The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-04-04
SONS OF ERIN.
eBy Ex-Governor Taylor, Of Tennes-
see.)

~ = WStO - oSot SSOt = WO0AN
ehisel from the marble my idea
of ahero. Iwould make 1.-THE fig
uro of an freshman, sacrificing hi
hopes and his life on the altar o.
his country, and I would carve OF
its pedestal the name of Robert
Emmett.
FL were a painter, L would
make the canvass eloquent with
the deeds of the brayest people
who ever lived, whose proud spir-
it no power can ever conquer,
and whose loyalty and devotion
to home and free government no
tyrant can ever crush. I would
write under the picture 81 reland.' .
nfwere . poet I would melt
the world to tears with the pathoe
of my song. 1 wonld touch the
heart ofhumanity with the mourn
full threnody of Ireland's wrongs
and Erin's woes. I would weave
the shamrock and the rose into
garlands of glory for the Emer-
aid Isle, the land of martyrs and
memories, the cradle of heroes,
the nursery of liberty.
Tortured in dungeons and mur-
dered on scaffolds, robbed of the
fruits of their sweat and toll,
scourged by famine and plunder-
ed by the avarice of heartless
power, driven like the leaves of
autumn before the keen winter
winds, this sturdy race of Erin's
sons and daughters have been
scattered over the face of the
earth, homeless only IN the land
of their nativity, but princes and
lords in every other land where
merit Is the measure of the man.
Where is the battlefield that
has not been gloriied by Irish
courage and baptized with Irish
blood? And where is the free
country whose councils have not
been strengthened by Irish brains
and whose wealth has not been
increased by Irish Drawn?
Wherever the flag of war Aut-
ters, the spirit of IRISH chivalry is
there, painting for the battle and
eager for the charge, whether it
be Wellington leading the allied
armies at Waterloo, or "Mad'
Anthony Wayne storming the
British garrison at Stony Point;
whether it be Sam Houston crush
ing the armies of Santa Anna at
San Jacinto, or Davy Crockett
courting death at the Alamo;
whether it be Andrew Jackson at
New Orleans, Stonewell Jackson
At Charlottesville, whether it be
Phil Sheridan in the saddle rid
ing like . god of war into the
thickest of the fight, or Pat Ole
burne leading a forloen hope and
dying at the cannon's mouth on
the breastworks of the foe, it is
the same intrepid, unconquerable
spirit of sublime courage which
flows like a stream of inspiration
from the hearts of Old Ireland to
FIRE the souls of the worlds great
est leaders and to burn forever on
the affairs of liberty.
Wherever the banner of peace
is unfurled over the progressive
English speaking nations of the
earth, this same irresistible Celtic
blood has ever been present, shap-
ing the destinies of empires and
republics.
Itwarmed the heart of Edmund
Burke, whose brain was mighty
loom, which wove tapestries of
glory for England and for man
kind. It inspired the souls of
Swift and Sheridan, whose dreams
will linger in literature forever.
1t lighted up the brain of Oil
yer Goldsmith, who broke out in
songs sWeeter than the song of
the nightingale. 1t kindled the
soul Of Tom Moore into flame,
and like an angel of light from
the realms of dreams, he swept
the strings of Erin's harp, and 10!
the whole world thrilled with the
melody. The body of Tom Moore
was dust long ago, but his spirit
lives In his songs, and breathes