The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-27
GEORGE WASHINGTON.


transcends all other names; one great
man whose name is synonymous with
patriotism; one great statesman whose
beneficent influence is felt not only in
the land he rescued from British dom
ination, but in every part Of the
world where the blessings Of liberty
and self-government are sought by
the downtrodden and oppressed. The
name Of Washington is loved and hon
ored throughout the earth. The poet
and the orator have lauded his char
acter and achievements. He has been
called the Rather Of His Country"
and Of him it is said that he was first
in peace, first in war and first in the
hearts of his countrymen." He still
holds the first place in the hearts of
the American people.
On the front page Of this issue of
the Irish Standard will be found two
orations from two great Irislhnen on
George Washington. One Is from
Charles Phillips, a Protestant, and the
other from John England, the first
Catholic Bishop of Charleston, s. G..
The first was born in Sligo, and the
latter in Cork. They have hardly left
us anything to say of the great Ameri-
can whose 177th birthday was cele-
brated few days ago as a national
holiday from Maine to California, and
from Lake Superior to the Gulf Of
Mexico. But we shall endeavor to pay
brief tribute to the first president
OF the United States. though he passed
to his heavenly reward 10 years ago
and has been eulogized every year
since then on the anniversary Of his
BIRTH Those who desire more ex-
tended sketch Of this great mans life
should not fail to read his biography
by Washington Irving. the Goldsmith
Of America.
George Washington was born in
Westmoreland county, Va, on Feb. 90,
1882, and was of Norman and not of
traced back to the twelfth century, to
the County of Durham, England. Tho
Rev. DR.. John N. Lenker, Of Minne-
apolis, is justified in claiming WASH
ington as descendant Of the Vikings.
Though a German, DR.. Lenker says
that Washington is of Scandinavian
origin. and he probably is, for the
Mortimer migrated to France and
under the name Of Normans accom-
panied William the Conaueror into
England and subjugated the country
after the decisive battle Of Hastings.
Any race has reason to be proud Of
producing such a man as Washington,
and let the Norsemen have him.
When young man Washington act
ed as an aide to Gen. Braddock in the
French and Indian war, when the red
coats ran away from the Indians. while
the colonials held their ground. Ben
Franklin said from that time forth the
American colonists had no fear Of the
English soldiers. So little did the
English respect the colonial troops that
Washington himself was not permitted
to wear q British uniform, though ho
it was who saved Braddock's troops
from utter destruction by the redmen
OF the forest. The unfortunate Irish
general was killed, but he was not the
first Irlshman, nor tho last, that fell
In the service OF his own country's OPP
pressor. When the Revolutionary war
broke out the yeomanry of the colonies
who remembered the flight of Brad
docks men from the dusky savages,
had no fear Of meeting tho soldiers Of
John Bull,
Washington was made commander
mischief Of the American army Of in
dependence in June, 1775. when he was
4S years old. and held his own with
Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne and Corn
wallis. the best Of the English gener-
ais. and finally surrounded CORVALLIS
at Yorktown and compelled him to SUR
render. TO his intrepidity, prudence
and moderation, this republic is almost
wholly indebted for independence. He
had but q small army, though the, COL
onies had population Of 5000. 900. He
had traitors among his generals and
thousands Of Americans were loyalists
and tories who fought him with more
bitterness than the British soldiers and
the Hessian mercenaries. on the other
hand, he had the lovers OF freedom
from Europe in his army. Tho DER
mans, the Poles, the French aud the
Irish stood faithfully by him to the
end. So numerous were the sons Of
Hibernia in the War Of the revolution
that Lord Mountjoy exclaimed in the
British parliament: You have lost
America by the Irish without the
aid Of France II II doubtful Il Wash
ington could have s,cceeded In throw
Ing OF the Rriffsh vNlsa Isl &