The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-22
Bourke Cochran, of New York,
the Brilliant Orator on
the Occasion.
Sons and Daughters Of Erin
Turn Out in Thousands
to Hear Him.

|
the Exposition, last Monday evening,
| by Il great outpouring of the sons and
daughters of Erin and their descend
ants. Hon. w. Bourke Cochran, of
New York, was the orator on the &C.
casion, and he more than surpassed
the expectations Of the audience in
persuasive eloquence. He was intro
duced by Father L. Danehy, who said
in part:
1.-The greatest speech in the English
language was delivered by Edmund
Burke; the best modern play was writ
ten by Richard Brinsley Sheridan; the
best novel by Oliver Goldsmith, and
was won by the Iron Dulle-all Irish
men. In Austria, Spain and France,
and in our own country. 1rishmen had
attained pre-eminence. Am ng the
signers of the Declaration of Indapend-
ence were eight Irishmen and among
the trainers of the American constitu-
tion were six Irishmen. Charles
Thompson, secretary of the Continen-
tai Congress, was the first to read the
Declaration of Independence in public;
and John Nixon was the first to pub
fish it. Beth We're Irishmen. I have
now the pleasure of introducing to you
one CT Ireland's foremost sons, THE
Hon. w. ,Bourke Cochran, of New
York"
] On arising. the great orator was re-
ceived with r:lpturous applause. He
spoke with great force and animation
| for more than an hour and kept the
audience spell-bound by the magic of
his eloquence. His subject was: est.
Patrick the Original Architect of Pop
ular Government" AS Edmund Burke
/ said of Shelidan's great Begun speech
during the trial of Warren Hastings.
Bourke Cockran's address contained
passages which might furnish texts
| for tlhe historian. the philosopher. the
preacher or the statesman: and his
profound knowledge, cogent reason
ing and classic rhetoric surprised and
charmed the six thousand persons who
listened to him. Many Americans
and non-Catholics Joined in the ell
| thusiastic applause which his rounded
periods brought forth and when he
finished, everyone realized the fact
that Bourkc Cochran is the creates.
orator of the Irish race now on the
public platform in the cause of hui
manity and Justice. He said. in part:
'''This festival which we celebrate to-
night is the Oldest in Christendom
1t antedates all festivals of modern
history. 1t existed long before Spain
and Austria and other countries had
become nations; before the wandering
Gallic tribes We're amalgamated in
| France; before the birth of the Ger
man empire; before the Saxon had
conquered England. 1t was $50 years
old when Mohammed penned the
Koran. 1t had been observed for six
centuries before William the Norman
descended OH the English coast.
but more remarkable than it's age
is the fact that in an age of rapine
and greed, this institution should sur
vfve- for so many centuries. It's apos-
tie came. not wearing the armor of
war, but clothed in the llabiliments of
peace; not to further interests of his
own, but to build the structure of
Christianity on the ruins of Pagan
ism.
''Tonight all over the world hearts
are swelling with emotion as the adj
dresses in honor of the saint are list
'ened to. Patrick is to be regarded as
the benefactor of the world, rather
than as national hero. The reforma-
ton and evangelization of the world
was due to the conversionNof the Irish
by Patrick. The root of American
democracy was found in Patricll's
mission to Ireland.
''The mission of st. Patrick was not
marked by the destruction of villages
or the laying waste of churches; but
by the establishing of churches and
schools he founded the mission of
peace which he preached. And Ire
land today does not celebrate as her
patron any warrior or destroyer, but
the missionary who was the apostle
of peace, faith, Christianity and learn
ling. In peace the mission fiourished,
the dews and showers of heaven re-