The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-04
A Patriotic Address is Delivered by an
Eloquent Congressman at
Banquet.
American Historians of the Past Ignored
the Honorable Deeds of
the Irish.

The American-Irish Historical Soci-
ETY. held a notable celebration Of the
anniversary of the battles Of Concord,
Lexington and Cambridge on Patriots
day. The exercises began with pill
grjmage in the afternoon to Lexington,
where wreath was placed on the
battle monument, bearing the name Of
the society, as a tribute to the Ameri.
can heroes who fell in the memorable
struggle between the colonists and the
red-coats.
In the evening banquet was held
at Hotel Brunswick. Congressman
Henry F. Naphen presided, and the
after dinner speakers included Rev.
Joshua F. Bodfish Of Canton, Judge
Morgan j. O'Brien of New York, James
II. Mellen of Worcester, Edward A.
Mclaughlin, former clerk Of the Mas
sachusetts house Of representatives
Professor Ford Of Harvard and DR..
M. +. Kelly, Fall River.
During the progress Of the dinner it
was announced that the Sons Of the
Revolution were having banquet in
an adjoining room. Mr.. Naphen ap-
pointed committee of five, consisting
of Father Bodfish, Judge O'Brien,
Messrs. Hurson of Rhode Island, Bren-
nan Of New Hampshire, Kelly Of
Maine, to wait on the Sons sof the
Revolution and extend to them greet
ings. In. due time the committee re-
turned and reported that they had
been cordially received and that the
congratulations had been accepted
with thanks.
In short time committee from the
Sons Of the Revolution appeared,
headed by General Hazard Stevens.
General Stevens said that the Sons Of
the Revolution took great pleasure in
returning the felicitations of the So
ciety. He did not doubt that not
few Of the Sons Of the Revolution
would find on tracing their ancestry
some Irish blood in their veins. The
sons were honoring at their banquet
the memory Of that noble Irishman,
General Richard Montgomery, who
fell at Quebec
General Stevens said that, while the
sons were here a little ahead of the
members of the American-Irish His
torical Society, they met as Americans.
a hot IN ft1 f,,%,1
of the Sons of the Revolution and the
sons Of the members Of the American
Irish Historical Society would belong
to the same patriotic society.
In his Introductory address Con-
gresham Naphen gave a graphic and
vivid word-picture of the events which
the society was commemorating. He
said:
II esteem it an honor to preside at
a banquet held by such an association
as ours, that has done so much and is
doing much for the cause Of historical
truth in this country.
History should give an honest pic
ture of the men and times of which it
claims to treat. 1t should not discrim-
mate: The historians prejudice or
opinion should not give color to his
narrative. The American historian of
the past lived, I regret to say, in an
atmosphere Of prejudice. Herein lies
the fact that no history Of the country
has yet been written which does JUS
tice to the part the men of Irish birth
or descent have taken in the upbuild-
ing Of this republic. Hence the need
of our organization, and for the good
work it has done it is entitled to the
thanks of all lovers of justice and
truth.
To-day we made pilgrimage to two
of our shrines of national greatness,
Lexington and Concord, to recall the
deeds of the 'embattled farmers who
struck the first blow for American in
dependence, and to gather inspiration
from their work. Tonight we meet to
give expression to the thoughts which
welled up within us as we stood on
those historic grounds, and pictured
the scenes Of that day 1875 years ago.
''rhe galloping horseman, the warn
ing voice of Paul Revere, lights in the