Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-03-21
IRISH AMERICANS
GREATLY HONOREO
VICE PRESIDENT FAIRBANKS
PAYS GRATEFUL TRiSUTE.
DEDICATED TO FREEDOM
Their Names Grace the immortal
Declaration of independence
Many Went Down to Battle That
the Nation Might Live-Hieh Spir-
tied and Loyal Citizens.

Chicago, March 19.-Before tue
Irish Fellowship club last night Vice
President Fairbanks spoke of Il
lrisn-Americans. He promised his
remarks by saying. Il like what the
Irish have done for America anu
like what American has done for the
Irish 1t was a lucky day for the
Irish when they first set foot upon the
Atlantic coast 1t was fortunate for
America when they decided to leave
the Emerald Isle, with its cherished
associations and hard conditions and
become Americans. They left their
native isle because they loved free
doms blessed air, because the wanted
opportunity, because they yearned for
chance to have a habitation and a
home and become something in the at
fairs of their country and factors in
their day and generation. They
sought our shores as the swallow
seeks the land of sunshine. They
came for no temporary convenience
but to thoroughly incorporate them
selves into the body polite, to raise
their families and to live and die
Americans. They did not come 10 be
mere deadheads but to be active, vital
factors in building up upon the western
continent the best civilization the
world has ever known"
Referring then to the eagerness and
the aptitude of the Irish immigrant
for American citizenship and to the
many Irish names that have enriched
the history of the United States he de-
clared that in every epoch of Ameri-
can history the Irish have contributed
their full share to safeguard our insti-
tutions and to advance the welfare,
the good name and the honor and the
glory of the United States In the
dark hours of the American revolution
man lrishmen dedicated themselves to
the cause of liberty upon this cont
nent They drew their swords upon
the side of the brave continentals who
perilled all that this land might b,
dedicated forever and forever to the
sublime cause of republican govern
ment To name some and not all
who threw themselves into the strug-
gle for independence would almost
seem ungenerous but | cannot forego
recalling some of their names. There
were Mad Anthony Wayne, General
Walter Stewart, Major General Ed
ward Hand Stephen Moylan, the
first president of the Friendly Sons,
and there was Ohm Barry, tue first
commodore of our navy-a navy which
has never failed to add honor TO the
American name. Irish names grace
the immortal declaration of independ-
ence. Thousands CT them went down
to the battle fields in order that the
nation might live. Upon hundreds of
battle fields they gave the highest
proof which men can give of their de-
votion to this land of liberty, and
when the end came, one of the three
foremost generals in all our victorious
army was the gallant Irishman, Gen.
eral Philip II. Sheridan.
There is no student of our national
life, there is no attentive observer of
our progress who does not know that
the Irish in America have been high.
spirited and loyal. Loyalty to Amer
lean institutions is one of their over
mastering passions. The great warm
Irish heart does not have in it the
seeds of treachery. If national peril
shall in Gods providence again come
to us, there will be no one VINO will
step to the country's defense more
quickly than the patriotic sons of old
Ireland
My friends" said the vice presi-
dent in conclusion, there is much in
the past to stimulate our pride. We
read the story with thrilling interest
There is much in the present to awak-
en- in us sense of profound gratitude.
There is much in the future to fill us
with confident hope The future viii
be future of portunity-opportun
ity for the display Of genius, the
thrift, the enterprise and the patr ct
ism of all our people. Our feet will
be guided through the future by the
lamp of past experience. The prob,
lens which shall engage our attention
will be solved in the light of the best
traditions Of the republic. We must
listen to no false prophets. We must
adhere to the principles Of justice and
righteousness if We would achieve our
highest national destiny. Let us have
faith in each other. Let us have
confidence in the virtue of our instl-
tutions. Let us cooperate. Let us
fellowship together and go forward 10
the work of making our country what
our fathers intended it should be
the master republic of all the ages"