The Irish standard., 1904-10-15
ons reflected a sad glory on her his

ton of the Union would be the crown
of all misfortune. If this ark of hui
man hope launched by the fathers up
on the sea of liberty were to go down,
where would be the land Of refuge
that would receive the wreckage of
lreland's desolated shores, as well as
that of all the nations who looked at
! this star of hope? That would be the
greatest calamity that could befall
humanity, and he threw himself with
all the enthusiasm and ardor of his
disposition into the struggle to save
the United States.
HE Joined three-months regiment
the SiXty-nintl. 1t is remarkable that
there are two men here, Major Wal
lace and myself, who saw that regi-
nent, go into action at Bull Run on
the, Gath Of July, 1861. Then he or
ganized the brigade and named it af-
ter the immortal victors of Fontenoy.
The white trefoil of that greatest corps
of all our armies in number and serv-
ice was conceived by Meagher, and
waved in glory over the men of Sum-
ner, Sedgwick, Warner and Hancock.
My own regiment was of this COM
mand and l saw the brigade go into
action at Fair Oaks, White Oak
swamp, that desperate charge at An
tietam, and the still more desperate
charge across the slippery plain and
the sunken canal up to the foot of the
stone wall, and held that line for three
days until the army was withdrawn.
This is the action that was chosen for
this monument, the general leading
that historic charge up those slopes of
Fredericksburg, where the brigade
was so nearly annihilated that it hard
ly afterward recovered its strength
and force.
''Then moved by the spirit of adj
venture he accepted this office in the
west. He engaged to write also for
the New York papers and magazines.
The beautiful descriptions of these
mountains and their scenery can yet
be found in those magazines, but have
never been gathered. An Indian war
was waging. He was active in organ
izing the defense Of the frontier. He
went to Fort Benton to receive boat
load of arms, and in the darkness of
the night fell off the narrow deck
which had no guard rail, and was lost
to his people and to the world.
"As his compatriot has no epitaph,
so Meagher has no grave. The mighty
Missouri enwraps him forever in her
golden sands. and as her waves roll
down toward the sea she forever MUIR
murs for him her lullaby and requiem.
"The old pioneers and the thousands
of his admirers have organized to erect
Nontana's first monument to Mon
tana's first martyr. Here, before our
newly erected capitol, his efigy shall
arise. In days to come these grounds
will be filled with the molds of men
who served the state in her heroic
days, to stand until the end of time,
to show that Montana will ever re-
member those lofty spirits who gave
their lives to her service or who died
in her defense"
Former Gov. Preston H. Leslie was
next introduced, and stood with barred
head while the workmen We're placing
the copper box beneath the corner
stone, covering it with cement and
lowering the great stone to it's posi-
ton. Placing his hands upon the
stone as it descended into place the
venerable man, whose part in the life
of Montana has been such as to endear
him to all the people Of the state, said
it was an honor to him to participate
in the exercises. While General
Aleagher had passed away, he said, his
life and deeds would live forever in
the minds of the people of the state.
ut is my privilege and honor" Gov
ernor Leslie said, 'for me, as his sue
cessor to lay my hands upon this cor
nerstone to the lasting memory of a
great name."
George Irwin, of Butte, prominent
among the pioneers of Montana, fol-
lowed with brief tribute to General
Meagher in which he dwelt upon his
services to the territory. II had," Mr..
Irwin said, 'the honor Of his acquaint-
ance. He was an honorable man and
helped the community in the early
days. He performed his duties faith
fully and well. He was patriot, full
Of humor, magnanimity and pathos
and altogether man with whom it
was great privilege to have had per-
sonal acquaintance"
Former Senator Thomas H. Carter
was then called upon to preside over
the exercises, having been named as
one of the committeeman with John Z,
Murphy and S. G. Wallace to raise
$4,000 of the fund in Lewis and Clarke
county.
Senator Carter announced the fol-
lowing subscriptions to the monument
fund: w. G. Conrad, 500; John T.
Murphy, 500; T. II. Carter, $1OO; r. C.
Wallace, $50; p. w. King, $50; Martin
Maginnis, $50; D. A. G.. Flowerree.