The Irish standard., 1905-07-15

1t Is therefore not only most appro-
pirate, but eminently fitting, that the
citizens of this republic should have
combined to honor this day and year
named, and to perpetuate the memory
of Thomas Francis Meagher; and to
do it here among the friends whom
he loved, and here upon the soil upon
which he helped to establish law and
order. Montana, remembering his
glories and achievements, and still
mourning the loss of her adopted son,
gladly and gratefully accepts this
splendid tribute of his devoted friends.
impatient only to hear the glowing
words OF the distinguished orator who
is to review his life and career"
Lieutenant-Governor Norris intro.
duced former Congressman John f.
Finerty, the noted Irish speaker of
Chicago, as the orator of the day. Mr..
Finerty was received with prolonged
cheers and his address was given rapt
attention. Mr.. Finerty said:
"Mr. Chairman, Governor Toole,
Ladies and Gentlemen: The mountain
/ wind is high today, but it is the breath
of liberty; it is fitting, indeed, that we
should have the breath of liberty
blowing here today to help warm the
friend of liberty represented in that
splendid monument. / have come
from the distant city of Chicago, at
the call of your committee, to say
some words in memory of this man,
whom the old among you knew and
loved, whom the middle-aged remem-
ber with pride, and to whom in future
ages the young will look for an ex-
| ample. It is meet that on this occa-
sion I should say something of the
causes which led this man from his
home by the waters of the Swilly, and
under the shade of Munster noun
tains, to become a citizen of the
United States and an acting governor
of Montana.
"On the first day of January, 1901,
the kingdom of Ireland, his native
land, ceased to be an Independent ma.
tion. The strong arm of greater
power and genius of an unscrupulous
minister, and the treason of men who
thanked God that they had country
to sell, but who, thank the Lord of
freedom, were not men of old Celtic
/ To fho
England cheerfully and unscrupu-
lously the native land of 2O,0OO,0OO of
the American people. 1 say the ma
tive land or the cradle land, because
there pulses in the heart of 10000, 900
of Americans the hot and gallant
blood that flowed through the veins
of Meagher.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Irish
people had their first martyr in that
gallant youth who forsook his own
class and virtually his own interests
to take up the cause of liberty in the
land that bore him. I mean that illus
trious Protestant patriot, the beloved
|
president Andrew johnson recog.
nized Meagher's ability, his courage
and his progressiveness and sent him
out to be a pioneer of this magnifi-
cent territory, as it was then, the ter
ritory of Montana. What Ireland lost
in Meagher, you, ladies and gentle
men, won; what Ireland lost in Mea-
CHER America gained; what ireland
lost in the immigration of millions of
her children, driven from the shore
of their native land, as if they were
wild beasts, by the power of England,
America has gained. Here today on
this soil of America this man and
men like him, and thousands of other
men as brave and true are free and
Independent citizens of a great coun.
try; and not here by sufferance, but
here from the birth Of the republic to
the very last war the Irish sword has
fiourished in the van of victory, and
in every struggle or battle has ever
been on the side of freedom, and
though defeated, has never yet, thank
God, been sheathed with dishonor Zap
plause) and therefore me meet heer to.
day from far and from near to do honor
to this splendid memory. His services
among you are too we'll known for me
to recount. He died in the prime of
his usefulness; he died in the harness
of the great office to which he was ap-
pointed; he died in his useful pride;
only at the age forty-three was he
called before the great Judge of all of
us, but he has left behind him the
memory that will never fail to inspire
either Americans or Irishmen; he has
left behind him memory that unites
in sympathy two countries, one en-
slaved, poor, oppressed, held by the
power of government that does not
recognize outside of the territory of
Briton the principle of home rule.
"She is held there, but although she
is, she has still within her the same
bounding heart which found express
sion in his eloquence; her flag is
furled, but it is not buried; her sword
is broken, but, as John Boyle O'Reilly
| s0 e1Onuent1v said nTha broken hilt ia