The Washington herald., 1908-03-18

Progress shown by Eloquent Men.
Shamrocks entwined with the Stars and
Stripes festooned the walls of the Ma
ti9nal Hotel banquet hall last evening,
when 500 loyal sons of Old Erin gath
cred about the festive board 10 do honor
TO the memory OF St Patrick. Ireland S
patron saint.
True Celtic patriotism and enthusiasm
was wrought to high degre by stirring
addresses by prominent men, and by
Irish melody vocal and instrumental.
The banquet was a strictly Irish-Ameri-
can affair, with the national airs of both
countries sung by all present. The
Wearing Of the Green" and The star
Spangled Banner" We're each sung with
equal enthusiasm. When the celebration
closed the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
under whose auspices the banquet was
given, was complImented upon the sue
cess of the event
Makes Opening Address.
Mgr. Denis ]. O'Conneu. OF the Catho-
lie University. made the opening address
Of the evening. lie was introduced as the
man who stood for what the Irish Of
America loved more than anything, bar
ring their native land-the church.
1t is upon the subject Of the church
that Father O'CUnneil will speak 10 US.
said the toastmaster. After a few intro
ductory remarks, Father o'Connem said:
THE Catholic University, with which
you Hibernians than you are IN It. II
loves you, and thinks Of you and watches
over you. I have been called upon 10
speak on the toast. ''The Church" and 1
wish to say that I could talk upon that
subject all night
I am more familiar with it than with
any other subject you might mention
But / Will not take Up too much time
rs there are a number Of brilliant takers
who are 10 follow me. It is generally. ad-
mltted by men who study IL. that each
and every race on the face OF the earth
develops some characteristic trait. 7 do
not think the characteristics trait of our
nation is that Of cohesion or organization.
We are too full of independence. We wish
70 be leader. We have traits that no other
nation in the world can lay claim to-the
trait that viii make Il impossible forever
for a celt to be slave.
We are b1gnd together by a bond Of
unity A stronger bond could not be-the
church However. We may be scattered
over the world, when we meet we are
one Our nation covers the earth. vet we
are nodded into one great. solid phalanx
one that VIII never be broken, that Of
faith"
Speaker Given Ovation
After making his address Father
o'Connen left the banquet han in order
10 keep an appointment. As he passed
through the door. every one Of the 500
persons present who had heard his speech
rose and drank silent toast TO him.
The day we celebrate" was the toast
allotted 10 Rev. Father Eugene r. Con-
nelly. OF the Church Of the Immaculate
Conception. He said:
To-day we celebrate the inception Of
? moral Influence. augmented and sane
titled by Gods holy blessing which has
wrought untold and immeasurable good
for mankind. and weaved into the an
nails OF the human race many Of its
most sOrrOwful yet withal. sublime
chapters. When St Patrick answered
the call of the death angel. Ireland lost a
leader. but she gained mOre-an advocate
DtlOTe Ine throne Oh GOD
II any men have reason TO celebrate.
II any race has cause to feel a virtuous
pride in the history OF their ancestors.
then have we reason to assemble tonight
and commemorate the shining glories Of
the Gaelic race.
The deed OF Ireland and her sons are
10 be found on every page OF American
history. They fought and died for the
independence Of America. They have
every right and duty 10 labor for Amerl-
ca now.
Influence for Good.
Their influence for good will go FAR
toward blghting the immoral weeds
springing up about us; toward leading us
up to manlier. happier. cleaner lives: 10
more just. more enlightened, more pros
porous times"
Francis P. Sheehy. district president
a. o. H.. gave an outline OF the history
Of the Hibernians. of the good they had
accomplished, and touched upon what
they intended doing in the future.
The Irishmen In America was the
toast responded TO by Joseph D. Sullivan.
president Of Division No. s. A. o. II.
When Mr.. Downing. POSTMASTER. an
nounced the speaker. a great cheer arose.
The Irishmen in America was plainly
a popular toast All present were irish,
and of course in America
our connection with America" said
Mr.. Sullivan, goes back to the very be-
ginning Of. its history. We know on the
best authority that St. Brennan was the
first 70 discover this continent The ma
Jority of the eolonists who settled in
America when in the original States were
OF good old Gaelic stock The names of
many cities on the Atlantic coast indi-
cate the irish origin Of their founders.
The Prompting Spirit.
The spirit which prompted immigra-
ton TO America Of So countless brave
Irish hearts was the spirit Of liberty. al
ways so strongly developed IN the Irish
man. Quitting their homes. their possess
sions, and retaining only their memory
Of dear old Erin and her once happy
childhood. they came to the new land
which offered them freedom
What account have they of themselves
in the new country? IN the first place. |
great crisis of our history, the Revolu- !
tionary war. which was TO rid us forever |
OF the Anglo-Saxon oppression. we find
them distinguishing themselves by their
zeil and valor When the flags Of war
were unfurled was the wisdom and
energy of the Celts directed to arts OF
peace and to the founding and upbuilding
of a great nation.
In our race there IS centered the fu- |
ture hope of this country. Evils will |
undoubtedly beset our snip of state The /