The Irish standard., 1906-03-24
FROM THE IRON RANGE.

st. Patrick's evening. was n grand
success. Vail opera house was crowded
to the doors. 1t was necessary to put
nearly 100 people behind the scenery
on the stage to accommodate the large
assemblage. Vail opera house is the
largest hall in the city, containing in
the neighborhood of 700 seats. Rev.
r. J, Mooney, Episcopalean minister OF
Duluth. delivered the Grafton. He is u
forceful speaker and is at his best on
the Irish question The speaker said
in part:
MY Dear Irish Friends.-It affords
me great. pleasure this evening to be
able 70 speak to such a large gather
ing of Irishmen and their descendants.
The Irish people of today have not
changed either in religion or patriotism
since the days of st. Patrick. although
six million OF her sons have been exiled.
The population of the old land has
diminished from nearly ten millions
until today there is but four millions
left, but they are just as loyal to the
old land as ever. and my dear friends.
whenever you write home to ireland.
be sure to give them encouragem
in their efforts for home rule. The Irish
in America must keep up the agitation.
1t is here the most can be done for
our suffering fellow countrymcn. The
Irish people have done n great service
to the United States and the United
States has given to them all they re-
quircd an open field and freedom and
they have moistened every battle field
with their hearts warm blood, and
when + look up to those green flags
this evening with the American flag
above them l am compelled to say to
you that no nation or a combination Of
nations under the heavens can remove
them from the exalted position they
occupy. We in America must keep
up the agitation until the green flag
Of Erin can tlutter to the breeze side
by side with the stars and stripes, pro-
claiming freedom to all men. feel
very confident that and you will see
this in the very near future
What does this home rule question
mean? My dear friends. you may have
some conception of it when you ask
yourselves this question:: Could. tho
federal government of this free land
Of ours rule Minnesota In It's every de-
tail? For instance. the many cities
and towns and all that the people
would require. This would be i'm
possible. There would not be time
enough and Minnesota would suffer.
So we have u home rule here, III that
we have our mayor, aldermen. legis-
lature. senate and governor. They at
tend to the every want of the people.
That Is home rule in Minnesota. The
Irish people ask only kor that same
in Ireland. They say that London cun-
not rule Ireland as you would say that
Washington, d. c.. could not rule Min
nesota. Do you think the Irish people
ask too much? English landlords have
taken ten millions Of dollars a year
out Of ireland to build up England for
many years. This has brought poverty
upon the. Irish people where prosperity
could flourish If this vast amount of
money were left in Ireland in the hands
Of the Irish people where it rightfully
belongs. But the answer the Irisl,
people receive from the English gov
ernment is that the Irish people can
not rule themselves. Mr.. Gladstone
said they could and should rule their
own country. How strange that the
Irish people rule in all lands and can
not rule In their own dear Ireland. We
have in this country over eighty mil
lions Of people and in every walk Of
life we find the Irishman leading. The
greatest doctors. scholars, speakers,
lawyers, artisans. inventors and rulers
Of states and cities. Leaders in art
and in war, quick to lay down their
lives for their adopted country, what
moro is required? And the daughters
Of this land of st. Patrick are as loyal
as tho sous. The old soldier has told
me that on the battle field no smoke
is too thick. no cannon roar too loud.
no flowing of human blood too un-
slightly to stay the hand Of mercy Of
those good nuns who have given up
sick and wounded. An. small indeed
is the mans heart that would soy an
Ill word Of those noble women who
are found in the hospitals. in the Or
phanages. ever and always sacrificing
themselves that they may assist others.
This may seem strange to you, my
fellow Irishmen, coming from me. an
Episcopalean minister, but 1t is as
true as the faith of st. Patrick is great.
May the day soon dawn when Ireland
will be an Irish nation.
Thos. Masterson. teamster at the
Adams mine, was severely injured in
a runaway last week
Patrick O'Neil, Of Adams, has been
laid up with rheumatism for two weeks.
8. E. Shannon, travelling representa-
tive Of the Irish Standard. was doing
business in this vicinity during the