The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-11

an Irishman from Donegal, General
Richard Montgomery, that first fell
while commanding an army fighting for
our independence. 1t was an Irishman
from Wexford, John Barry, who was
first commodore Of the American navy
1t was an Irishman's son, Gen. Henry
Knox, that fought in every battle in
which Washington was engaged, and
was first secretary OF war. 1t was an
Irishman that wrote the first history oil
the United States. 1t was an Irish
mans son, Robert Fulton, that gave
America the credit of inventing steam
navigation. 1t was an Irishmans grand
son, Samuel Finlay Breese Morse, that
invented telegraphy. 1t was the de-
scendant of an Irishman, Mccormick,
that invented the reaping and moving
machine, and another descendant of an
Irish emigrant, Horace Greeley, with a
smashed down hat and breeches no bet
ter than corduroy, that founded the
Tribune"
1t was 1rishmen and their sons, in
Philadelphia, merchants and soldiers,
heroes and patriots, who in the darkest
hours OF the Revolution, when the Eng
fish elements were rejoicing over the
disasters OF Washington and his army,
gave their money and their swords to
the cause which, without them, might
have been lost They were mostly
members of the Friendly Sons of St.
Patrick, a society then fourishing il,
Philadelphia, and including the follow
ing members: General Stephen Moylan,
of Cork, and his three brothers; George
Meade, one of whose descendants COM
manded and conquered at Gettysburg;
Matthew Meade, who fought with Paul
Jones on the Bonhomme Richard, and
his brothers; Thomas Fitzsmmons, one
OF the trainers OF the constitution; John
M. Nesbitt, whose timely efforts in
sending provisions saved Washington's
army from starvation; Thomas Barclay
who gave $4,000 for the relief OF Wash
ington's army; Blair McClenaghan, who
gave fIo,ooo; John Barcla, afterwards
mayor of Philadelphia; Colonel Eph-
rain Blain, John Bleallly, wealthy cit
izcn and public bencfactor; General
Richard Butler and his four brothers;
Robert Gray, OF Gray's Ferry; Captain
John Green, who commanded the first
American vessel sailing to China; Gen
eral Edward Hand, who was called ''the
right hand man OF Washington" Gen
eral William Irvine; George Latimer,
speaker OF the Pennsylvania assembly;
James Logan, son OF the confidential
friend and adviser OF William Penn;
Colonel Francis Nichols, whom Wash
ington appointed first marshal OF the
district OF Pennsylvania; Oliver Pollock,
who secured a timely supply OF gun
powder to Washington; Gen. Thomas
Robson, General Walter Stewart, "tlle
Boy Colonel" General William Thomp-
son, General Anthony Wayne.
All these and many more who con-
tributed literally in money and service
to the cause OF Washington, were mem
bers Of this same Irish society, the
Friendly Sons OF St. Patrick, composed
exclusively OF Irisllmen and their sons,
and OF which Washington himself was
a member, becoming naturalized or
adopted Irishman, to qualify him for
membership. These Irishmen were
among the most refined and elegant
gentlemen with whom Washington as
ISOLATED in Philadelphia, whose popula-
ton even then was very largely Irish.
While Irishmen were copiously she'd
ding their blood on every battlefield OF
the young republic from Bunker Hill
to Yorktown, the cruclest and bitterest
opponents they contended against were
the Tories OF British birth and extrac-
ton who stood loyalty by King George
and his ministry. 1t is the descendants
OF the latter who to-day sing God Save
the Queen" and ertwine the Stars and
Stripes with the Union Jack. They are
the so-called Americans who eagerly de-
sire an alliance with the mother coun-
try" They will be checkmated, how
ever, by the Irisl,-Americans as their
forefathers were in Revolutionary days.