The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-13
IRELAND ON AMERICA
Patriotic Speech at the Banquet
Given by the Chicago
Lincoln Club. .es

Chicago, Feb. 13.-Archbshop Ireland
was the guest Of honor at a banquet given
at the Auditorium Hotel by the Lincoln
Club. He, said in part:
'The republic is what she is because
she has vitality remained what Lincoln in
tended her to be, what Lincoln babe her
to be, government of the people, for the
people and by the people. This is what
she must remain if she is still to live and
reign. The vital principles OF democracy
must remain with her. The flag must
mean equality before the law in civil and
political rights. It matters not what
MANS place of birth. what his religion
what the color of his face, If he is an
American citizen the laws of the land
must shield him. the favors of the land
must flow upon him.
ITO announce, for instance, that the
citizen who is black must not aspire to a
political office, must not approach the
situations. TO hold populations in per-
petual tutelage whether on our immediate
continent or in islands beyond the seas, is
to set aside Lincoln's principles. Delays
may be counseled; often delays should be
counseled, for the questions always call
for an answer Are children to be made
to walk as adults? Are populations inca
pable Of self-government to be allowed,
for their destruction, it's privileges? But
tions have ripened into self-governing
manhood the rights of that manhood must
be theirs, and meanwhile the mission Of
the flag is to hasten them toward such
manhood. The day must be expected
when our territories will be states, when
our island possessions will be states. Abid-
ing dependencies cannot be the appendage
of a republic.
Il rejoice in the territorial aggrandize-
ment that has come to America, and no
fixed limits would I dare to put yet to fur
Their such aggrandizements, but always
and everywhere would I hold out to new
| friends and new brothers the hope and
promise that in due time fullest civil and
political equality with myself and my fell
low Americans shall be the reward of
their loyalty and good citizenship.
1.-THE United States is by force of ire
vocable events an International power.
She cannot isolate herself; her interests
are amid all peoples and their interests
are amid her people. Our pride in our
growth is that she COWS in greatness, and
we have no jealous eye as she enters into
new spheres of duty and responsibilities
Our prayer is, may she ever. be at peace
with her sister nations of the world; be
it not hers to provoke them to anger and
enmity. But we insist other nations must
honor and respect her as she deserves
! No foreign nation, no combination of for
! eign nations is to be allowed to turn her
backward from her traditional policies
restrict her legitimate field; influence OF
hurt in the smallest degree the prestige OF
her name. This we cannot permit. Ou1
I loyalty forbids that we do SO. And while
we will not submit to interference from
the outside, let her confine her energies
within her own bosom, and see to it thai
we ourselves be not unconsciously per.
haps among such enemies, weakening by
false doctrines or perilous practice the
current Of her life blood, rendering hel
less strong, less bold, less American"