The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-27
REV. D. S. PHELAN ON
r. p. O'Connor's Visit to tho City Of
St. Louis, Mo.

r. P. o'connor's Visit to tho City Of
St. Louis, Mo.
Home Ruler, Mr.. T. P. O'Connor, ar
rived in st. Louis on Thursday last
says Father Phelan in the Western
Waterman of Nov. IS. He had been
here twenty-five years before, and he
preserved a very happy recollection
Of that former visit. OF all the Irish
leaders who have appeared before the
st. Louis public none has made a more
lasting and more favorable impress
sion than Mr.. O'Connor. The news
papers can generally be depended on
to voice the popular sentiment; and
marked honor on his arrival. He was
ushered into q brilliant company of
newspaper men as soon as he arrived
A splendid luncheon was prepared for
him at one of the leading clubs, and
for three hours the "moulders of pub
lie opinion" exchanged "reminiscences
and Impressions.
Mr.. O'Connor likes everything Amer
lean, except our cooking. His aver
sion to the latter he demonstrated by
bringing his own bread with him
wherever he goes. Grants crow had
fr no p~xy hi M To- rs
great Irish leader carries part OF
his supplies with him on his journey
He abominates our hot bread and bis
cult, and has more respect for his
stomach than for our culinary con-
ceit. His bread ration is almost
starchless and is baked in France. 1t
was curious to observe how the edi-
tors of our leading dailies eyed the
bread that Mr.. O'Connor ate and that
had made him so great. The editor
who represented the religious press
had no interest in the curious loaf, as
he felt that religious journalist in
this irreligious age needed all the
starch he could assimilate.
Strange as it may appear, the pres
ence of Mr.. O'Connor added several
very distinguished names to the roster
of Irish nationality. At the luncheon
the editor of the oldest of our dailies
startled the company by saying that
his grandfather and grandmother were
both of Irish birth. Right on the
heels of this announcement came the
avowal from the editor of another Of
our great dailies. that his grandpa
rents had also come from ireland. The
only non-Celtic editor of daily paper
present admitted his plebeian descent
but seemed heartily ashamed of it.
We believe it is the rule at news.
paper banquets in this country not ia
ask for blessing: in other words, not
to say grace before meals. This re-
suits from the uncertainty of getting
anything to eat and the brief process
of mastication possible at the lunch
counter. The Carmelites have no
hours for meals laid down in their
rules, because st. Theresa did not
want the nuns called to meals unless
she was sure there was something to
eat before them. Newspaper men re-
fuse to say grace before meals unless
they are quite sure there is Sore
thing to give thanks for. But Mr.
O'Connor is not one of these. He sat
down with the company, but before
touching anything be bowed his head
low, said a short prayer, and blessed
himself. To us that spoke more thar
all that he said during the long re-
past. Such men as he are the men
for Ireland. If Parnell could have
done that Ireland would have been
enjoying Home Rule these 20 years
No man who is not Catholic as well
as an Irishman can ever become a sue.
cessful leader in Ireland.
st. Louis is not remarkable for her
popular manifestations of Irish pa
triotism. The fact is, the Irish in this
city are almost entirely of the second
generation. Bvt If they do not belong
to the trudging columns Of Irish pa.
triots. they have a keen and syrnpa-
thetic appreciation of the efforts of the
Irish leaders to emancipate theil
country. They know that if Irishmer
would be free themselves must strike
the blow" What Ireland needed il
the past was not good cause, nu'
good leaders. Her sufferings and sor.
rows appealed to us, and we mutely
succored them. But when half doz.
en- great men arose among the Irish
masses and appealed to the world
mankind was aroused to action. Wher
these intrepid men lifted their f1nse,
in the face of the world and said
"Listen!" the world opened it's eyes
and ears and heard the terrible re.
nj TN hot