The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-19
THE MEMORY OF ST. PATRICK.
MIR. Lucien l.. knights Tribute to
IreIand's Patron Saint. .H

IreIand's Patron Saint.
The first toast. as is customary at all
Hibernian dinners, was the memory of
St. Patrick. II was responded to by Mr..
Lucien l.. Knight of Atlanta. Mr.. Knight
is no stranger to the members Of the HI
| bernian Society, having for a number
of years. been their honored guest. His
speech was a brilliant tribute TO St.
Patrick. and to Irishmen and Ireland.
I'VE celebrate tonight" said Mr..
knight, IAN event in Erin's history whose
significance has only deepened with the
lapse of centuries To Irish hearts the
date upon the calendar which proclaims
the birthday OF st. Patrick shines out
like some unrivalled planet in the heav-
ems, but more than common interest at
taches to this present anniversary. since
it ushers in another hundred years whose
completion, let us hope. will witness the
achievement of irish independence. Six
teen centuries have come and gone since
Erin received into her bosom the ashes of
her great apostle, but in her tribulations
she has not forgotten him. Nor has his
memory grown dim in other lands, While
the hand of time with remorseless desc
Grafton has not spared the tomb which
his virtues shine with added brightness
and to-day his fame lifted above the
summit of the mountains and bathed in
the splendors of the ornament. dispenses
It's radiance upon every cline, while it
marches forever with the stars.
when st. Patrick carried the cross of
Christianity TO Ireland he labored to in
struct the mind as we'll as to regenerate
the hearts of her primitive inhabitants,
n Nr~tn LTD l.,
lions of Erins later culture is
attested by the fact that,
during the darkness of the
Middle Ages, art literature and science
hourished in her universities, and when
the Frank and the Hun and the Goth
and the Vandal were overrunning Europe
and destroying every vestige of Roman
civilization, it was her scholars and her
priests who kept aglow the lamp of learn
Ing which was 90 light the world to mod
ern times"
Mr.. knight went on to say that St.
Patricks day was set apart by Irishmen
as the day for recounting the traditions
OF the old mother land whose glories and
sorrows were Immortality inscribed on his
tory's page. He spoke of the sufferings
which Ireland had endured under the
yoke of England and the oft-repeated
struggles which she had made for indie
pendence. He also spoke of the achieve
ments of Irishmen on this side of the
water, and criticised the conduct of Eng
land In not giving Ireland justice. In con-
ciusion' Mr.. Knight said: But
the hour of her deliverance draweth nigh.
Methinks already the spirits of her mar
tyred children are gathering in her cir
to celebrate the jubilee of her enancipa-
ton England cannot longer deny her
justice without becoming the victim of her
own iniquities. Lengthenng her cords of
empire she must strengthen her stakes
ana she must strengthen them at home
by meeting Ireland's demands Otherwise
the core of her existence threatened
the fabric of her power may be over
thrown. Rejoicing in this belief, our hearts
tonight. are happy, and on the tides
which ebb from Tybee's glimmering light
to break upon old Erin's distant shor 9.
we send her greetings. Sweet be her
dreams tonight. coiored not from her
somber yesterdays. but from her roseate
to-morrows, and ere many birthdays of
ST. Patrick shall have melted into memo
ries, may her dreams come true Oh
God of Justice, smile upon old Erin's
cause, and speed, oh, speed, the day when
the breath of Liberty, revocalizing the
harp on Tara's wall and swelling the folds
OF the flag of green, shall announce that
Erin's wrongs have been righted, and thar
Emmets epitaph have been written"