The Irish standard., 1909-04-17

81 =
'early officers laid down their lives for
religion, to protect the priest saying
Mass on the hillside, when he offered
MP his own blood with the sacrifice OF
the Mass, and when the only cross was
the Rapparees pike; we will ask him
TO forgive any mistakes they have
made. any errors they have made. For
the sake of the old religion and for the
sake OF the old race we will ask him
to forgive, and we will try and unite
that Catholic organization first, and
after that, if it is possible to do it. we
will try and unite with the Protestants
s0f the North, and with the help of
God, lay the foundation for absolute
unity in. the old land, (applause).
II SO, my friends, those scattered
irish exiles that came here and built
up this great organization made It pos
sible for us to do this kind Of work.
There are now a quarter million mem
bers in this organization, representing
the Irish race in America. And no
man can deny that, with our twenty
millions of the race here-and do not
forget this, my friendss this will be a
very important thing for England to
be reminded of. One Of the act Of the
last National Board Of our Order was
to draw up written alliance Il want
to make this plain) between the great
German race in America, representing
80 Per, cent Of the American population,
and the Ancient Order Of Eibernians,
representing 81 per cent Of the Ameri
can population. And 50, 81 per cent Of
the American population today is say
ing to England: Hands off that old
island that gave lovers Of freedom to
the world, that gave soldiers to tight
under, liberty's flag in every land, the
old cradle land is there and the old
green Flag is not yet there. and it must
go home We are going over there to
tell that story.
!, I'VE are friends Of Germany. Gap
plause). said in New York last sum-
:mer and repeat it here, and I know
very well what it means that If there
is war between Germany and England
land I heard man today make the
prediction, which is logical one, that
King Edward will be the last king of
,Ensland). predict as the leader OF
this great organization, Germany in
that event will have the actual and the
unanimous support of every man of
Irish blood in America (applause).
And now. my friends we go over
There ana we will try and do what we
can to carry out the instructions given
to us at the last National Convention.
It is true what Father dDDonnell said,
We are not going to ask for favors. We
do not want any favors. This organi-
cation can well take care of itself. We
are not interfering with any other or
ganization or with any political party,
and, we won't allow any other organi-
CATION or political party to interfere
with us (applause). WHs have laid
down this principle by an almost unan-
Imous. vote of our organization. Every
Individual has right. and again re-
peat what Judge Stapletom said, has a
perfect right in politics to do as he
pleases. We are not trying to Dragon
any mans conscience in politics. But
ne do forbid politics, whether Irish or
American, being played in our organ
|zation at our meetings (applause).
The Introduction Of politics into a fra
ternal organization is a dangerous
proposition at any time. and no organ
lzation can live long that allows it.
Hence we laid down that principle that
before we affiliate with the Order In
The old land, it must first be non polit-
lcal. WE ask it to be Catholic and to
be national and to be Irish. and that is
all. And so, my friends, I have often
become tired of what is Haunted before
The people as nationality Nationality,
as Hibernians understand 1t. is ireland
4 nation, free and Independent Zap
plause). The. Almighty God created
ireland q nation and gave 1t everything
10 provide for happy and prosperous
people. I have heard it said that Ire
land was blessed by God and cursed by
mon. and I believe it is SO; because,
there is q beautiful land. with it's fer
tile soil. its splendid >-~dld climate. its
Of running NASter, its splen-
did natural harSors. every square acre
Of the SOIL teeming with mineral
wealth, still in poverty, still in rags,
and in sixty years more than half it's
were forced to emigrate.
The only country In the world that has
that story to tell. In sixty years four
millions and a half, the flower Of its
manhood and Womanhood forced to