The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-18

unjust sufferings and prosecutions. I be- lieve that the patriotism of the Irish peo- ple is nearer to heavenly origin than the patriotism of any other nation.
 Strikes for God.
 "The Irish soldier who strikes for Ire land believes that he strikes for God The land of his birth is to him as it is to every true Irish patriot sacred land sanctifed by the footsteps of St. Patrick watered by the tears and sweat and blood of countless holy patriots. 1 refer here not only to the patriotism of those true sons of Erin of the present day who would gladly do battle for the liberty of the land they love so dearly, nor do l refer alone to the patriotism of those faithful Irishmen, who, in years past gave up their lives for faith and coun- try. But l refer also to the patriotism of those non Catholic heroes who died in de- fense of Irelands rights. God bless them; they have immortalzed themselves in the annals of our race. Their names are known far and wide; they are graven in indelible characters on the tablets of every true Irishman's heart; they are held in reverence by the suffering of every cline.
 Three hundred years of the cruelest persecution that ever disgraced the an- nals of civilized nations tried In vain to destroy the faith of St. Patrick among the Irish people, The drunken fury Of Nero towards the early Christians Is more than eclipsed by the atrocities of Cromwell and the God-f forsaken vaga- bonds who focked beneath his bloody standard. The crimes committed by the worst of the Roman emperors against members of the infant church are far outweighed by the crimes committed against Irish Catholics by red-handed Bess of England. I may speak bitterness, but I speak history.
 Though human bloodhounds in the pay of the English government hunted bishops and priests like wild animals through the country, these loyal children of St. Patrick still taught the doctrine ot the church to their suffering flocks as they gathered under the friendly protec- tion of night on some hillside or in some cave of the wilderness. Hundreds of her sacred ministers were captured and tor tured with far more cruelty than a per- son of humane instincts would use to- of Patrick lived and fourished. -"
 Faithful Irishmen.
 Tonight, the faithful Irishmen who are enjoying their reward with their glorious leader Patrick are looking down
  upon us and upon our brethren through out the world who are celebrating this St. Patrick's day. They are praying that the faith of old may ever remain in the hearts of their countrymen; that the workings of that faith may shine throughout our lives as members of Christian society.
 They are mindful, too, of that long ing which haunts our breasts to see the Green Isle free once more among the nations. The prayers of those who were faithful cannot fail to effect, that spirit which has lived throughout the long night of persecution cannot grow dim. We feel that the Ireland of the present, be- holding from afar the glimmering light of freedom, will be, with the help of God and the spirit of St. Patrick, the glorious the Immortal Ireland of the past. We feel like our own Tom Moore that
 The nations have fallen. and thou still
 art young.
 Thy sun is but rising, when others are
 set;
 And though slavery's cloud OCT thy
 morning hath hung,
 The full moon of freedom shall beam
 round thee yet
 Erin, O Erinl though long in the shade.
 Thy star will shine out when the proud
 est shall fade