The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-08-06


thers? Her citizenship and her soldiery
are not to be named in the same breath
with the citizens and soldiers of
America.
Soldiers of America, think of the
country in whose army you have been
enrolled. In all the wide world there is
none so beautiful, none so beloved by its
people. Ours is land blessed beyond
others with diversity Of climate and Of
Notwithstanding as 1t does from
Maine to California, from the Great
Lakes to the Gulf. Here is the most
favored portion of the globe. See our
placid lakes, lordly rivers, extensive
plains. gigantic mountains and our
heroic people. Gods hand has gathered
them from the four winds of Heaven
that by assimilation they may beget the
race of the future, physically, intellectu-
ally, morally and socially the very high
est type Of manhood-the chosen sons
Of God. Consider our free institutions,
founded in the blood of our fathers.
when
In the ragged regimentals
Stood the old Continentals,
Yielding not,
but 1nscribing indelibly upon this con-
tinent the sacred declaration That all
men are created equal, that they are en-
dowed by their Cerator with certain in
alienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness For He died that all men might
possess the freedom of the sons of God
and all gain the incorruptible crown.
You are soldiers of this great land, SOL
diers of liberty, soldiers under a stand
ard, the purest and noblest kissed by the
winds of Heaven, a standard next to the
| standard of the cross. You are Ameri-
can citizens and American soldiers-the
| proudest earthly titles. Your preroga-
tlves, those of free men looking up into
the face of Heaven and able to exclaim
In spirit and in truth, Render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars, and to God
the things that are Gods.
Let, then, the spirit of the Reyolu-
tionary fathers and those of 81 animate
and thrill your hearts. Remember that
America is the favored child of Proyi-
dence' She is marching forward by you
and with you in her sublime career.
Every act of her history brings out more
clearly and more prominently her great
destiny. Call to mind that there has
been planted the tree of liberty, that
here 1t has taken deep root and gives
promise OF magnificent future. Its
puds are breaking, the immaculate blos-
SONS appear, the golden fruit shall
partake Of its blessings. In their sol,
shall also be planted the strong, yirile
seeds OF democracy. The day is fast an
preaching when crowned tyrants shall
no longer oppress and crush and starve
their miserable subjects. In that dav
the world will be able fully to appreci-
ate and enjoy the blessings summed IN
in these words, am an American citi-
zen.
You, soldiers of America. are eneae-
ed in this warfare for humanity, for
the dissemination of these blessings, and
l. therefore, say to you: Go forward in
the strength of American manhood. in
the power of the blessed cause of liberty
with the memories of the fathers LIGHTING
up your souls. Realize that you are bat
ting for God and country; you are SOL
diers of the cross by reason of YOUR
heaven-born religion; soldiers of Amer
lea and soldiers Of liberty. Guard we'll
your standard,
lis the Star Spangled banner; O, long
may it wave
Ger the land of the free and the home
of the brave!
Recollect that nothing will inspire
you with greater courage than to feel
that you have been faithful to your God
Enter, therefore, into battle with pure
hearts. If before the conflict YOU have
not mad time to go to confession, make
an act of contrition and then 60 forth a
true soldier, fighting bravely
For your affairs and your fires,
For the green graves of your sires,
God and your native land.