The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-03

from mems hearts, they will commit
wrong and violence, and the injured
oneswill retaliate and defend themselves.
II is not the Christian way, but our
civilization has not yet reached or fully
realized the teachings OF the humble
Jesus.
Under the present conditions OF
civilization, where armed nations con-
front each other with the most
modern and improved implements
Of warfare, the soldiers trade is
an honorable one The common citizen
OF our country is the common soldier,
and his readiness to fight is the nations
safeguard. Aristocracy and caste come
from wrong and oppression, and as the
breach widens between the wealthy, the
exclusive and powerful, and the common
people, the danger to our form OF gov
eminent increases. Then come the AFRO
giant, the men clad in mail, those who
claim more than their neighbors, those
who would appropriate more to them
selves than they are willing to conccde
to others. privileged class under the
law; such it was that created kings,
queens and emperors in the worlds his
tory. This tendency is, in my judgment,
the danger that Americans will have to
guard against. You can measure the
liberties OF a nation by the freedom and
happiness OF the common people, by
their readiness for attack or defense
The wealthy and aristooratic are always
free; the independence OF the common
man and not the wealth, culture or free
dom OF superior class, is the criterion
OF nations liberties. No European
armies ever faced each other as did the
armies OF the North and the South
there was no greed for gain or conquest
no revenge or oppression; the joy Of
victory was mingled with sorrow for
the vanquished. No conqueror ever
turned from the gates of vanquished
foe as Grant and his victorious army
turned away from Richmond. The
North wasted, shattered, and humbled
the South, but it refused to degrade or
insult it. 1t turned away with tears Of
sorrow mngling with those OF JOY The
greatest conquest and the purcst pa
triotism exhibited by the North was the
conquest OF itself in the day OF victory.
Most OF us and our ancestors fled to
escape from the injustice, tyranny ana
oppression OF monarclies, and to estab-
lish government where the equality OF
all men will be recognized and where
justice should be done TO all. 1t was the
outgrowth OF this spirit OF government
that led the American people when they
saw at their door the SCARED and pros
trate form OF Cuba to say to Spain,
Cease, tyrant; in the name Of humanity,
thou shalt go no further"
Millions of Americans have been born
since you fired your last shot, and mil
lions more have come to our shores, and
the dcstinies and perpetuation OF this
government in the future must depend
on their loyalty. You have done your
share. The veterans OF the Grand Army
have been foremost among the teachers
of true Americanism as soldiers and
citizens. No other armies turned from
war TO the various pursuits of civil life
as did the armies of the North and OF
the South, the soldier in need and the
citizen indeed. No other nation has re-
fused to celebrate its victories. England
celebrates Waterloo; Germany, Sedan
Russia, Plevna; but America in silent
thanksgiving and beautiful decoration
Today this great nation with joy and
sorrow unites in decorating the graves
of her dead soldiers; those that wore the
blue and those who wore the gray. What
a lesson in Christian patriotism! How
beautiful, how sublime, how generous!
The flowers that you have spread on
the graves OF your dead comrades are
the gift of God. They were created by
Him with all their magnificent and
beautiful colors, the rcd, the white and
the blue; they have from the beginning
preserved and perpetuatcd their colors
and will to the end.
The flag of the Union was the crca-
ton and gift of the fathers OF the re-
public. You have preserved and perpct-
uated it, and may its colors be ever as
bright and spotless to the end of time
as those OF the beautiful flowers!