Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19
TRIBUTE TO THE IRISH
VICE PRESIDENT FAIRBANKS
SPEECH AT CHICAGO BANQUET.

CHICAGO, March 19.-Vice President
Charles w. Fairbanks last night finished
a busy day in celebration of St. Patrick's
anniversary by adding a fourth speech to
those of the day time, as chief guest at
banquet given by the Irish Fellowship
Club Of Chicago at the Auditorium. Fol-
lowing the Launching of an Illinois BOOM
for Fairbanks candidacy for the presi-
dency by several Illinois republican lead
ers, the Vice President yesterday made
speeches at st. Ignatius College, ut
the University of Chicago and at the Chi
cago Press Club. In addition, he held sew
eral informal receptions and was busy
man for nearly eighteen hours.
The Vice President was greeted in the
banquet hall last night by fully 800 men,
bers of the club and half many wom-
en-. The hall was profusely decorated with
stars and stripes and with the green flag
bearing the golden harp. The banquet
was preceded by reception held in the
parlors of the hotel where the Vice Pres
ident was warmly greeted by those who at
tended the banquet and by several hundred
others.
James OShaughnessey, president of the
Irish Fellowship Club, introduced as the
first speaker after the banquet -yor
Dunno of Chicago.
The Irish in America" saying in part:
4TlSu 4AA0ChSS III x4AAACAA Sus
II count myself fortunate in being able to
meet the members Of the Good Fellowship
Club. 1 like the name. There is something
whole souled and American about it, and,
above all, there is something essentially
Irish about it. The more good fellowship
we get into this world the better we are and
the better the world is. Take good fellow
ship out of it 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, we'll worthy of the occasion The
Irish have been among the most potent In
building up the nation. There are no better,
truer Americans than those who were either
born in Ireland or who proudly trace their
ancestry to that little island across the sea,
the home of Emmett and Grattan 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. Patrick's day 1t
would seem as If they We're, indeed, the
whole thing. We saw men and women
wearing the green on yesterday in whose
veins runs not a drop of Irish blood, but
who instinctively and gladly pay tribute to
the Irish race. They caught the infectious
enthusiasm of the hour and did themselves
honor in honoring the memory OF the great
patron saint of Ireland.
who can measure the influence of the
Irish in America? American institutions
and American progress are the fruit of the
cooperation Of many nationaliteS and OF
many mighty influences. 1t Is difficult for
us to measure the exact contribution of the
different bloods which make up our national
citizenship to the development and growth
Of the great republic. 1t is difficult to tell
the effect of each upon-osr institutions and
our national life. We can, however, in q
large way measure the effect Of each and
all by their contribution to the intellectual
the moral and the commercial welfare of
the people.
Lucky Day for the Irish.
II like what the Irish have done for
America and like what America has done
for the Irish. 1t was lucky day for the
Irish when they first set foot upon the At
lantic 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 freedoms blessed air, because they
wanted opportunity, because they yearned
! for a chance to have 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 sunshine
They came for no temporary convenience,
but to thoroughly incorporate themselves
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.
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 wilder