The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-10-11
THE A. O. H. AND IRELAND.

Catholic organization in the world. 1t
is certainly one of the strongest. 1t Is
also probably the most widely spread.
Wherever there is q community Of
Irish Catholics a branch or division Of
the order is almost certain to he found,
and that means nearly every quarter
of the globe. We do not know wlleth-
er any official census of the entire Or
gslnzation has been taken, but we
should not be surprised to lpear that
the total membership runs far into the
hundreds of thousands, writes Father
Lambert in the n. y. Freeman's Jour-
nal.
AS its title indicates, this great so.
ciety is distinctly Irish, which amounts
to the same thing as saying that it is
distinctly Catholic. Formed originally
in Ireland for purposes Of defense
against persecution directed against
the natives of the ancient creed, it has
ever since remained Catholic and Irish.
none but persons Of that faith and ma
tionality being admitted to it's ranks.
The condition which mecessitated the
establishment of such an organization
is we'll and truly described by Prot
estant historian, who tells us that at
that period ''all the laws lin force in
lreland) We're made not for, but
against the great mass of the people:
the courts Of justice We're entirely in
possession of the oppressors; the pre-
scribed race saw only mortal enemies
ON the bench, enemies in the jury box,
enemies everywhere all around, and
were continually made to feel that law
and justice We're not for them.'
Under such circumstances
of all protection of law-the Catholics
were obliged to take measures to pro-
tect themselves, and one of the most
effective of the combina tons resulting
from this imperative necessity was the
society which was the origin of the A.
0. H. In LATER times, when the perse
cution ceased, or rather was made to
cease by Irish combination and agita-
ton of one kind or another, the order
found that it had still good work to
do in uphohling and defending Catholic
and Irish interests in many directions.
and equally in OUR own day it contin-
ues to find ample occasion for service
in the same field.
And it has to be recognized that the
"A. y. II. has always dome we'll what
ever work it has taken in hun1. It has
been thoroughly loyal to Faith and
Hatherland, a motto which well ex-
presses and emphasizes it's spirit and
purpose. 1t has been ever true +,
FAITH and has never failed in devotion
to tie cause of the old land Its finan-
clal aid to objects purely Catholic has
beer. constant and munificent, while il
has bean at all times generous and
prolnliant in the practical support of
every good Irish movement, whether
for the relief of distress among it's kin
drcd at home CT for helping them in
tho important W. rk of obtaining their
national Political RIGHTS, one of it's
niosr noteworthy and creditable ser
vices heing its donation of $4,000 for
the endowment of a Celtic professor
ship i'll the Catholic University Of
Washington.
Such being the record of the A. 0.
H., it is not little surrr.s sing that re-
Gently some Cf it's feade. and branch S
have manifested an unfrieDdliness. not
to say an antag; n;sm, to tllo present
national movement in Ireland which
fully represents the national senti-
ment, has already accomplished much
in the right direction, and gives gcol
promise, if properly sustained, If
wrestling from the British parliament
THAT complete measure of self-govern-
nent which the Irish people demand.
That any section of the A. o. H. should
withhold its sympathy and support
from such n genuine and meritorious
Irish movement as this is strangely in
consistent with the past record as we'll
as the spirit of the organization.
1t is but right, however, to say, and
it is gratifying to be able to say it,
that the unfrielndly element referred to
appears to be only minority and
probably small minority of the en-
tire body. The action or inaction of
those who have declined to say a good
word for, or to cooperate with, the
United Irish League has been and is
being strongly censured by many
branches and divisions in the form of
resolutions emphatically endorsing the
work of the League.
We have no doubt, therefore, that
the great bulk of the rank ard file of
the famous order are thoroughly true
to the spirit Of The motto Faith and
Fatherland as represented by the pa
triOtic men who are now lighting the
good fight in Ireland in tile best way
in their power, and with the best
weapons ut their command. The fight
is for justice to the Catholic Irish pee
pie. for their right to life, liberty and
happiness in their own land. 1t is Il
struggle for Catholic rights and for
Irish rights; it is led by honest men.
and it Iras the ardent and practically
unonimous Svm,athy and SllODOrt of