The Irish standard., 1908-04-18
Noted Orator Dwel1s on Facts Of History
and Pays Fitting Tribute to
Achievements of Irish Race.
Reviews Patient Struggle For independence
and Says That Principles Fought
For Will Yet Triumph.

greater versatility than the Irish. You
will find them in every calling, in every
profession, in every occupation. There
is nothing that they cannot do, and
there is nothing that they have not
done we'll. (Applause.) This is saying
a great deal, but it is not saying too
much. Take any department Of our
nations activity and you will find Irish
men conspicuous. Is it in agriculture? +?
The Irish have contributed an enor.
nous body to our agricultural popula-
ton. Is it in the factory? What nat
ion has given us more or better factory
hands? Is it in commerce? What
nation is as conspicuous in all the de-
partments Of commerce as the Irish
man? Is it in merchandising? You
find him in every part of the work,
from the country merchant to the great
wholesaler. Is it in the professions: ::
The medical profession contains many
names that are distinctly Irish. And
the law-my friends, the law seems to
have offered the Irishman a field for
which he is especially fitted, and there
is not state in the Union, I think,
that does not number among it's prom
inent lawyers men of Irish birth, or
Irish descent. Is it in politics? Well,
who is in politics but the Irishman? Z?
daughter and applause.)
We had one president who came very
near being a foreigner and who was
it? Andrew Jackson! (Applause.) He
only lacked a few months Of being an
lrishlnan. So that the Irish have
come, as near as they can come, or any
nation can come, to having one of for
eign birth as president Of the United
States. AS governors of states, as SEN
ators, as legislators, as judicial officers,
as executives in every part of the nat
ions political work the Irishman has
played a most important role. He is a
genius in statecraft, for he studies the
science of government, and he not only
knows the principles of government,
but he has very intimate acquaint-
ancc with human nature, and he knows
that government is administered by
human beings.
In the ministry the Irish have pre-
sentcd some of the most illustrious
men. Not only have they been promi-
nent in the Catholic Church, but there
is not branch of the Christian church
in which 1rishmen have not been i'm
portant factors or the leaders; so that
when you come to speak of the Irish
people it is not fiattery, it is not over
praise. to say that our nation has rea-
son to be grateful for what the Irisl,
have done in this country.
But. my friends, there is certain
part of our work in which the Irish
man has been especially active. He
has been boundless lover of Liberty
and valiant fighter for justice.
On st. Patrick's Day I spent the
evening with the Irish Fellowship club
Of Chicago, and 1 heard some very
eloquent speeches there, in which the
speakers recounted the sufferings and
the sacrifices of the Irish in Ireland
and was touched, as one must be
touched, by the fact that after all these
years Of suffering and of fidelity to
their ideas, they have not yet secured
that self-government to which, by
every right, they are entitled. And
yet, as I listened to these speeches
this thought occurred to me: Is it not
possible that that suffering has had
/; it's fruitage in the advantage brought
! to other nations which have felt the
enthusiasm and the inspiration of Irish
thought and Irish eloquence? And
have wondered if our own country has
not been largely blessed by the fact
that the Irish here feeling what in
justice has been elsewhere, have beer
such ardent champions Of justice or
American soil; and may it not be true