter enemy. And 1t was
because Of the fact that O'Connell had
helped D'Israeli to his first seat in par
lament that he became so intensely in
dignant when the Jew opposed Irish
home rule for his English constituency.
Then II was that OConnell uttered that
speech full of bitter invective begin
ming with the words: Ingratitude is the
worst of crimes There sits lineal de-
scendant of the unrepentant thief
But speaking of the enlistment Of
Irishmen in the Union armies reminds
me Of the great influence which was
welded by Archbishop Hughes who
stopped the building Of the great cathe-
dral in New York, and announced from
the pulpit that not another dollar
should be expended, nor another days
work done until the rebellion against
this land of liberty should be put down.
The attitude of Archbishop Hughes, ex-
pressed in a most eloquent sermon, was
very influential, not only throughout
New York state, but throughout the
country. in causing Irishmen TO enlist.
And that sermon was quoted broadcast
over Ireland with telling effect
VIII Resent the Alliance.
And now let me tell you that IL this |
republic enters into an alliance with
Great Britain for the purpose OF en-
Shaving China, by the dismemberment |
OF the empire the Irishmen Of this
will resent that alliance We |