The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-24
At Duluth by the Rev. j. j. O'Mahoney,
Pastor Of St. Joseph's Church, Grand
Rapids, This State.
The Story Of a Century Of Struggle Against
Oppression Eoquently and Faith
fully Related.

held out to themselves, and how
dreamy had been their hopes would
appear when, ut O'Connelrs death in
May. 1S47. the whole land was plunged
in mourning ana over 1t sat broodling
tho horrid spectres of pestilcnce and
famine. The national capital. Dublin,
could ut this period be we'll designated
another Athens" by reason Of the
vast number Of the young educated
mon and women who formed the
Young ireland Party" From the
year 1912 to 184S were the halcyon
days. when the luminous essay and
ballad song of Thomas Davis made
vocal lrelnnd'S name on many far
away shore. Those were tho days when
there were orators who were poets, and
poets who were orators; when Barry.
Mulready, Maclisc. Hogan and Foley in
voked the arts and entered into FRIEND
ly rivalry with the artists of Italy's
sunny climo. When n terrible scourge
had visited their people. it was but
natural that those young, enthusiastic,
patriots, fired with q knowledge and
enthusiasm almost divine, should have
raised their voices to seek succor from
tho governing power for their fam
ishing people. In 1S4S tho song Of the
bard and tho periods of the orator in
pathetic cadence besought English
statesmen to do something for their
country. England was as silent as
Il grave. No response came from the
stolid breasts OF tho statesmen who
legislated in the halls of Westminster.
The fiery Celt. impatient Of delay. In q
fit Of frenzy flew into insurrection.
which. i'll tho condition Of the country,
was half-hearted and consequently was
quickly stopped. Then commenced
that mighty exodus. which perhaps has
had no parallel in history. From the
first Of May. 1851 to tho 31st of March,
1871. 2.so4.294 Irish peasants sought
refuge in the United States alone. In
the SOS 1t was certainly q hcartrending
spectacle to an intense lover of his
country to behold tho great shipping
ports crowded with the bold peasantry,
q country's pride. anxlously awaiting
q boat to flee from land to which they
we're passlonately attached.
How did England act when this pic
turc was brought before her gaze In
its grim reality? Did she. like wise
nation, legislato so as to check tho mad
rush of her subjects and materially
better the conditions of those who
were to stay at home? Lot US listen to
the London press. which is usually the
organ Of English public opinion. What
do they soy about the matter? Those
of them that do discuss it shout them
selves 1oarse with joy at the glad
prospects the future has in store for
Ireland. Over the broad acres the hu-
man eye will discern enormous herds
Of cattle and sheep grazing, and not
even a cabin will be left standing to
shelter these departing demons Of as
sassination and murder" Sublime
eptthets, indeed, these applied to poor
people fleeing from pestilence and want
created by their nefarious system Of
government. which celebrated French
traveller (G. De Beaumont) once re-
marked, was far more tyrannous than
that exercised by the absolutism Of the
Cars over the serfs of Russia, or the
slave-owners over the negro popula-
ton Of the United States" Well. it
certainly Jared badly with the peas
antry. Flight to other lands was their
only possible means Of earthly suste-
nance then. But perhaps the English
government, thinking that part Of their
program of evil suhicient, will deal
leniently with those educated heroes
who had risen in rebellion. Even II
they had conspired, their provocation
had been great. and they were deserv-
ing Of some forbearance on account Of
the many great talents they possessed.
Their songs were sung. and are sung
stu today. by many a faraway hearth
stone. Their essays were redolent OF
deep sruditic1 end thsir matohlsss ora
lions wclp pnd indie tho hre Of snthus-
Iiasm ir the breast of 4 stole.
sSss KS k,5i gtsS Il ~. ,sSsEss E Sp stst.