Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-03-25
IRISH AMERICANS
GREATLY HONORtO
VICE PRESIDENT FAIRBANKS
PAYS GRATEFUL TRIBUTE.
DEDICATED TO FREEDOM
Their Names Grace the Immortal
Declaration of independence
Many Went Down to Battle That
the Nation Might LiVe-HIgh Spir-
tied and Loyal Citizens.

Chicago, March 19.-Before tue
Irish Fellowship club last night Vice
President Fairbanks spoke of Il G
Irisn-Americans. He promised his
remarks by saying. Il like what th-S'
Irish have done for America ami
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
dom's blessed air, because the wanted
opportunity, because they yearned for
a chance to have habitation and q
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 to 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 iHsti-
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 Irishmen dedicated themselves to
the cause of liberty upon this CONT
nent They drew their swords upon
the side of the brave continenta1s 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 l 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, the 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 of 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 H. 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 who will
step to the country's defense more
quickly than the patriotic sons of old
Ireland NT
My friends" said the vice preaf-
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 win
be future of opportunity-oppo
ity for the display of genius, the
thrift, the enterprise and the patr.ot-
ism of all our people. Our feet viii
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
if We would achieve our
highest national destiny. Let us have
faith in each other. Let US have
confidence in the virtue of our insti-
buttons. Let us cooperate. Let rs
fellowship together and go forward ia
the work of making our country what
our fathers intended it should be-
the master republic of all the ages.
Eskimos as a rule can not swim,
the water around them never going