Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-19
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Shamrock Much in Evidence in Honor
of St. Patrick.
INTERESTING PROGRAM AT NIGHT
T. J. MRhOney Delivers an Address
on Irish E~miRrations and Their
CRuses--New Gun Club
Organized.

The "wearn' O. tn green was almost
Nearly everyone had a ribbon, tie or sham
rock to honor the patron saint OF Erin.
The real sons OF Erin. loyal members Of
the Ancient Order OF Hibernians. many Of
them wore sprays OF tho real shamrock,
which some tender heart in the old country
had mailed in time across the sea.
The Hibernians attended St, Agnes
church in q body at morning mass. After
the solemn high mass the orders Of the
Catholic societies parRded the streets
In the evening a splendid program was
rendered at the auditorium OF the South
Omaha High school building under the
auspices Of the Ancient Order Of Hibcrn-
lans. The attendance was about zoo. Rev.
Father James Aherne acted as chairman
Of the meeting. Among the numbers OF
the program most enjoyed was the opening
chorous, who Fears to Speak of Ninety
eight" by a quartet and the audience.
Rich O'Neil rendered a bass solo. Miss
Eileen McCrann played selections from the
melodies OF ireland. Miss Bertha Sholanny
rendered a solo, Thomas Lsnigan recited
a patriotic selection. John Jamison sang
a baritone solo.
The address ot the evening was by 7. j.
Mahoney of Omaha. He spoke chiefly on
the Irish emigrations and their causes. He
classified them as the early, the middle
and the latter movements. Most every
exodus was due directly to prosecutions
in the name OF religion, but which were
indeed not religious, but lay in the private
greed Of the rich landlords and their allies
who made the church a cloak to hide their
duplicity. About the time of Cromwell
there was q great exodus to the mainland
of continental Europe. There many be-
came soldiers of fortune under the French
kings. Here grew up the Irish brigade,
which numerous great battles played a
valiant part. Oppressed in Ireland. the
life OF a soldier Of fortune was most In
viting. Many descendants of this class OF
Irish are amalgamated in the blood of tho
continent So that the strain can only be
recognized by an occasional Irish name.
About this same time the first migration
TO America began. This has become the
greatest of all the figrations and one which
has uplifted not only the fortunate who
made homes in the new world, but the in
fluence has returned across the sea and
made the Irishman at home the better
for it.
In 1S49 was another period Of rapid
exodus. This was due to the fatal grip Of
the landlords OIL the tenantry. Those times
were known as the times of famine.
There is not, as is supposed, the intense
hatred of the Irish for everything Protes-
tant in religious belief that has been made
to appear. The Irish do not forget their
saints But as st. Patrick is honored today,
so Robert Emmett, the most beloved patriot
of the whole Irish people, was not a Catho-
lie, but a Protestant. Every man who gives
his life and his love for Ireland will and
has stood in rank with Robert Emmett.
"The later exodus is due not so much to
oppression. but to awakened ambition in
the Irish. While Island has not reached
a goal of glory as a nation, yet the Irish
who have left their homes have wrought
deeds of glory which will neve: fade.
Many of the greatest names OF American
history are Irish, Enthusiastically"