The Irish standard., 1907-09-21

OF their own day who understood not
their story, they seemed to belong to
the lowest rank Of sordiery-the mer-
cenary ranks, the men that fight for
pay. Historians have told the history
of Fontenoy and hesitated to mention
even their names. Now we come to
revive their memory, to perpetuate it,
to crown it, with the green bays torn
from the tree of liberty! Why?
1t is because they fought in a sacred
cause of their own, a cause of freedom,
in the vindication of the sanctity of
treaties, the rights of man and the
sacredness of a nations independence:
They fought not to wrest Tournai from
Dutch or Austrian, or to give Journal
to France; they fought because in the
opposing ranks was marshalled the
power of the oppressors of their own
people, the strength of the nation that
broke faith with their fathers Their
battle cry was not France but RE
member Limerick" Their thoughts on.
that day were not of the City by the
Scheldt, but of the Treaty Stone by
the Shannon; they charged not for the
F'leur-de-Lis, but for the Shamrock.
They were not mercenaries; therefore,
land though armed under a flag of
conquest, they were true soldiers Of
liberty.
Their fight was the cause of their
own land, from which they had been
| exiled, and against the tyranny Of
which their country was the victim
Their victory was no barren one either
in the cause Of freedom. 1t struck
| some of tho shackles from the limbs
Of ireland. They fell while yet the
plain was green with the green of
spring, before the autumn had colored
the plain, the first breath of religious
liberty was breathed in Ireland; the
first for a hundred years. 1t was the
! first peep Of dawn in day which
though often since clouded has been
steadily increasing in light and lib
erty. Hence it is that we who arr
the gamers by their heroism have come
from distant Ireland to raise this sim.
pie memorial to their bravery and
patriotism. 1t is with pride and graft
! tude. that we give it into the charge
of the freemen of Belgium, the free
commune Of Fontenoy.
am proud to have the privilege to
hand this monument over to the VIII
lage Of Fontenoy. It's form is the ira
ditional Irish cross that has come
down to us from ancient Ireland, from
| our Celtic forefataers, a form now.
typical Of centuried struggle for lib
erty. right, humanity. I thank, in the
name Of Ireland, the representatives
Of Fontenoy. and especially M. the
Bourgemeister, who have so readily
and so Hospitality received this charge
| and undertaken to preserve this me-
| mortal in their midst. May the cross
stand for long years to come in your
midst, its custodians the free sons OF
an independent Belgium. the immr.
mortal friends .of an Ireland every day
growing in the pride of its traditions,
the fidelity Of its friendships and the
freedom Of its children.
An impressive ceremony took place
in Fontenoy on the occasion Of the
! Inauguration Of the Irish monument
comniemorating the gallantry Of the
Irish Brigade at the battle Of Fontenoy
on April %. 1745. A special train
| brought a party Of two hundred Irish
| visitors. under the conduct of ]. F.
Nannetti. Mayor Of Dublin, and r.
Barry O'Brien. An enormous crowd
gathered to receive the party. The
Communal Secretary welcomed the
visitors on behalf Of the Communal
authorities, and thanked the members
of the Committee for the erection Of
| the monument Mr.. Walsh, on behalf