The record-union., 1899-06-23

strife, that did rend asunder our slor-
ious union, the Irish were found cour-
ageously fighting either under the
Northern blue or else the Southern
gray But whether the fearless Celtic
/ heart and fiery spirit were mustered
under the Stars and Stripes" or under
the banner of the Lost Cause" true
to the principles adopted, the Irish sol
dier Of the civil war nobly fought and
surrendered his life for that he consid-
cred the best interests of his adopted
! country
With what feelings of national pride
the Irishman recalls the achievements
Of patient Mcclellan. proud Meagner, OF
! fiery Sheridan and dauntless Sherman,
| in the ranks, together with myriads or
other Irish heroes from the file OF the
army who were ever in the vanguard
struggling and fighting for the safety.
integrity and prosperity Of the land of
their adoption
In many an unmarked grave on
Southern plains. shaded by the spread
ing palmetto, and under mounds un-
epitaphed amid the pine-clad hills OF
| the North, Lies an unknown Irish hero
in Columbia's cause. forgotten and un-
known, but
It recks. not where their bodies lie,
! By bloody hillside, plain or river,
! Their deeds are bright on Fame's proud
sky;
| Their deeds of valor live forever.
| After the triumph of Northern arms
in the.war of the rebellion at Apom-
mattox, after the work of reconstruct
| ton had been thoroughly accom-
plished, when the Angel of Peace and
| Fraternal Love had visited the house
| holds of the nation. when the Northern
Yankee and the Southern Rebel, shoul-
der to shoulder were valiantiy advanc-
ing the mission of America among the
nations of the world. it seemed that
the demon war would never again be
able to cast his deadly plague upon our
fair land.
| But by chain of circumstances and
events unprecedented in modern times
we were again called upon to invoke
the god of battles. to raise our arms
and unfurl our Starry Banner" in de-
/ tense Of suffering humanity and to
avenge the death of two hundred and
sixty-six American heroes, who on
board an american ship bound on
friendly mission to a supposedly friend
| ly port found watery grave in the
semi-tropica1 waters of Havana bay.
Scarcely had the news of the last
national disaster flashed throughout the
land and war been declared, than the
paean Remember the Maine" rolled
from the bleak Atlantic shore to the
| Pacificss golden Strand and was re
echoed in the boom of the first cannon
| fired in the battle of Manila bay and
that by an Irish-American sailor, Pat
rick Mallon, from the deck of the Olym-
pia. the flag ship of our matchless Ad-
miral George Dewey. the ornament of
our navy, .his country's boast and
glory commanding.
| The heroism and daring exploits of
Hobson and his gallant crew of Irish
and Americans in the sinking of the
Merrimac will go down the ages. sung
in poetry ahd prose I'LL eternally en-
shrined in memory's hall.
In the regiment which is now so glo-
riously representing our fair State in
distant Manila, in the Fighting First" !"
the Irish soldier is well represented. The
former Colonel James F. Smith, now
raised to the rank of Brigadier General,
is native son sprung from true Irish
| blood.
Such has been the history of the Irish
soldier in America
Animated by the love Of victory, ever
restless for quick decisive action ard
prompted to heroic deeds by an innate
love of liberty, they have fought and
won their way to the front becoming
leaders in the American army and
navy.
J. Possessed of the purest moral prin-
ciples and devoted to a religion that
teaches that the love Of country is a
sacred duty-the Irish soldier in Amer
lea will ever add honor and dignity to
his adopted country-happy, proud
America.
| POPE LEO xIII."-ESSAY BY w. A.
HUGHES.
The history of the church during the
| last century presents to us INST of
names which. arouses the enthusism,
thrills the heart and strengthens the
fidelity of every true Catholic. The
learning of wise man. the zeal, deter
mination and self-sacrifice of New
mantle holiness, the exalted character
and ability of the sanity Plus *, are
| the splendid ornaments Of its precious
pages.
But standing pre- eminently among
| the luminaries Of the church, is name
! that shines with dazzling refulgence-
| that of the present chief of the church
the successor Of Peter, whom Christ
charged with feeding his lambs and his
sheep-the reigning Pontiff Leo XIII.
Descended of an ancient, honorable
and noble family, whose members had
become illustrious and renowned in
both church and state. Our Holy
Father" was born in the city OF Car
pineto, Italy, March 2. 1870 Entering
college ait an early age, he applied him
self with great zeal. energy and en-
| thusism and by his untiring efforts ard
unquenchable thirst after learning, laid
the foundation of his future greatness.
His course of study extended through
the period of twenty years. ait the term
ination of which. being consecrated
/ priest he buckled on the armor of an
education brilliant and complete IN
every detail, and at last entered the
lists, to meet in the battle of life the
enemies of his God and church.
/ The five years Immediately following
his ordination were spent within the
states of the church. By the zeal,
piety, ability and fortitude he every
where manifested in discharge of the
various duties incumbent upon his pos
ition, he justly merited the highest en-
| comiums Of his superiors which We're
expressed in part in his promotion to
the Episcopal Chair. being consecrated
Archbishop of Damietta.
Nuncio to the court of King Leopold of
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