The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-04-08
EARLY CELTS
In Colonial Days They We're /,
Strong Factor.
First Continental Congress Had
Many Irish Members.

ground of world-history-this has
been the destiny of the Celt BY the
grim irony of faith that rules nations
he has been flung into the van OF
danger-and he met the tragic face
of danger with a smile and the lit
OF song. His history has been inter.
woven with the development of civil
lZation to remarkable degree. When
ever there was hazardous task to be
done or wherever there was brilliant
bit of bravery to deck the worlds
cockade-there you can always find
the Celt, says the Boston Republic.
In America he has written his name
across the continent with a splendid
vigor and holiness of touch. A new
nation was to be affixed to the map
OF the world, a new national destiny
was to be brought along a different
pattern, new type of man-energetic,
dreaming great dreams of industrial
conquest. full of originative vigor-
/
Here was the Celtic opportunity
and with consecrated eagerness of
purpose did the Celt master it, In our
early revolutionary struggle the Irish
bore part that is resplendent At
the battle of Bunker Hill, for example,
here is the roll of honor of the Irish
American heroes who fell in that pre-
Jude to the stormy music of war:
Thomas Doyle, Thomas Allen, John
Barrett, Daniel Callahan, Daniel Nc
Grath, James Patten, Thomas Collins,
George Shannon, John Broderick,
William Mc.rillis, Roger Fox, Mat
thew Cummings, Daniel Memory, John
Dillin, John Mead.
The heart of the country was thrill
ling to the new lnnuence-and the
Celt is again brilliant figure against
the curtain of history.
Not only was the Celtic valor tested
in the crucible and found without al
10y. The keenness and acumen of
the Irish brain was called into service
by the demands of the times A
princeling over the waters had placed
the precious liberties of people in
jeopardy. A sullen Parliament had
not listened TO the voice of wisdom
represented by a Burke, a Chatham,
a Charles James Fox, The war-tide
was rising-as usual we find the glori.
flying finger of history pointed to the
Celt.
The First Continental Congress met
in Philadelphia on Sept. S, 1874. 1t
was made up of fifty-four delegates,
all the Colonies, except Georgia, being
represented. There was only one con,
sideration involved in their selection
who were the ablest and best men
and the destinies of nation we're
never placed in more worthy or COM
petent hands than those of the mem.
bers of the First American Congress-
They were men OF the most exalted
character and purest patriotism, with
out blot or blemish of any kind in
their public and private lives, and with
only one or two exceptions they re.
NAMED true to the last to the people
who placed their destinies in their
keeping. The work of the Congress
consisted mainly OF patriotic recon-
mendations to the people and men,
orial to the King and Parliament of
England for satisfactory adjustment
of their grievances. The Importance
attached to the First Congress rested
rather on the members themselves
than on anything they did. The fact
that Il native Parliament had sprung
into existence at a crucial time and
that it's members were men of the
greatest ability and highest standing
in the community, who had espoused
the popular cause as against the power
and authority of the English King,
were in themselves solace and a
| 'emedy in which the utmost confidence
was placed. AS John Adams wrote to
his wife, every man in the Congress
was great man, an orator, a critic,
and statesman, and we are proud
to say that the greatest and most
brilliant of them all, with the single
exception of Washington in certain
sense, was pronounced by Patrick
Henry to be John Rutledge of South
Carolina, the gifted son of an Irish
man.
There were ten Irishmen or Irish
American members of the First Con
tinental Congress, and they all, with
only one exception became illustrious
leaders of thought and action in their
respective States and in Congress.
They we're: John Sullivan, of New
Hampshire; Joseph Galloway, of Penn
sylvania; Thomas Mexican and George
Reed, of Delaware; Thomas Johnson,
of Maryland; John Rutledge, Edward
Rutledge, and Thomas Lynch, of
South Carolina; Robert Treat Paine,
of Massachusetts, and John Hart, of
New Jersey.
In addition to these there was an
other Irishman in the First Congress-
who welded mighty influence in its
councils. He was Charles Thomson,
who, though not a member, was elect
ed to the responsible position of keep
ing the minutes of the proceedings