The Irish standard., 1904-08-27

line passing OF United states Sen-
ator George Frisbie Hoar will cause
profound grief throughout the COM
monwealth Few men in public life
endeared themselves more to the peo-
pie of the state than did he. NIassa-
chusetts has given to the nation many
men who scared high above partisan
ship and state fame. Such men were
John Adams, John Quincy Adams,
Hancock, other statesmen Of Revolu
tionary days, and Webster and Sum-
ner of a later time and generation.
Such man also, was George Frisbie
Hoar, of Worcester, says the Boston
Republic. 1t might be said without
reservation, the people Of the state
loved him, and their love was shared
throughout the country. Six years
ago, when he opposed his party on the
Philippine question, the attitude was
sufficient force the retirement of
the ordinary statesman. But it
strengthened Hoar. The people loved
him the more because he rose above
partisanship and spoke for the love
of humanity and fairness, trait in
his character that ever predominated
over all other thoughts, acts and con-
siderations. Eulogies commemorating
his name and fame will be uttered and
written, at length, by newspapers,
statesmen and representatives Of all
classes Of the people. The Republic
has space, only, to speak briefly of one
side of his life, the side that appeals
to the Irish Catholics Of Massachusetts
and the country. To the latter the
death of Senator Hoar will be per-
sonal loss, similar to that which would
be experienced were noted Irish
patriot or an eloquent and influential
member of the Catholic church to pass
away, suddenly. Senator Hoar was
Unitarian, yet he was a stout defender
of the Irish Catholic, and his voice,
when it gave utterance to such de-
fense, or attacked those who slandered
the people of Irish blood or members
of the Roman Catholic church, went
forth with volume that shattered the
arguments of critics or the political
structures erected by bigots to restrain
Irish Ca tholic liberty of thought word
and deed. 1t was Senator Hoar who
dealt the death blow to ga. P. A-ism."
That act is remembered by all. When
in early manhood young Hoar, wit
ness to the bigotry that "Know-Noth-
ing-ism" fostered and encouraged, he
faced the issue even more resolutely
than he did the forces of the "a. P.
A." The year 1854 gave to the "Know-
Nothing" party the complete control
of the state. 1t elected in that year,
its candidates for governor, lieutenant
governor, for all state Offices, for all
the seats in the legislature but two,
and every seat in congress from Mas
sachusetts.. George f. Hoar was then
at the age of %. Two years later he
was fighting the bigots with all the
skill of his legal brain and eloquent
tongue. He was nominated for the
senate and was elected. Governor
Gardner, the idol and leader Of the
"Know-Nothings," found in the young
state senator q foe and critic who fear
ed no one and no influence or threats.
Every page of the Republic could
be filled with utterances by the states
man, showing how liberal were his
views and plain-spoken when occasion
demanded. For the benefit of the Irish
Catholics of New England the Repub-
lie publishes few extracts from his
autobiography. Speaking Of the
I.Know-Nothing Party" and his over
throw, the eloquent senator, in chapter
NJ of vol. 1, said: "There have been,
ever since the Irish immigration
which began somewhere about 1S4O,
down to today great many worthy
people who have been afraid Of the
Pope and the influence of Catholicism
in this country, and have been exceed
fngly Jealous of the influence of for
eigners, especially Of those of the
Roman Catholic church. Self-seeking
political adventurers and demagogues