The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-03-26
PATRIcK's DAY IN DULUTH.
Address of bishop McGolricla at the
Lyceum TI.cater.


Address of bishop McGolricls at the
Lyceum Thcater.
The st. Patrick's day entertainment
given at Lyceumst heater in Duluth I'M
der the auspices Of the cathedral parish
was very successful affair in every par
ticular. Long before the hour set for
the opening Of the entertainment the
house was filled. The opening piece on
the program was by Flaaten's orchestra.
1t was a selection Of American national
style. and at the close the outburst of
applause by the audience we'll attested
it's appreciation.
The address of the evening was by Ri.
Rev. James McGolrick. He said that he
would give brief review Of Irish his
tory. In looking over the history of Ire
land it is asked what is the religious
character of the people. In 432, which
is long ways back to look, St. Patrick
landed as missionary in Ireland, hav-
ing received the sanction of Pope Celes-
tine. The Irish were then, as they are
new, pre-eminently reverential people
and thus were peculiarly susceptible Of
religious truth and received the faith of
st. Patrick without the shedding of
blood, but since that time they have
been most severely prosecuted by Eng
land for their religious faith. After
preaching the faith for sixty-one years
ST. Patrick died on March H. 493, and
this is the occasion CT the celebration
this evening. The faith he established
in Ireland Is as fresh today as the day
it was planted 400 years ago and amid
prosecutions the people have still held
to It, Then came new order Of things.
In ll72 Henry II came over to Ireland,
long after st. Patrick had preached the
faith, to convert the people, and then
commenced series of prosecutions
through which the people struggled.
Next came Henry VIII, the wife murder
er, who proclaimed himself head OF the
church and proceeded to change the cr-
der Of things in the religious persuasion
Of the people in Ireland. Elizabeth fol-
lowed in the same style of persecution
laid down by Henry VIII and for 100
years spent in trying to convert the peo-
pie. it is said they succeeded in getting
sixty persons converted.
The traveller in Ireland sees all through
the land ruined churches and abbeys,
the work of Cromwell in his task Of
conversion, and SO terrible was his work
of destruction that if the Irish people
wanted to WISH you any bad luck they
would say. the curse of Cromwell be
upon you" This persecution was con-
tinued on down through the two Charles
and even down, to- Victorias time. for
the statutes enacted against the Cath
Giles of Ireland are still on the statute
books and havenever been repealed and
could be put in force if so desired The
people have right to their lands, but
have been driven out Of them. England,
which claims TO be the great civilizer
OF nations, prosecuted the Irish people
On account of their religion. It that
civilization? Two years ago." he said,
from this platform on which | stand.
speaker said that Catholics must be
driven out of office and employers were
asked to discharge all Catholics in their
employ. and all this on account of reli-
gious hate" He then referred to the
nf
she was the teacher of the world and
students came to her shores from all
parts of the world. Her missions then
went forth along the Rhine. down the
Tiber and to all parts of Europe. Then
look at her great statesmen, such as
Gratan, Curran, Shiel and a host of
Others So much for the scholarship of
Ireland. The school teacher gathered
his pupils al ound him in the hedge and
stationed watches some distance away
to give the alarm IL the British soldiers
were coming, for it was crime If they
were caught. Yet some people will
speak Of the ignorance of the Irish. Let
the American tourist travel through Ire
land and see the scciability Of the peo-
pie, so frank, so cordial and SO friendly.
You must go there to see them as they
share their little with that warm and
hospitable nature which is characteris-
tic of the people.
The wit Of the Irish people was then
dwelt upon and he gave some ilustra-
lions which kept the whole audience in
roars of laughter. The fighting life of
the Irishman was next turned to and he
said the lrishman is fighter for he has
been fighting from 1172 down to this
year of 1898 for his freedom. He is in
chronic state of rebellion. 1t is no
wonder the Irishman answered, when
asked how he was going to vote, "agin
the government"-that is natural to him.
The pitchcaps and triangles were used
on them for fighting for liberty and
many Of them were drowned in the At
lantic ocean. The London Times said:
The Irish are gone and gone with a
vengeance" Yes. and they returned
with that vengeance in their hearts.