The Irish standard., 1906-08-25

w illlam Jennings BRYAN was present
at reception given in his honor bv
the Irish Club, at its magnificent nav
premises. Charing Cross road, London
England. recently. says The Irish
World. The Club was beautifully dec
GRATED and American and Irish n,p.
''";'ted III the breeze from the windows
ana fr"m the roof of the building, Sew
eral hundred guests assembled and
when Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, accompa
MED by Mr.. and Mrs. John Redmond
ana Il. p. O'Connor entered the recen-
tim hall. they were received with nm
"u'nurst OF enthusiasm which affected
the visitors. MIR. T. Rouse President
or the Club. presided.
Il. p. O'Connor, M, p. who v,. ro.
'eived with applause, said-Mr. Brynn
on behalf of the Irishmen OF Great Rri-
tam generally l offer you hearty well
come. Il cead mile failte &, the Irish
t'ub. Your name is one which even
centuries ago was prominent and his
tortctl in the annals of ireland NAV W..
not also believe without any lack of
modesty that some at least of your
many gifts-your eloquence, your no.
'itical insight, your Imagination v,,,
re''dv sympathy. your geniality, your
"'''iDilitS--are In part derived from
your Celtic ancestors But, Mr.. BRYAN
you would be a welcome guest among
US Whatever the origin or your family
III tile mere fact that you are n dis
tinguished citizen OF the United St,t..
NIUE touch of American nature,
makes the whole world kin. no ev.rv
l'hd ana every race your country has
been Il land of promise, of hone nr
"'rSef liberties, greater equality of op-
l'"rtunlty. beneficial change of environ.
lnent Il" the Irish in particular vo,,r
country has been an asylum and u rc-
fuge
Nearly forty years ago John Bright
used these words: You will rccolIcct
' e''c ancient Hebrew prophet
prayed IN his captivity he prayed with
ms window open towards ,JcrusoIem
You know that the followers of Ma.
'''''''et When they pray turn their faces
t""a" Mecca. When the rrisl, farmer
asks for food and freedom and bless.
lngs his eye follows the setting SIM
The aspirations of his heart reach be-
y"nd the wide Atlantic, and in spirit
ne graspS hands with the yrent Re.
pubic OF the West" To us 1t is often
the cause Of bitter wall. and sometimes
almost of despair, that so many mil
mons OF our race have been driven by
evlI laws from our own beautiful and
fertile land, but 1t is some consolation
[" us that so many of these millions
have found happy and prosperous
homes in the hospitable and glorious
bosom Of the great Republic of the
West.
We are proud that they have done
| their duty for their new country in bat
Tie by land and sea, that In the pur-
suits OF commerce they have taken
their due share. and we are proud
and grateful also that while no race
of the many in your land are more
ardently patriotic, and might say
more vehemently American, yet they
have not forgotten that sad little is
land from which their race springs.
In your visits to our country you
must have been struck by the palpable
signs of all around you the close and
myriad ties that bind our people to the
United States. There is scarcely one in
the thousands Of cottages by which
your train has sped in which America
| has not q daily and hourly thought in
one greyhaired father or mother,
brooding over some beloved son or
| daughter who has left them to find
work in America This man has a
brother there; this woman n sister; In
| short while millions Of our people re-
main in the flesh within the shores
Of Ireland, the dearer part of their
hearts and their souls lives in the land
| of the Stars and Stripes, with the
living or the dead-who has found q
last resting place in American EARTH
There is not a ship that crosses the
Atlantic which does not bear thousands