The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-18
MR.. CASEY,S ADDRESS.
Eloquent Young Irishman speaks on
THE History of Ireland

H. ]. T. Casey, assistant county at
torney of Deer Lodge county, was the
next speaker. He spoke for 30 minutes
and his remarks Were frequently inter-
rupted by applause. He began by say
ing:
TT is with a profound sense of re-
sponsbilty that l appear before you
on this occasion. After hearing the elo
quent and appropriate address to which
you have all Just listened from Mr..
Kelly, and knowing as | do the beauty,
force and s-"ength of the orations u.s.
ually delivered on this anniversary
gathering of the Clans, it is but natural
that | should hesitate and grow serious
when conscious that the burden rests
upon me to do justice to the subject as
signed to me this evening. However, l
shall do what is in my power. to draw
from the fountains of reason and right
and in an humble way present what
may, with a shamrock from the North
Wisconsin wildwoOds as the compli-
ments of a son of two Irish exiles.
We are met tonight to celebrate
the anniversary of Ireland's patron
saint The festival had its origin in re-
ligion, but in the vicssitudes of time
has come to have an almost exclusive
national Specification, and wherever the
children of the Gael are found, and
they possess the earth, voices will not
be wanting to recite the story of their
trials and triumphs and sing the bold
anthems of Erin Go Bragh.
The impulse that inspires a holiday
of this character is natural and uni
versal trait of human nature. It has
existed in all countries and at all times.
L had its origin on Sinner Plain, where
the tongues of men were confounded
1t began with the childhood of the race
and continues unimpaired through it's
maturity. and 1 may say that it is both
commendable and proper to repeat to
eager and ingenious youth the story
OF nations trials and triumphs at
home and her splendid contributions to
the cause of human liberty abroad, for
it inspires love of country, and love of
country is good--it is patriotism.
This trait is exceptionally strong in
the Irish character. No people love
their native land with deeper, purer,
hOlier love than do the Irish and their
descendants. Who among you has not
listened on each recurring festal day
like this with blanched face and bated
breath to the story of Ireland's wrongs.
wept over her sorrows and sighed for
the return of her ancient glory? 1t is
sad story indeed, yet the repetition of it
does not cause you to grow weary, but
rather makes you burn anew with zeal
and hope for the future of that Elmer
aid isle. Mere mention of the heroes
that fought at Old Clontarf. that sealed
the treaty of Limerick and dyed with
their blood the shamrocks at St. Augh-
rim, will fire your hearts with greater
love and admiration for the land of
your fathers adoption.
When this man St. Patrick came to
the shores of Ireland the second time
he came not as a slave, but as free
man and destined to free the nation
from the chains of Paganism. The
light of Christianity had burned for
more than 400 years when Patrick
| first turned it's rays toward Ireland.
For the first 800 years existence of the
| church it was hidden in the catacomhS
| and caves of the earth, never seen by
| man only when exhibited for moment
| in the hands Of some dying martyr. Yet
| the flame was spreading and in that
memorable year Sl2 suddenly bursting
| forth in glory Roman emperor was
| converted by its brightness The
! Christian faith was publicly preached,
| the nations were converted. churches
and monasteres were everywhere built
and God seemed to smile upon the
earth with the blessings of Christian
| faith and Roman civilization.
| But the ways of Providence some
| time seem strange. j was but a brief
| interval of repOse, for the northern bar
barians soon swept down upon South
ern Europe, Northern Africa and West
ern Asia and almost extinguShed the
| light of Christianity"
The speaker here began to trace the
history of Ireland through the 800 years
| of her first Christianity, when she was
known throughout the civilized world
as the Isle of doctors, sages and
saints" when her whole people We're
prosperous, content and happy and she
rose to be the queen of nations; then
in the ninth century how she was in
Vaded by the Danish warriors of the
north when, for 200 years, peace, order
| and prosperity We're replaced by war,
disorder and blOOdshed until the year
1915 A. D., the Irish people, under the
leadership of King Brian Boruo. came
out of the arena of war and persecution
wearing the bright crown of victory.
He then showed how the nation
sprung into activity again during the
50 years interval between the Danish
ment of the Danes and the landing OF
the Normans. At this point was traced
the seven centuries of war, robbery anC
persecution that ireland had suffered
since the accused Norman hrst landeC
on her shores, when the object was Il
wipe out all trace of Celtic blood in th'
Irish nation; when II was made a cf4m'
to speak the Irish language, but nj
crime to kill an lrishman; and comm:
down to more recent times was snow
the activity of the nation during Graf
tan's Irish parliament, when the rata
uprising of '9S brought misery again t.
Ireland: how Robert Emmett became
martyr on the altar of his country an
how Daniel O'Connell brought Catholl
emancipation in 1929; how from l64i t
1871, through oppressive laws, ale
= land owners and neglect OF manufac
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