The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-14
AMERICAS NEED
Subject Of Address by James
Mason of Jamestown N. D,
Graduate of St. Johns Academy
Prepares Splendid Paper.

at that place. and it should be read with
pleasure and profit. especially by young
men. He said:
We stand with reverence before Ply
mouth Rock. We think With mingled
pride and heartache of the bitter strug-
gle on that bleak, New England shore
We erect monuments to the memory
nt our illustrious dead, whose names
are honored and revered by every true
American. The early history of Amer
lea is history of toll and struggle.
men did not count their lives too great
q price to pay that a nation, built on
principles of truth and righteousness
might arise in these western parts.
Our nation comes to us as 9 sacred
trust. To maintain her in her integ-
rity must she plead for men? Is the
spirit OF the pioneer dead" Is the de-
terlnined purpose of Washington and
Lincoln gone from the manhood of the
twentieth century?
They laid the foundation of this
great nation amidst difficulties that
would have baftled the bravest heart
that ever throbbed beneath the bosom
of the worlds most renowned heroes.
-Four hundred years have passed into
history and we stand amazed at the
Al, L.:
won. Civilization and settlement have
moved steadily westward from the home
OF the Pilgrim to the great rockies
over those rugged peaks and down
their western slope to the peaceful
shcres of the vast Pacific. Today
this limitless region is happy with
thousands of prosperous homes. Amer
lea takes her stand among the fore
most nations of the world.
The seed of democracy OF four CEN
turtles ago has budded. blossomed and
expanded into a great tree, with roots
deeply imbedded in the soil of justice
and branches waving in the gentle
zeplyrs Of freedom. On a marble
slab over the northern door of St.
Paurs Cathedral. London is the name
nf the architect. Sir Christopher Wren.
Beneath the name are the words. "If
you would seek his monument look
about YOU" If we would seek the
monument of Americas humble mill
lions, who have sacrificed for their
country their fellowmen look about
YOU. The good men do stand as eter-
nal monuments which the storms of
ages can neither corrodc nor crum-
BILE
But is not America today saying:
as not this great Babylon l have
built" Even now the Discerning eye
sees in the horizon the Name. name"
family. yet unmistakable. Her vast
natural resources, immense combna-
lions of capital. gigantic facilities all
point to her becoming the greatest
commercial nation the world has ever
known.
Material progress alone does not pre-
serve the permanence of nation
There must be principles Of life deeper
than the desire for gain. The univer-
sal obstacle to progress is within n ma
ton. 1t springs from Il lack Of in
tegrity in it's citizens and legislators.
Our past achievements and present
strength are without Il doubs, the
fruits of the sacrifice and devotion to
principle laid down by the pioneer aud
maintained by those who have dug
from her soil and rock ribbed noun
tainS. the nations wealth. by those
who have subdued wilderness after
Wilderness; by those who have built
her cities; fought her battles aid
stand today as the defenders of the
nation by unfolding righteous and just
laws.
They laid the foundation but We
must build the superstructure. If /
Shall endure it must be Of the same
material and workmanship, polished
and beautified, by honesty, upright
eousness, and the integrity of it's law
makers and citizens. But must w.
always look to the past for our hon
est statesmen? Are there no Washing
tons in the present time: Have we n
ideal statesmen today? In the worl
of science and art we hail with deligl7
today greater than yesterday. Mus
we always look to the past for :rutl
honesty and justice, and to the pr.sel
for investigation. discovery and re
search? Today surpasses yesterday
commerce, invention and organization
has virtue, honor and truth rea2hc
clean, true, noble manhood in tt
present time? Yes, if we but liste
we may hear the call coming f.o
every direction. America today neet
not only a few great men. but RAJ
of heroes with citizenship backe
by true manhood. The world is full
men but the cry goes out for mo-
men: men of truth, conviction al
courage.
Fifty years ago our country was OF
pressed by human slavery. So deep
had it's roots penetrated into the vita