The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-19
FAIRBANKS KEEPS
LIME LIGHT BUSY
Follows Boom for Presidency
With Number of Speeches
1.-THE IRISH IN AMERICA"
Is Subject of Address Before Irish
Fellowship Club-After Mayor
Dunne-Reception Crowded
BY Hundreds.
1.-THE IRISH IN AMERICA

business men of this state, the Vice Pres
ident was the central attraction today in
a series of receptions given under the
auspices of the Irish Fellowship club.
which started at $3.50 this morning and
closed with q banquet at the auditorium
tonight. The banquet held at the audi
torium, which was under the auspices os
the Irish Fellowship club. was, accord
ing to Its projectors, the most elaborate
celebration of ST. Patrlck's day ever held
in this country.
Vice President Fairbanks as the guest
of honor, came to deliver the chief ad-
dress of the day. He was greeted at the
banquet hall by fully seven hundred mem
bers of the club and half as many ladies
were present
The banquet was preceded by a reeep-
tion held in the parlors of the hotel,
which lasted for the better part of an
hour. During this time the Vice Pres
ident was warmly greeted by the major
ity of those wing attended the banquet
and by several hundred others who came
merely for the reception and did not re-
main for the later festivities. The ban
quet proper was preceded by singing the
Star Spangled Banner under the direc-
ton of Thomas T. Drill. the leader of the
Irish Choral society. Follows the song
Rev. Henry J. Dumbaeh presto. At of st.
Ignatus college, pronounced the invoca-
tion in Gaelic.
James OShaughnessy, president of the
Irish Fellowship club acted as toast
maker, and after brief address intro
duced as the first speaker of the even
ing Mayor Dunno of Chicago.
Vice President Fairbanks 5was next on
the programme, the subject of his ad-
dress being The Irish in America"
The Vice President spoke as follows:s
II count myself fortunate In being able
to meet the members of the Good Eel
lowship club. l like the name. There Is
something whole-souled and American
about II, and, above all. the9A Is seaAe-
thing essentially irish aboi3f 1t. The
more good fellowship we get into this
world the better we are and the better
the world Is. Take good fellowship out
of 1t and you take out of it most of that
which is good and splendid. My friends.
your generous hospitality makes me your
grateful debtor
"The theme which you have assigned
to me is a very attractive one-one which
is indeed well worthy of the occasion.
The Irish have been among the most po-
no better, truer Americans than those
who were either born In ireland or who
proudly trace their ancestry to that lit
tie island across the sea, the home of
Emmsu and Grafton and other orators
and statesmen, who. by the force OF
their genius impressed themselves upon
the thought of the civilized world. We
have many hundreds of thousands of
Irish in America, but upon St. Patrieks
day II would seem as II they were indeed
the whole thing. We saw men and women
wearing the green on yesterday in whose
veins runs not urop OF Irish blood, but
who instinctively and gladly pay tribute
to the Irish race. They caught the in
fectious enthusiasm of the hour and did
themselves honor in honoring the MEM
ory of the great patron saint of Ireland.
Irish Influence.
'fWho can measure the influence of the
Irish in America? American institutions
and American progress are the fruit OF
the co. cooperation of many nauonalltles
and of MANY mighty influences. 1t Is diff
ficult for us to measure the exact con-
tribution of the different bloods which
make up our national citizenship to the
Development and growth of the great re-
public 1t is difficult to tell the effect or
each upon our Institutions and our ma
tional life. We can, however, in large
wa. measure the effect of each and all
by their contribution to the intellectual,
the moral and the commercial welfare
of the people We may say, without in
yidous distinction, that man for man the
Irish stand for as much in our social,
commercial and national progress as do
any of the sons of America, whether
born in our land or beyond the seas.
The influence of the Irish in America is
az Wide as the sphere of our national
,rl,+ at In
stinctiye love of liberty, their love of
home and love of country. Many of
them came with the sum of their worldly
belongings upon their backs. They came
with strong hanGs and stout hearts,
which were their main capital, ana 1t
we. :, indeed. capital enough In this coun-
try of boundless opportunity. They came
to cast their fortunes with the great re-
pub..c and to go up or down with 1t.
III v came to be Americans in the fullest
and best sense. They came not as guests
hut MS welcome members of our national
household.
Mutual Benefit.
II like what the Irish have done for
America and | like what America has
done for the Irish 1t was a lucky day
for the Irish when they first set foot
upon the Atlantic coast.
"It was fortunate for America when
thoy decided TO leave tiie ILHieia alu lsit'
with its cherished associations and hard
conditions and become Americans They
left their native isle because they loved
freedoms blessed air, because they want
ed opportunity, because they yearned for
a chance TO have a habitation and home
and become something In the affairs of
their country, and factors in their day
and generation. They sought our shores
.as the swallow seeks the land OF sun
shine They came for no temporary con-
yenience. but to thoroughly incorporate
themselves into the body polite. to raise
their families and to live and die Amer
leans. They did not come to be mere
deadheads, but to be active, vital factors
In building up upon the western continent
the best civlllza ton the world has ever
known.
They were eager and ready TO engage
In the great work OF building railroads
and digging canals. They willingly put
their hands to the work OF converting
the wilderness into Industrial centers.
establishing the busy marts and creating
the great highways Of commerce. They
readily went into the avenues where
severe toll was required. They performed
whatever tasks were honorable. conf
dent that they were laying the sure foun-
datjons upon which to rise to ultimate
hot- ST