The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-04-07
BRrTONS LAUD HlBERNIANs.
Tho Shamrock of Erin IS Now an
Imperial Emblem.

following to say anent Irish affairs il
his weekly letter OF March %:
St. Patrick is now, or at least was or
Saturday last, the patron saint OF the
Nnited Kingdom. In comparison
with him St. George OF England, St
Andrew OF Scotland and St. David Of
Wales are, to use an Americanism bu,
mine spots" They may have per,
formed extraordinary things, but ali
their wonders put together do not APP
proach the miracle OF converting the
stolid and self-suf1icicnt Briton to an
acknowledgment OF the superiority OF
the Irish race. They may be sorry here
after for this apologizing of the Irish
kelt as reflection on themselves, but
as the English are today the most emo
tional and hystercal people in Europe
they will bow down to him again, when
the Inniskllings, Dublin fusliers or
Connaught rangers saves the day for
them with their reckless valor. St.
Patrick's day, i'll this year OF grace 1000
will be memorable forever in the hag-
iology OF England. The queen and the
people OF the country have made his
anniversary an international holiday,
which is more than any OF the popes
ever did, although they are continually
talking about the Irish as their always
and everywhere faithful children. This
glorifcation of our saint by the Brton
was manifested by the wearing OF the
green little shamrock OF Ireland.
And it was not across the channc!
alone that the chosen leaf OF bard and
chief was sported; wherever the Bri-
fish flag flew the shamrock, or its best
attainab]e substitute, was proudly worn.
And all this happened because Irish
regiments fought like Irishmcn! This
royal and racial acknowledgement OF
their courage and merit might have
been made long. long years ago, but,
although we here are not particularly
grateful for the compliment, it is pos
sibly better late than never. 1t is not
all unplcasing thing to see the whole
British empire going wild over the
hcroism of the Irish soldier OF the
queen and to hear OF the shamrock
being drowned" jubilantly and proudly
wherever the union lack iloatcd. 1t
has been the custom OF English writers
to blacken the character OF the Irish
race ever since Henry II planted his
invading foot in Wexford, over 700
years ago; can they do it any more.
after their present cbullition of cnthusi-
asm and praise, without being branded
as towards and ialstiers? What
should we be without our Irisll?" asks
the London Chronicle, and its own re-
ply is: Let the soldiers answer from
Wellington to 'Bobs.' that heroic sue
cessor OF the simple grca, ones gone.
whose only son won the cross OF valor
at the cost oil his life" Could there be
4 more suggestive confession OF Eng
lands military impotence il our Irish
were not ever ready to take the van OF
the right when proves and victory
were needed? Who now should be
the predominant partner in the ma
tional and political firm called the
United Kingdom? Lord Roscbery, |
think ii WAS who said some time ago
that England held that position. In
the light oi what her majesty has said.
and oil the cXuborancc OF her worship
ing subjects, Ireland plainly is entitled
to that distinction: Tor what would Eng
land be without Our Irisll?" Possibly
the time is not lar distant when the
present junior and silent partner will
become head OF the house, and do the
directing as we'll as the fighting for the
imperial combination.
Never before was there such /; dc
mand for shamrocks as on Saturday
llast-and- the two OF three preceding
days, and when ST Patrck's day in the
morning dawned upon London they
could scarcely be had for love or
money. The immense consgnmcnts to
the flower shops OF Covcnt Garden had
either been bespoke" or the limited
quantities on hand were held at prices
prohibitive to the ordinary lingo. For
a little sprig 81 was not too much to
ask. 1t was true what London paper
sung:
Oh, Paddy, dear, and did We hear the
news that's goin' round,
More shamrocks will be worn this year
than grows on Irish ground
And that is mild statement OF the
demand for the emblem Great bales.
containing masses OF the dear little
plant" were being continually received
at Covent Garden and still, according
to the London Daily Mail, "stallholders
there are shaking their heads gloom
ingly, for in spite OF the fact that spc-
cial commissioners have been dis
patched to Ireland with orders to bring
back all the shamrock they can lay
hands on there is no doubt that there
will be great shortage OF the little
green plant" Every kind OF trefoil
was, of course, sold for shamrock, and
at a. price, too, which put to shame the
choice bouttoniers of the greenhouse
Common clover which hitherto had
been sold by the truss or ton, as horse