The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-02-26
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
Orut"ry, Music and Song in the Parish,
of st. Charles.

The anniversary of Washington'S
birthday was celebrated in a delightful
and patriotic manner by Fr. Cleary's
flock Tuesday evening at Normanna hall.
The program was excellent and much
enjoyed by Il large audience. The orator
Of the evening was Hon. d. w. Lawler.
of st. Paul. who delivered IL magnificent
address on american Patrotism," OF
which the following is Il brief synopsis:
las got Off the intcrurban car to-
night was met by these boys who sit
here In front of me, the Juvenile band
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and
as ! listened to their patriotic music and
saw them trudgng through the SHOWS
of llenncpin county l WAS reminded Of
that other band of patriots who follow
ed George Washington in his long
marches through tho cold of Valley
Forge. These boys have shoes upon
their feet and they are comfortably
housed and fed, but | am certain that
should the opportunity ever arise they
would show themselves no less patriotic
than the men who followed the father of
his country.
On the 18th OF June, 1875, the con-
tinental congress, on motion of john
Adams, passed Il resolution by Il unan-
imous vote, naming George Washington
commanderin-chicf of the continental
armies. At that time the name of Wash
ington was not unknown He had
achieved prominence as Il stad and solid
citizen of Virginia. and as an able sol
der. lie had taken part in several CAM
paigns against the Indians and had also
fought against the French. He was
acknowledged to be an excellent leader,
and when the time came for Virginia to
send delegates to the continental con-
grcss it was perfectly natural that
George Washington should he one, of tho
men to go. When that same congress
determined to place an army in the field
against the tyranny of Il foreign king,
1t was again natural that Waslington's
should be the name selected.
1.-THE sword he drew in l775 was never
shcathcd until 1881 on the field of York
town, when the English armies surrcn-
dcred to the allied forces of tho hmrri-
cans and French. At the close of tho
war Washington turned with hope and
longing to his Virginia home, but the old
federation could not hold together. A
constitutional convention was called and
the people elected him president. |
won't go into the difficulties of that first
administration. 1t was IL sterling hon
csty of purpose and level hcadctlncss
that siecrcd the country safe through
the difficulties OF the formative
period. lie called to his cabinet
men of such widely divergent views rs
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas JEFF
farBon, but whenever the country w;is
menaccd from abroad these men were al
ways to be found working side by side
for the general good.
| Ills administration was also notable
| for it's excellent management of foreign
affairs. AT the close of the war the
American people were under Il heavy
| debt Of gratitude to France. The French
revolution was in full sway One day
the representative Of the French rcpnb
lie, Citizen Genet, landed in Now York
| and at once issued IL proclamation call
| ing upon all American citizens to come
| to the relief of the French. This was
| in direct opposition to every principle OF
international law, and met with an i'm
| mediate rcbukc. The ofIiciOus minister
was sent from our shores in dis ace
The action taken by Washington upon
| this occasion was similar to that taken
| by President Cleveland in what is known
| as the Sackvillc West episode when he
| sent the English ambassador home II
| disgrace for prcsnming to NEEDLE II
| American politics; and also to that tai;
| ell but a few days ago by President Nc,
| Kjnlcy when he demanded the recall OF
! Schor dc Lone.
81 consider Mckinley a fit successor tt
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson
and james Munroc. He has shown al
admirable forbcarancc during the pas
week. and has won the respect of the, en-
tire diplomatic world.
'"rhis il Il time for careful c0nsiucra
ton and suspension Of judgment, but
believe II the president ever tells tht
American people the honor of the nation
has been attacked he will be given TIT
answer returned to Lincoln when he an
nounccd that Sumter had been llret
| upon.
"Gcntlcmcn of the a. .. H., this 1lai
which has been presented to you tonigh
Is now flying in Havana harbor within
sight Of Moro castle over the hulk o
what was but Il short time ago an Ameri
can man-OfWar. The disaster to tn
Maine was horrible affair, but 1t wa
not without its heroic side. When gal
liant Sigsbee rushed on deck after tina