The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-12-24

soned the cross upon her flag, are not
and cannot be a nation of slaves. The
body Of men who are banded together
for the legitimate purpose Of restoring
home rule to Ireland cannot be put
down. They have planted themselves
upon the memorable declaration of
Curran, who, when the bayonets were
leveled at his breast, proclaimed:
You may assassinate me, but you shall
not intimidate me- These men have
braved suffering, have borne affection,
have defied imprisonment, and follow
ing in the wake of the parish priest,
the bulwark of Irish liberty, who has
proceeded to the place Of torment with
the stoicism of martyr, and with the
step Of conquering hero they would
ascend the scaffold with the same ex-
ultant spirit that possessed their
forefathers who died in defense of
their faith and freedom.
II hope that I may be pardoned for
arrogating to myself the privilege on
this occasion of making another sug-
gestion because, while 1 am a student
of your history and friend of your
people, l am stranger to your in
stitutions. l plead with every emo
ton of my heart for harmony among
your leaders, and l would send up an
earnest prayer tonight that there
should be no spirit of discord or dis
sension among them. This is critical
juncture in your affairs; this is the
supreme moment of your trial and it
would be eternal ruin to your future if
difference upon non essentials should
impede the ultimate triumph of your
cause. trust, therefore, with every
fervent hope that thrills me that all
conflict Of opinion as to policy or prin-
; ciple between any Of your leaders
may De forever buried. Plant your
selves now under the banners Of the
| living, Of Redmond and of Davitt, and
| of Dillon, also remember the dead
O'Connell, the cloud by day, and
Charles Stewart Parnell, the pillar of
fire by night Follow them and they
will lead you to the land of promise.
| and though the hour of your redcmp-
ton may be delayed the time will
come-it is bound to come, the hand
Of man cannot impede it-because the
providence of God has ordained it.,
! when you will emerge from the night
J Of Egyptian bondage that has envel-
/ oped you, when your PROSTATE land
will arise from the sepulcher in which
despotism has entombed her, when
the prophecy Of the martyred Emmett
will be fulfilled and Ireland shall take
her place among the nations of the
EARTH"
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Rayner's
address the orchestra played Sweet
1nniscara," after which Colonel Nor
ris introduced Congressman Wachter.
who spoke in the place of Congress
man Livingston. Mr.. Wachter said in
part:
II am not here tonight to make q
speech, but to testify by my presence
my interest in home rule, and not only
home rule in Ireland, but home rule
in all quarters of the earth. l did not
expect to have to speak when l came
here, but if any man can't get up at
any hour in the day or night and tell
1rishmen of the great deeds of Irish
men, then that man has lost his mind,
1 am not one of those who believe that
everything comes to him who waits.
I believe you have got to 60 after what
you want. I believe that you Irish
will go after home rule.
you young people, living in this
great land of liberty, know nothing of
the sufferings of your fathers in the