The Irish standard., 1898-07-16
A PATRIOTIC GRAFTON
DELIVERED IN FANEUII. HALL. on
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
the SPEAKER WAS FA1HER.o'cALlAe
INTRODUCED TO THE AUDIENCE by
MAYOR JOSIAH QUINCY.
AND SCHOLARLY ADDRESS
HE WAS Frequently APPLAuDED
by THE YANKEE PURITANs.

The Rev. Dennis OCallasnan, rector of
St. Augustine's church, South Boston,
delivered the annual Fourth of July
oration under the patronage of the city
of Boston, in Faneuil hall, before large
audience Mayor Quincy presented the
reverend gentleman, who was heartily
applauded
Father OCallaghan's address was elo-
| quent, patriotic and scholarly, and was
we'll in keeping with his reputation as a
fine speaker. His Grafton was In part as
follows:
cannot know, and hence l may not
tell, by what undeserved good fortune,
by what favoring circumstances, by what
too kind over estimate the honor of
having the place of the principal speak,
er has come to me.
This day, which marks the birth of u
nation amid unprecedented circum-
stances, this hall. the very cradle Of
American liberty, which heard the earn
est resolves Of the patriot fathers them
selves; this hall. whose walls have rung
again with the finished and impassioncd
utterances of the nations most gifted
| sons, have re-echoed with the plautlits of
thrilled and entranced audiences; this
environment the ancient and goudly
| city Of Boston, whose breath kindled the
| flame Of American liberty, whose daring
act provoked, made necessary and re
| suited in the Declaration of lndepen-
| dence; this present distinguished assem-
bly,, tho circumstances Of the present
hour, when we have victories abroad
and peace and union at home, might
! well cause the most eloquent tongue to
stammer.
How, then, shall they not make this
attempt Of mine appear over-ambltious
! and inadequate? Were it not, then, that
l recognize in this complimentary sclec-
| tion far and away beyond personal
merit, or long residence, or cherished
| friendship; did not sec in 1t a compl-
ment to the sacred calling of which am
a member, tribute to Il large and we'll
deserving portion OF this commonwealth,
whose sons have proved oft and again
their loyal citizenship, cen in the deadly
breach, who now stand ready upon
tented field, or perchance, having spread
across the main, are at this moment in
tho deadly fight, l could never have
brought myself to accept
The circling year, then, has once more
brought us to this day of sacred and
| glorious memories. 1t marks the his
tory, the trials OF colonial life and the
very beginning of these United States.
1t tells us again how the providential
hand Of God led our fathers from the
land Of bondage. from the narrowness,
tho contentious, the prohibitions, civil
and ecclesiastical, of tho world.
The declaration which this day saw
first proclaimed will be forever memoir
able, not simply for the determination
and the deeds to which 1t bears witness;
not 30 much for tho fidelity and sacri-
fees which carried out it's statements
Into glorious actions; not for the results
we enjoy. but mainly because 1t was the
handwriting on the wall to tyranny
everywhere; because it was and is the
Magma Charta, not of one nation, but of
humanity, and Of universal and tri-
umphant democracy. Surely there is a
providence which shapes mans ends.
| Those men spoke more wisely than
they knew; they wrote inspired words,
not simply the text of the immortal
document that bears their names, but
with stylus whose teachings will be
found indelibly impressed upon tho hu
man conscience henceforth and forever;
they built more strongly and broadly
than they thought, for they set up as a
living reality what had been dream, a
hope of liberty loving souls from the be-
ginning, Government of the people, for
tho people, and by the people," And so
we glorify these men. great in their gen
Grafton, whose works remain, whose tes-
lament is confirmed.
This day has not Only its great men,
cries, but It's great lessons. 1t exalts and
enforces with transcendent power the
virtue of patriotism. 1t brings home to
us as no other day can. the ever needful
duty Of love of country.
Patriotism is not narrow, selfish
glorifcation OF ones country, which
dwelling too fondly on the past and pre-
cnt finds expression in vapid and boast
ful words. 1t is not All unreasonable
sentiment which, ignoring right, justice
and the qualities Of Others fatters itself
az possessing extreme excellence: which
Is ready to condone all faults, to cxtol
all deeds, whether of blood or fncsse,
provided they rebound to the nation g
strength and fame. This is perversion,
excess of patriotism.
TIuo patriotism has it's sources in
things far nobler, which are both natural
and divine. Nations have their provi-
Dental limits, their characteristics, their
sdehnite rule. They work out under the