The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-09-07


deep in the soil of Ireland the seeds
of faith, which, Immediately spring
ing up, brought forth a hundred, nay,
a thousandfold; for, within few gen
erations, Ireland deserved the beauti-
full title, isle of Saints and Scholars"
writes Bishop NIcFaul of Trenton in
the National Hiberian of Washington,
D. G.
The blessings of religion and science
which the Irish so highly priced they
generously shared with other nations.
The traveller through Europe meets
everywhere the graves of bishops,
priests and men Of science, who gave
up their lives, far from home and
country, while disseminating human
and divine knowledge among the ma
tions.
Passing over their labors in Scot
land, England, Wales and famed Iona,
we find that their evangelical and ed,,-
" cational labors extended over France,
Germany, Italy, and even to distant
Iceland. When the North Pole may
condescend to reveal itself to the as
tonished gaze of some daring explorer,
who knows that he may not receive
real Irish hospitality beneath the roof
tree Of some kindly descendant of
Erin's sons?
In modern times, although deprived
of liberty, the green flag humbled and
the national spirit depressed, great
have been the deeds of Irishmen on
the continent of Europe. Incredible
as it may seem, nearly 100000 Irish
soldiers shed their blood in the cause
of France among them and their de-
scendants being men who attained
the highest honors in the cabinet and
in the army. Yes, the noble deeds Of
Irish churchmen, Irish statesmen and
warriors form e.. precious portion of
the history of Germany, France, Italy
and Spain. By the banks Of the lordly
rivers, at the foot Of gigantic noun
tains, on the slope Of vine-clad hills,
in the fertile valleys, meath the altar
of village church and dome Of tower
ing cathedral their ashes rest, while
dn the chants of the church and the
literature Of the people the memory
Of their sainted and heroic deeds re-
mains as green as the meadows of
their own island home. Even Eng
land, our traditional foe, is largely
indebted to the Irish for her strength
and prosperity, and there is not an
Enghsh-speaking nation to which they
have hot brought st. Patrick's faith,
and Ii which it is not preserved by
their children.
Notwithstanding the defects Of the
Irish character, which we ourselves
are the very first to acknowledge and
to deplore, it is proud thing that we
are able to look back through the cen.
turtles and defy the genius Of history,
as she turns over the worlds annals,
to point out the hour when the sons
and daughters of Erin, either at home
or abroad, ever proved false to the
precious trust committed to them
when the Almighty bestowed upon
their forefathers divine faith from the
lips of our glorious apostle. In this
western world, back in the twilight of
legend, we find traces of Irish foot
steps. At some future day Irish his
tory may verify deeds now obscure
and the voyage Of st. Brendan to our
shores may yet be proved reality.
It has been affirmed, and not without
evidence, that an Irish sailor belonged
to the crew of Columbus, and no one
will doubt that, with the natural i'm
petuosity Of his race, he was the very
first European to place his foot on the
soil of the new world. It is certain
that among the missionaries who
sailed with Columbus on his second
voyage there was certain Father
Bernard Boyle, who came as vicar
apostolic.
At all events. Irishmen have been
in the country since the very first days
Of its colonization. It is difficult to