Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-18
IRELAND'S PAST AND FUTURE
Editor Phelan Of St. Louis DesCants on
Greatness Of His Race.
IRISH WEAK ONLY IN THEIR STRENGTH
Defeated, but Not Conquered, They
Are stil True 60 Their Ideals and
Determined 20 wiz Their
Independence.

The entertainment given by the Ancient
order Of Hibernians at Creighton university
ball last night In commemoration OF ST.
Patrick's day was most successful. The
hall was packed with the members Of the
order and their friends, assembled to cele-
brate the annual feast OF the patron saint
Of the Emerald isle. The proceeds OF the
entertainment are to be devoted to the
Sacred Heart parish and the arrangements
were under the management Of Father
Judge, pastor Of the parish.
When the curtain arose II presented a
beautiful scene. The decorations we're a
combination Of Irish and American colors,
the centerpiece being a floral harp-emblem
or ireland.
G. ]. smyth presided. Briefly referring
to the Significance Of the day, he introduced
the Elks' quartet, which sang Believe Me
Of All Those Endearing Young Charms"
d. j. Hurley recited "Caoch. the Piper" a
pathetic thought Of old irish days. Another
Tom Moore number, The Last Rose Of
Summer was sung by Miss Mamie o'Brien.
In response to calls, she sang "Bendemere's
Stream" from "Lallah Rookh." Illness pre-
vented the presence Of H. v. Burnley, who
was on the program to sing Kathleen
| Mavourneen." Miss Genevlve Croft sang
Killarney" Miss Della McDermott sang
an aria from judith" and responded to
calls by singing The Meeting Of the
Waters"
Editor PheIan's Address.
The chairman then introduced Very Rev.
d. s. Phelan Of st. Louis, as a mai who
personlfes the subject Of his address, which
was Irish Character" Father Phelan is
editor Of the Western Waterman OF st.
Louis, and a speaker both eloquent and
forcible.
Twelve years ago l got my FIRST glimpse
OF Ireland" said the speaker, much to the
surprise of the audience, most Of whom
believed him to be a native Of the island.
He told Of the first sight Of Donegal on
that visit. "In this country we have little
respect for anything small; re associate
greatness with bigness. Gauged by thai
standard, we have little to be proud of, for
we come from a small country. I never
knew how great Ireland was until / visited
the Paris exposition a few years ago. wher
/ visited the Breton village. where every
one seemed to be Irish. There are 5000, 900
Of Bretons in France and they are all Celts
speak the Celtic language, and the only
magazine published In the Celtic language
today is published In the Breton dialect.
There are 20, ZOO, 900 Irishmen-what have
we done. We did considerable up to thu
year 1900. Then we were teaching Europe
civilization, founding churches In Germany
and carrying the light of Christianity t.
all parts Of the world. Then we stopped
and have been doing little since then bui
raising a disturbance"
England, like all countries, believed
that having conquered the country 1t coulC
do with the people as 1t It desired; but tht
Irish would not do what was expected o.
them. They refused to be slaves; they re-
fused to die. They are there yet and Their,
they are likely to remain. Though Padd!
may be poor, may be weak, he can be de-
pended upon TO raise the devil az the proper
time. Today England is trembling for feai
Of an Irish uprising and the leaders arr
consulting together to do something To-
Ireland"
IreIand's History Clear and Bright.
The history Of ireland. outside the pail
has been bound up In the history of thu
church and that history shows clear an
bright.
"In the last fifty years we have beer
making a good deal OF trouble. Fifty year
ago we were a very contemplate minority
I assure you, but we are coming to tn
front with a rush. The Irish are weak II
their strength. Their constancy has beel
their undoing. 1t was consistency to tn
house OF Stuart which cost ireland it
nobility. . The Irish are constant In thei
love and constant in their hate. England
+, found the factions warning and kept vi
the war until Irishmen had nothing.
"a parish priest in New York told me tina
he saw a difference between the Irish o
. the east and the Irish Of the west in Amer
lea. I explained to him that the bodies
and bravest pushed ever to the front.
, "Ireland owes all 1t Is today to tn
church. When England tried to brutaliz
the Irish by refusing them education, tn
clergy came to their relief and laugh
them-even In the hedge school.
"You can't brutalize the Irishman; yol
: can make him illiterate, but cannot max
' him ignorant. In this present great rae
Q for wealth, honor and power the Irish ar
q enlisted and let the world take care Whei
Paddy comes out Of college,"
. Following the address Of Father Phela'
. @. w. MacDougal gave q selection on tn
: pipes. The program closed with the sons
God Save Ireland" in which the audi
ence Joined the chorus.
Prickly Ash Bitters cures disease OF tn
kidneys. cleanses and strengthens the livel
y