The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-18

and true, but most of all it needs men,
such men as grow from the daily OBJ
servance of the right and the perform
ance of the first duty that is at hand.
Men should strive in small things,
cleaving always to the right. With the
rafters ringing with the applause that
followed, Maj. Elliott ended his speech
with these lines:
Ready, boys, ready;
Steady, boys, steady;
Duty, boys, duty;
Never do you retreat, boys;
Never know defeat, boys
This is the song of the regiment"
sympathy for the Beers.
"Our Sister Societies" was the toast
to which Col. P. w. Meldrim respond
ed in his usual eloquent manner. He
thanked the POSTMASTER for the words
of praise for the Hibernian Society,
of which Col. Meldrim is president,
saying that for ninety long years the
Society has pursued the even tenor of
its way in Savannah, doing good to all
men and seeking to keep ever green
the shamrock.
Col. Meldrim found reason for con-
graduation in the composite character
of the American nationality, saying
that he considered that the best traits
of all nations that have contributed
to the population of the Unied States
have been assimilated here, and that
the result has been a blending that
shows the union in one country OF
those influences that have brought out
the best that is in all others.
In the struggle of the South from
1861 to 1865 Col Meldrim found a COM
parison for The brave fight that is be-
ing made by the Beers in South Africa
for their liberty, and he invoked the
blessing of St. Patrick upon those gal
liant defenders of their soil. His pro-
, Boer sentiments were applauded to the
echo.
On the Irish Soldier.
Capt. Leonard was the next speaker
In clear, ringing tones, this Irish sol
| dier spoke of 1.-THE Irish Soldier" and
the prolonged applause that greeted
and followed him, testified to the eX
| Cellence of his speech and his popular
! ity with all present. Said Capt. Leon
| ard:
at would be very unbecoming if
! should refuse to say something upor
! this occasion, for it is well known t
| everyone who possesses Irish blood
that it is part of his duty on the It'll
of March to do honor to Ireland's pat
| ron saint, Patrick. The feast of st
Patrick's stirs many mournful memo
ries in the breasts of the eXiled son:
and daughters of Ireland, yet we may
use the occasion to usurp many happy
recollections as well.
ut is my purpose to dwell as briefly
! as possible on parts performed by the
Irish soldier in war All American:
should ever give the Irishman thu
! foremost places in American sympathy
/ for when America threw off the Brit
| ish yoke, the Irish soldier extended hi!
! heart and hand. Park Gusts, Washing
/ toms adopted son, in his "reminiscences
! of the wars, states that Ireland haC
/ furnished more men to the Colombo
! army than any other nation, anC
/ Washington, to show his appreciation
/ Joined the Fidelity Sons of st. Patricl
/ at Philadelphia. One-fourth Of thu
| commissioned officers of the army anC
navy were Irish. The first genera
officer. Gen. John Sullivan, was Irish
! the first commodore, Jack Barry, wa
! irish: the first artillery officer com
missioned, and the first general killeC
| in battle were Irish. The first victorl
upon sea, when the British flag wal
| stricken, was won by an Irishman
| and the first battle upon land woi
/ from the British was in Boston, Mass.
! on St. Patrick's day, 1916 and Wash
ineton did not let the commander e.
bv unnoticed as will appear in tn
speciaI order issued by his command
with such joy and spirit did the Irisl
! espouse the cause of liberty that Lore
! Mountejoy declared in the British
! Parliament You lost America by tn
The response to the toast. 1.-THE Unit
ed States" was delivered by Sergt c