The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-17
OPENING ADDRESS BY
PRESIDENT LEAHY.

The opening address by President John S.
Leahy WAS vociferously applauded. He
said. in part:
knights of St. Patrick and Guests:
We are making tonight the thirty-fifth
chapter in the history of the Knights of St.
Patrick. For thirty-four years our society
has bedecked the brow of prosecuted but
glorious Erin with garlands of love and
devotion on this day, the anniversary Of
him who at Tara promulgated the teach
ings of the Savior and transformed an
idolatrous people into a Christian nation.
Our society has adhered TO ths principles
upon which il was DUNDEE We are still
preserving the old-time memories; we are
still perpetuatisg her dulcet poetry; we arc
old Erin.
I'm this monetary age it is healthy to see
a society like The knights OF St. Patrick.
whose MEMBERS are bound together by ir-
tellectual ties and p%aternal love, applying
their %anersiss and abilities to the rreserva-
ton OF the poesy, the music. the history
and patriotism of q nation which is a Job
In worldly possessions but a Croesus in its
treasury of romance. song. valor and lofty
principles.
AT CTR annual banquets we rejoice in
portraying the glories of the sons of the
Gael. and we narrate with Indignation the
sufferings inflicted upon them because Of
their belief in the right CT self~-government
and freedom of conscience. Distinguished
orators yearly unfold the banner that was
ANubhCu tic tlibAiCh Va tiC IN
us, and expatiate upon the United States,
reminding US by their word painting that
ireland has ever been the nursery of free
dom, that America is its home. and that
here is the true equality, the brotherly love
and freedom of conscience for which SO
many Irish martyrs have offered their lives
on the sacred altar of liberty. Yearly We
have a KNIGHT of st. Patrick, as the most
fitted for the noble prerogative. pay a fit
ting tribute and worthy homage to the
Eoblest and best object of Gods handiwork.
woman
saThe custom has obtained among US to
welcome TO our festive board distinguished
representatives of our race who visit our
city. 1t has been our privilege to have our
banquet board sraced by the distinguished
historian. Justin. Mccarthy: the eminent
and orator, Father Tom Burke: and the
gifted and peerless Knight Errant of the
cause of Irish home rule. the lamented and
never-to-be-forgotten James Stewart Par !
nell. And tonight, departing from our an
cient usage of allowing the gentler sex at
our banquets in name only. We have with
us a distinguished daughter of Ireland, who
10 devoting a matchless intellect and in
trepid Irish spirit and a bounteous purse |
to the cause of the Emerald Isle. We bid |
her q caed mtlla faltha.
This society. is very. dear to Its MEM
bers because they love its disinterested in
tellectual motives, because its archives are
q treasury of the literary achievements of
many a gem of purest ray serene whose
mode,tv hid 1t in untrodden ways and pre-
vented 1t from casting a perpetual ray of
loneliness and brilliancy into the temple of
fame, and We love it because it keeps YER
dant the heroism, the devotion to a glorious
cause, and the literature of sweet old Ire
land. and for many OF us it is the cynosur.
of the fancies of childhood and thus bright
ems the winters tale of age, and awakens
In all of our hearts symphonies OF devotion
final triumph of the banner of gold. and
green.