The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-31
IS THE PROPHECY FULFILLED?

The strange order issued by the
Queen OF England in reference to the
wearing of Ireland's symbol of faith and
nationality by her Irish troops through
out the British empire on last St. Pat
rick's day has caused the Montreal
True Witness to resurrect political
prophecy made by the late Rev. DR.. D.
w. Cahill in letter addressed to Lord
Palmerston some fifty years ago. The
passage containing the prophecy OF the
eminent and patriotic churchman is as
follows:
"My Lord.-The day will come
under the secret and chemical opera
ton Of a broader civilization, on which
the true worth of my people will be
recognized and acknowledged. Strange
and fanciful as the picture may now
seem, behold a period adown the
slopes OF futurity, when the green will
be honored in the very halls OF your
legislature, the shamrock will decorate
the breasts of your military, and the
very sovereign of the realm will be in
spircd with love for and confidence in
the Irish people. I will not live to be-
hold it, no more will you, My Lord
and Ireland has countless trials to TIL
dergo, reverses to meet, before that
goal is reached-but as certain as the
sun will rise over the Hill of Howth
and set beyond the heights OF Con-
nemara, so surely will the genius of the
race one day receive the homage OF
the British people. The sword of Eliza
beth, the cannon of Cromwell, the stat
utcs OF the Pale will be relegated to the
barbarism whence they drew their ex-
istence, and grander impulse, Selling
upon the people of England, will throb
through every vein and artery of her
wonderful empire. In that hour the
visions OF Irish statesmen will be real
lied, the prophecies OF Irish bards will
be fulfilled, the prayers Of the Irish mar
tyrs will be granted, and centuries
Of wrong will be swallowed tip in the
whirlpool Of enthusiasm that my coun-
try's enemies shall experience at the
mention of her name, or at sight OF
the green shamrock of Erin"
Whatever may have been the motive
OF Queen Victoria in ordering the
shamrock to be worn on St. Patrick
day, there is no doubt but that many
Gladstonian Englishmen donned "the
chosen leaf" out OF gratitude to the
little island which produced the gen
erals and troopers who snatched victory
from the jaws OF defeat in the Anglo
Boer war. 1t would be folly for Irish
men to quarrel with the honest English
men for honoring their countrymen in
that unique manner. II Queen Victoria
after her visit to ireland follows up the
shamrock order by commanding her
ministers to introduce and pass Home
Rule bill for the Emerald Isle, and re-
commencing the discontinuance of the
country,
of wrong would be swallowed up in
the whirlpool of enthusiasm" which
would be experienced by the scattered
children Of Erin who have sought ref
uge from British oppression in every
land beneath the sun, including merry
England, where they enjoy the liberty
denied them at home. The prediction
of DR.. Cahill is not yet fulfilled, but the
Queen in her old age and at the close
Of her long reign can help to make it
reality. If she wants to have loyal
subjects in Ireland her ministers must
change their policy. The wearing OF
the shamrock will not effect concilia-
ton between the two countries while
Ireland remains the Cinderella OF. the
empire. ,