The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-12-05

given to them. From Philip Sheridan
to the humblest drummer boy in the
armies North, South, East and West,
Irish valor shone as a star on the
pages of American history. The mar
shall courage OF the Irish Celt was in
spired by the most illustrious military
history in Europe, laden with the glo-
ries OF every battlefield from Clontarf
to Fontenoy, and from Fontenoy to
90. The Irish race had found cause
to which it could give itself unreserv-
edly. On this grand field OF the relent-
less war for human rights how en-
nobling its example, how imperishable
its record! This record stopped the
mouth Of bigotry, confuted the charges
of disloyalty, and damned the flood
of unreasonable prejudice. Every
county in Ireland had its representa-
tives in the Union army, nay, every
village. In the cabins of the island
itself were read aloud by the light OF
the turf fire the news OF the American
war, and across the sea came fine,
strapping specimens of Irish physical
strength, with courageous hearts
bursting with the battle fire of the Celt
and Jealous to serve the republic
where their race had found a refuge.
From the shadows OF Muckish, from
the peaks OF Errigal, in Donegal, from
the mountains OF Kerry, from the
plains Of Leinster, from the Golden
Vale OF the South and the hills OF
Connacht, they came in troops to
serve under the flag of stars. This
flower of the chivalry Of Ireland, in
the prime OF manhood, in the bloom
Of health, rushed into the wild arena
Of war, glad to die for the republic
and the honor Of the motherland.
They laid down their lives at Marie's
Heights, in the pestilence OF southern
savannas and in the swamps of Louis
lana. In the very forefront, where the
fire was hottest and the danger the
greatest, there those Celtic battalions
were sent. In the wild and desperate
charge, in the furious onset, dying
generously and bravely, or living glo-
riously, this was the record of the
Irish soldier in the war for the Union.
What wonder, then, that these re-
turning thousands had their hearts
turned to the old land? England's
perhdy and bitter hatred had been
most conspicuously displayed to the
American republic; her enmity had
overwcighed the councils OF the de-
tenders OF the union; her flag had
threatened the union on every sea;
her vcngeful substitutes had driven
tlom every port the flag of the repub-
lie, and the Irish soldier believed -
the day OF destiny had come, when
with one stroke he could free the land
OF his fathers and revenge the land of
his adoption-and SO in the United
States there sprung up the organiza-
tons OF the Fenian Brotherhood for
square fight in the open day with
the hereditary enemy; and these SOL
diers, hardened, seasoned, trained and
disciplined, and taught in the school
OF battle. believed themselves equal,
with arms in hand, despite the dispar-
ity OF numbers, to the ballroom SOL
diers and "Napoleons OF London's
street parades," in fair fight on the
hills and plains of the old land; and
there was no chance, however desper-
ate, they were not willing to under
take; there was no enterprise, how
ever hazardous on which they would
not have clecrfuly entered. The
heart OF ireland burst with pride to see
these bronzed and victorious veterans
preparing to embark to her rescue.
The youth and manhood OF ireland
organized on the instant to cooperate
with the military expeditions that
were expected. In the shadows OF
mountains and in secluded dales, in
village and in town. the Irisllmen at
home drilled and schooled themselves
Tor the great conflict.
The young men in ireland and the
young men OF Irish extraction in
America drew glorious breath OF
hope. stitfened up their sinews for a
death struggle with all the might and
power of the British empire, and in all
the sacrifices and struggles, pcrils and
adventures, mis- snaps and msfortuncs,
dramatic instances and moving trag-
edles, none surpassed the sacrifice that
we are met tonight to commemorate.
In the very heart Of England, where
an Irish name was the badge OF trca-
son, where prejudice and hatred of
the sister island had grown to be an
absorbing passion, without reason and
without mercy, where the Saxon was
shamelessly exhibiting his worst traits
and most brutal instinct, where no
Judge could be fair. no Jury impartial,
no public opinion just, where no virtue
was shield, no truth be heard, nor
fairness expected, where extermina-
ton was the creed and cruel Injustice
the practice, they did the daring deed
and performed the heroic adventure
and made the final sacrifice. High
headed, steel-hearted and heroic, as
becoming the sons OF the ancient race