The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-04

windows, forms hurrying to and fro;
the drum beat and bugle call to arms;
scouts sent out; men gathering in
groups; peering into the darkness,
watching, waiting and listening; the
British headed for Lexington and Con-
cord to destroy the American stores
and to capture Hancock and Adams,
whom General Gage expects to have
as prisoners before sundown, and to
each of whom he intends to make a
present Of pair of handsome iron
rutfies' and will see to it that the pro-
vost marshal provides suitable apart
ments and entertainment for the1n.'
The offences Of those patriots he con-
siders Of too 'flagitious nature to ad-
NIT of any other consideration, than
that Of condign punishment
"But Gage and his men are doomed
to disappointment. The Americans are
warned. The line is hastily formed;
commands are issued, powder distrib-
uted, matchlocks tested; few words
of caution from Captain Parker are
given, and all is ready.
"The first streaks of dawn are just
visible in the eastern horizon; the Brit
ish come on double quick; the hardy
yeomanry, ready to receive them, stand
as immoyable as the rocks Of their ma
tive hills, and though they are out
numbered ten to one, they look un-
flinchingly into the muzzles of the
British guns, and refuse to lay down
their arms and disperse at the COM
mand Of Lieutenant Colonel Smith,
who had charge Of the British forces.
It was a picture unsurpassed in his
tory for the spirit and bravery exhib-
tied. Tyranny was then and there
summoned to bid farewell to America
forever. What followed on that day
is familiar story to us all. The
heroic stand at the bridge, the COM
mand of Major Buttrick, Fire, fellow
soldiers, for Gods sake, firev and the
ignominious retreat of the British to
Boston.
"It is peculiarly appropriate that we
should assemble in this, city to cele-
brate the day. You can scarcely tread
upon the soil of Boston without COM
ing upon some spot sacred to the men,
ory of the good and the great who are
gone. 1t was here that Adams, Han
cock and Otis denounced the injustice
of Great Britain. When despotism
threatened the colonies, the first tones
Of defiance were uttered here. Here
liberty held high court, and issued her
DEGREES more potent than the kings
proclamation and parliamentary enact
ments. Here was taught the great
principle that resistance to tyra1lts is
obedience to Cod Her teachings have
ever been the lessons Of liberty. They
have been bred into the Bostonian's
bone and sinew, as great, vital, moral,
living principles-never of oppression,
never of injustice. Liberty and justice
have always been her teachings.
"What we call history is largely a
story Of war. The achievements of
Alexander, Caesar and Napoleon are
mere mile posts along the march of the
human race. They carried on war for
conquest, benevolent assimilation, i'm
perfalisln and expansion; the welfare
of the people was Of minor importance.
But when we reach the men of Lex
ington and Concord, we come to men
who fought not for themselves not for
personal glory, power or fame, but for
the independence of their country. Not
the independence of which King
George and his parliament had des-
tined for them, but the independence
which meant the right of people to
have that form Of government best
| suited to their conditions.
IF the principles for which they
contended were right then, they are
right today. There can be no liberty
| where there is coercion, however much
it may be disguised under hypocritical
phrases of benevolent assimilation or
| manifest destiny. No man will ven
ture tonight to call the patriots of
Lexington and Concord other than lib
erty-loving men who were willing to