The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-19
LOYAL SONS OF ERIN.
The Memory of Ireland's Patron
Saint FittineIy Celebrated.
ltn ON MOOTt WTOIc IHe IInt
Go where glory waits thee,
But while fame elates thee,
Oh. then remember ne

Oh. then remember NE
he expressed the sentiment of Ireland
to which her loyal sons responded last
night at the dinner given at Grand Army
Hail, under the auspices Of the Shamrock
Club, in honor of Erin's patron saint
In poetry, song. and story the ancient
traditions and cherished recollections of
the "ouid sod were told by those who
know them best, and left no doubt that
the remembrance of the land that gave
them birth is as green in the memory of
Irishmen as are the yerdant shores of that
much-loved isle. And naturally So for
the surroundings We're such as to recall
to mind every bog and every by-way from
Dublin to Kildare, and TO Kilkenny.
Draped side by side with the Stars and
Stripes was the ever green flag of Erin;
beside each plate was a sprig of sham
rock plucked from its native soil, and with
green flowers and green banners, green
viands and liquors of the same hue there
was that atmosphere and environment
which carried the exiles in spirit at least
back across the waters to the sacred spot
whereon they first saw day
While pledging anew their devotion to
the country of their adoption these sterl-
ing sons of Ireland bespoke again the
love which they still have for old Erin.
OTdtOrS HOWeu as freely as OiQ the Spirits
from the cup which cheers, and not one
opportunity was lost to twist the caudal
extremity of the British lion or to laud
the virtues of the heroes and patriots of
those who have fought for the rights of
Ireland.
While the honors were to St. Patrick
and his well-remembered deeds praise
and glory were alike showered upon the
O'Connells, the Emmets, and the scores
OF others whose achievements have
frightened the sad page Of lreland's his
tory.
About the festal board were gathered
the representative Irish-Americans of
Washington. p. T. Moran was master of
ceremonies, and introduced Col. NJ. En-
met Urell as the POSTMASTER. In doing
so he paid a glowing tribute to ireland
and her sons.
This day" he said, wherever are
found the exile and the immigrant driven
from home by tyranny. they are cele-
brating the memory Of their patron saint.
Wherever the flag Of liberty is raised
wherever men are fighting for freedom
| the Irishmen are found in the ranks. and
every battlefield in America is watered
with their blood. Irishmen have been the
| braVest of the brave They have always
been to the front, but must II always be
| sOp Must their Valor never triumph for
| their native land. God Of battles God of
| hosts, God of the oppressed forbid God
grant that some day Ireland may yet be
free"
Colonel Urell spoke briefly in assuming
the fact which had been mentioned that
he had fought in two wars, and said he
only hoped that the day would come
when. having fought for the land of his
adoption, he would yet have an oppor-
tunity to bear arms for the land OF his
| birth and Of his fathers.
The toast, ireland as She Is" was re-
| sponded to by the Rev. Patrick O'Don-
| nell, of Kerry, Ireland. He said that
: through the never ceasing efforts of
| lrishmen there had been many improve
ments In recent years in educational po-
| litical. and religious life in ireland. He
| said educational advantages had been
| augmented and under the leadership of
| John Redmond, the Irish party had again
| become reunited. Industrial conditions,
| however. he said, formed a dark page in
| the story of Irish life There was no
| reason, he declared, why Irish Industries
| should not flourish save that the Govern
| ment did not take an interest in Ire
| land. Under American Sovereignty. he
| said, Ireland would be one of the richest
| countries in the world. One factor of
| Irish life the speaker asserted, had new
| er changed; their faith and the Church
| In the twentieth century," he contin-
| ued lit Is the same as St. Patrick had
planted ], 400 years ago. IL is the one gol-
| den chain which links the present with
the past: which has survived, lived and
grown during all the turmoil the strife,
| and changes OF centuries, and yet no
| people has suffered more for their relig-
| ious belief than have the people of Ire
| land"
| The remainder of the programme in
cluded good old Irish songs by Arthur 7.
| Delvigne, j. A. Duff, and John Handi-
| Doe, a toast to the Irish language by
| Patrick Herlihey, The Irish Americans
| responded to by NJ. +. O'Donoghue, and
| the Battle of Fontenoy' recited by NJ.
I L. Holloran-