Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28

'tiiSSii uImiy 6SUdDllSucu III
ireland, he resolved to destroy faith in
Chrlst. Ihor, not Jesus was to be
the GOD OF ireland. The sacrilegious
Vrant threw down the tabernacle, and
MADE the high altar his chair Of state.
Horror seized on the people. Wives
and mothers conjured their husbands
ana sons to go forth to battle for the
honor OF the Lord. King Malachy OF
meath led on the gallant clansmen,
crushed the power of Turgesius, and
drowned him in Tough Dwell. Women
wept for their dead in battle, but they
praised the God, to vindicate whose
honor, their dear ones died. History
informs us that the Danes and North
men tried for 800 years to conquer
ireland. and plant kingdom there as
they had done already in England,
France, and elsewhere. In 1913 they
resolved by one great effort to destroy
the rellgion,and the autonomy of Ire
land. Word was sent to all friends,
allies and dependents, to make prepa-
ration and send ali available assist
ance, in ships and men at arms. Nor
way, Sweden, England Normandy, the
Orkney islands, and all the other 100
inhabited islands under Danish con-
troll. as well as Danish Dublin and
other parts of Ireland were busy in
preparation. The Mortimer, in their
steel armor, believed themselves to
be invincible! Singing their war songs
of beauty and booty, they turned the
prows of their hide bound barques and
came bounding over the pillows of the
Baltic and other seas. In April, 1014,
they appeared on the Irish coast near
n,,L1 t,, f,N1 "a f11Y rlt frsn
of Christ, and hence they fixed on
anniversary of the death of Christ for
their first and decisive battle. Brian,
King of Ireland. had gathered around
Before the battle opened he rode
through the ranks, and told his sol
diers it was now Religion and Coun-
try against 'Paganism and Bondage.
Holding a crucifix aloft he addressed
to them words which caused their
tears to flow, and set their hearts
afiame. The poet VIM. Kenealy repre-
sents Brian speaking thus-I give
portion of his soul inspiring poem:
Stand We now for Erin's glory!
Stand We now for Erin's cause! III
Long ye're groaned beneath the rig
laws,
T" What though brothers league against
us? What though myriads be the
foe?
"'victory will be more honored in the
myriads' overthrow.
"'They have razed our proudest cas-
tles-spoiled the temples of the
Lord
=" Burnt to dust the sacred relic-put
the peaceful to the sword.
'Desecrated all Things holy-as they
soon may do again,
:" If their power today we smite not
if today We be not men.
as ON this day the God man suffered
look upon the sacred sign
May we conquer meath it's shadow,
as of old did Constantine.
"'God of heaven, bless this banner
nerve our sinews for the strife!
Fight we now for all that's holy-for
our affairs, land and life
For red vengeance of the spoiler,
whom the blazing temples trace
For the honor of our maidens, and
the glory of our race!
:" Men of Erin Men of Erin! grasp
the battle AK and spear!
= Chase these Northern wolves before
you like herd of frightened
deer!
(" Burst their ranks. like bolts from
heaven! Down on the heather
crew,
For the glory of the crucified. and
Erin's glory, too
The battle ragged all day, but by
evening the power of the Danes was
broken forever, conquerors of Europe
were themselves conquered. and the
affairs and homes of the Irish people
were, again, secure and free. May
religion and freedom be the heritage
of our race till time shall be no more.
THAT friendship, union and charity
may flourish among all of you here is
the wish and the prayer of your hum
bile servant ("