The Irish standard., 1899-08-19

ready to give up their lives for their
country. 1t may be, but l cannot be-
lieve they are SO ready to give up their
lives for the country when they cannot
give up the bottle, whether to preserve
themselves from intemperance or to lead
their countrymen to temperance. And
then the constant use OF those intoxicat
ing liquors, as the best physicians will
tell you, poisons the blood and shortcns
life. Men who drink beyond 1.-THE most
limited quantities are always imbibing
poison. 1t is question simply OF more
or less. Their efforts are weakened and
their lives are shortened. People COM
plain at times that the population OF Ire
| land is being drained by emigration. 1t
is also, | tell you, being drained by
liquor, for the lives OF many are short
ened, the health OF many broken, and
down they go to early graves of sin and
misery. And what is worse, the taste
OF liquor becomes inherited. Why, it is
question for the race. Pour out
through the veins OF the population OF
the land-tfrough the veins OF any race
poison, and what is to become OF the
race? In the race OF life with other
peoples, the people who yield more than
others to the use OF alcohol will neces-
sarily fall behind. and will see wealth
and influence passing from their hands.
Oh! it is we'll to think OF the past; it is
well, and l minglc with you in talking
OF
The days OF old,
Ere her faithlcss sons betrayed her,
When Malachy wore the collar OF gold.
But the past is past; this is question OF
the present and question OF the future,
and the one question for the Irish peo-
pie at home and abroad is the question
OF sobricty.
Well, now, what must you do? Do
something, in Gods name Let ireland
rise up as one man and say, from the
highest authorities, temporal and spirit
ual, down to the poorest OF the poor:
We shall put down intemperance, in the
name OF God and in the name of coun-
try. Then You will present before the
nations OF the world spectacle that will
gain for you their esteem and love, and
that will merit for you the enjoyment OF
your rights. the enjoyment of the fullest
liberty, and the world will say the Irish
people are worthy OF all that can be
given to them. What l complain of is
that so little is done. Why listen to
temperance speakers, and say it is true
what they preach, and then go back and
do nothing? Why read those terrible
statistics OF courts and prisons, and do
nothing? Why bewail the poverty OF
thousands, and do nothing? Why fold
your arms, and say nothing can be done
to save the Irish people? Oh! bias
phemy it is to speak in this manner. Is
it that nothing can be done because so
much is needed to do it? What is
needed to do it? Personal total absti-
nence. And who will dare say he is
not capable OF that little sacrifice for the
sake of Ireland, for the sake of Holy
Church, for the sake of humanity, and
for the sake of God? Do it! Rise up!
| appeal to the Irish people at home and
abroad, and especially to the Irish peo-
pie at home.
Somebody, no doubt, will say, How
impertinent of that foreigner to come
here and speak to the Irish people in
this manner. Well, | am accustomed te
answer: What care about what people
say of me? What l care for is the soca
elevation OF Ireland. What care for is
the welfare of Ireland, and as one loving
her, as one ready to bow down in deep.
est sacrifice before Ireland, as one who
hs1o Oul OIlC OUJCSl III lllC, W WOIk lOl
God and for souls, l bid Ireland, il
Gods name, to renew the work OF Fa
Their Mathew. l bid her to have or
CARNATIONS. 1 bid her to form sol
ders OF the cause. l appeal from the
depths of my heart to those whose office
gives them influence and power, tc
those whose words are ever hearkencc
to by the Irish people-the priests o
Ireland; l appeal to them to renew the
spirit, the work OF Father Mathew
Ireland sober is Ireland free. o God
what vision worthy OF the smiles o.
angels! Ireland redeemed; what tri.
umph for religion throughout the
world! o St. Patrick! o all the saintcd
sons and martyrs OF Ireland! pray for
us! Pray that we may rise up to the
full sense Of our duty, the full realiza,
ton of our mission; that the work oil
Father Mathew may be again renewed
in Holy ireland.