New-York tribune., 1908-03-18
HUGHES GREETS TAFT
BOTH SPEAK At DINNER.
Guests Of Friendly Sons Of st. Pat
rick at DelmOnicO's

pass Mr.. Taft his way TO the seat the other
side of Mr.. Fsrrely, and stopped to shake hands
cordially with his rival That produced more
cheers.
Justice Victor J. Dowling the first speaker
introduced by Mr.. FaTrelly who toastnaster
He had much to say of the glories OF Ireland and
ot her great hopes for the future. Before he
spoke the toast to the President had been proposed
and this drunk amid the greatest possible en-
thusasm. The President was cheered to the echo
and Irish and American flags. with which each
diner was supplied. were waved all over the hall.
Mr.. Taft followed Justice Downing. He was fire.
quently interrupted by applause as he referred to
what Irshmen have done for America in peace and
in war. and there laughter mingled with cheers
when he, looking quizically Governor Hughes.
spoke of the strenuous life.
IRISH BLOOD IN AMERICANS.
After telling of his pleasure at being able to cee-
brate the day of Ireland's patron saint Secretary
Taft said he had been surprised to learn OF the
Importance OF the Irish stock in making up that
amagamated and conglomerate thing which we are
proud to call American citizen" He told of the
oganization of the Boston Irish Society way back
in 1877, and the wide power it exered- The speak
er then briefly outlined Ireland's history
OF the beauty and fascinating wit OF Ireand's
daughters the Secretary had much TO say, quoting
Samuel Lovers lines about sweet Peggy in her low
backed car Mr.. Taft said he a great lover
OF humor and considered it panacea. In these
days OF nervous prostration, of brain fas and of
the strenuous life, he continued there is nothing
that much contributes a survival of the trials
and sufferngs of the day a sense of humor. 1t
is like the buffers in the solid trains like the air
cushion of modern field gun-it saves the jolt
1t takes UP the recoil. 1t that this
trait of humor fully developed in the Irish char
acter, has had much TO do with the persistence of
the and with its growth in numbers and power
and influence the world over. in spite of the bur
dens and disadvantages under which it has labored
Twenty-Five years ago Mr.. Taft visited Ireland.
and its beauties still in his mind last night
he described his landing at Queenstown. the trip
Cork and Blarney Castle, where he kissed
the The Lakes of Killarney especially ap-
pealed him.
Then the speaker told of some of Irelands great
men. He said:
The history OF Ireland is such that until very
the martyrs of a rebellion. like Robert Emmett or
Wolf Tone. were driven to manifest their brill
liant intellectual powers and great traits OF char
acter in other lands than that of their birth. The
men and orators. Edmund Burke was born in
Dublin of parents who came from Cork So, too.
and literary genius. Dean Swift was born in
The literary men of England-S Sheridan, Gold
smith and Sterne-were Irishmen. OF English
Wolseley. Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener and many
others We're Irishmen So too; at the bar The
known; Hugh Cairns, made LORD Chancellor and
produced the first Roman Catholic Chief Justice
We omit mention of the Parliamentary orators.
Flood and Grattan and the greatest Of ALL O'Con-
In this country it is worthy Of that Andrew
Jackson and his great political opponent. John c.
Calhoun, both boasted of their Irish stock and in
such a myriad of names prominent in American
Montgomery, who fell at quebec; the sullivans Of
New Hampshire: sl1 and knox Washngtons devoted
first Secretary of War.
long list of Irish stock find the greatest purely
military genius of the war, Philip H. Sheridan.
The Secretary told of the big influence the Sons
Of Erin exerted in this country, saying:
AS we look back 10 the founding Of this gov
ernment we can find from time 10 time tests of the
and strengthen the virtues of the new race some
vines hc by had ~sF deems d ca94s or by P2fs IS
probable that during the next decade We shall
not justified in believing that the composite
American Of to-day, in spite OF the enervation of
the same sturdy virtues that have kept the nation
Pan P fG of New pam Engad la ot m p1cen sfe of NeW
York; the Irish Catholics of Maryland and the
of the thirteen colonies united in one common
cause and amalganated in one coremon type OF
American, to make this country a nation?
GOVERNOR DRAWS LAUGHTER
Governor Hughes put his audience into a good
huInor at by paying his compliments TO Mr.
Taft. He said he would like to have picture of
the Secretary kissing the Blarney stone and that
made the roof ring. Then the speaker grew more
serious. He spoke Of the necessity for enforcing
the constitution. and loudly cheered at a
passage that had obvious reference the anti
gambling bills.
The Governor spoke earnestly on the duty OF
Americans TO immigrants. saying that this must
be g land of opportunity for them, and deploring
any tendency to regard immigrants foreigners.
He referred all through his speech to the life of
ST. Patrick. holding him up example he
followed to-day, and altogether the hearts Of
his audience when he claimed Irish descent for
himself.
The Governor in beginning his speech said that
many of the Friendly Sons at the dinner had been
friends of his for long time, and spoke of his
great pleasure OF meeting them again. Continu-
ing he said:
am also deeply gratifed at the opportunity
OF welcoming here the distinguished Secretary Of
w az, VINO as JuQge ana az statesman as admin
lstrator ana paciflcator has won the esteem and
affection OF his fellow citizens irrespective of
to haSs had IN cuT Of him Taega ksaag age
blarney stone have no doubt that is vera
cious chronicle He has well said that the Irish
have contributed greatly to the humor Of this
country; Certainly they have contributed the
the Colonial period hut ayer since tHa, LIS i' f
nished that spirit of revolt against tyranny and
rights and upon equal opportunity, which not
only made possible the founding of instftu-
until this hour. The first Governor of New York
was an irishman, George Clinton, distinguished
of this state. Three times was he chosen WITH
3ut oppositlon because Of the general respect for
In honorlng the people in just administration
In those days the Governor a good deal of a
right OF recommendation and by the presfige
founded upon his election Virtually dominated all
Such was the ability, such was the fairness OF
George Clinton, that through long series Of
IN connection with George Clinton, one OF his |
olcinis vas young lrishman named