Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-19
THE MEN OF 'o8.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

died for Ireland 100 years ago. More
even than that; we are assembled here to
erect this monument on one of the most
historic spots in Ireland. A spot where
centuries ago their forefathers were
slaughtered by Cromwell, and on a spot
where hundred years ago the victorious
arms of the descendants of those martyred
Irishmen drove their English foes from
Wexford, and in their day of triumph
garlanded their old houses with green,
as you have garlanded them hundred
years after. say, therefore, that every
circumstance has combined to make this
meeting an historic one. And as if all
this was not enough, we have had this
foundation stone laid by man who de-
scended himself from Wexford rebel in
'9S, has done more, venture to think, to
make the heroism of your forefathers
known throughout the world than any
man living. l congratulate this old town
on the proceedings of today. congratu-
late myself on having, as Wexford man,
been here to take my proper part iii these
proceedings, and hope that the lesson
of this day will not be lost upon you. l
wish l could address the young people
who are listening to me-the young peo-
pie of this town. After all, the future is
with the young of Ireland-rely upon
that; and hope that from the proceed
ipgs of today you will learn to study and
to love the history of your country
wherein you will read of devotion to faith
and fatherland unsurpassed in the pages
of any history in the world. hope you
will learn from the proceedings of today
and from the sight of the monument
when erected that after the duty which
they owe to their Greater the first and
greatest of the duties of an Irishman is
to cherish undying hatred to foreign rule
in this country; to be prepared by every
and any means open to brave and honor
able men to advance the cause of Irish
freedom, and realize from the study of
the history of '9S the necessity of charity,
of federation and unity also i'll the cause
of Ireland; the necessity of endeavoring
to bring Catholics and Protestants to-
gether; the necessity of going on to the
last of your days fighting in this cause,
and the duty-if we do not succeed i'll our
time-of handing OH as it has been hand
ed OH to us, to our children who
come after us, the duty of perpetu-
ating the struggle for Irish freedom. If
these lessons are borne in the minds of
the young people of today you will we'll
and worthily have celebrated this cen
tenary year and will have done your duty
to those in the past of your own kith and
kin and name. who in this old town, in
this historic county, laid down their
lives for Ireland one hundred years ago.
THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN,
who was received with great cordially,
expressed his thanks for the honor con!
ferred OH him in being invited to take
part in the ceremonial of laying the
foundation stone of monument to the
memory of their forefathers. Although
not Wexford man he needed to make
10 apology for being in their midst, be-
cause he was the son of Wicklow rebel.
He felt it was bis duty to come there and
testify his fidelity to the principles of his
forefathers. They had laid a monument
on the historic and sacred spot to the
memory of their fathers. 1t struck him
as in one SENSE unnecessary, because a
nlor.lment had been laid by God which
would last for all time as a testimony of
what their fathers had done hundred
years ago. The lesson taught by these
things was a lesson of unity. If they
were wise in their generation they would
be united in one thing to cease
their efforts until they had All Irish Par
lament in College Green. When in their
magnificent procession he saw the youth
and manhood of Wexford assembled he
had no doubt that by being united and
attending to the teaching of their fathers
the day was not far distant when they
would have all for which their forefathers
had fought. In conclusion he urged the
people to see that the history of their
country was taught in their schools,
which did not teach it as much as they
should, and he also suggested that they
Snoulu learn their natlVe tongue.
MIR. W. H. REDMOND,
who was received with loud applause,
said as one of the old members for Wex-
ford town, and as the present representa-
tive of the fighting men Of Clare, it gave
him great pleasure to be there. Since
last he spoke in Wexford he had the
honor of attending every 1898 meeting
everywhere. First of all they went to
Vinegar Hill at Enniscorthy, then to
the old Three Rock Mountain, where
their fathers leathered the British a
hundred years ago, and then they held a
great meeting in Corey, and now that
he was back again in Wexford he hoped
he would give offence to no one when he
said it, after all the meetings he had at
tended the old town in the old spot of
the Bullring beat them all hollow. There
was duty which they had to discharge
in connection withthis monument which
they should not forget. The foundation
stone was laid now, but a little money to
complete the monument was still re-
quired, and he would ask every man in
Forth and Shilmaliet and III South WEEK