The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-03-11
SIGNIFICANCE OF ST. PATRlCK's DAY.

st. Patrick's Day-a day observed by all
Irishmen in commemoration OF their
patron saint, the good st. Patrick.
Nearly fifteen centuries have passed
since ST. Patrick began his mission IN
Ireland for the conversion of the Irish peo-
pie to Christianity. It is a far cry from
the wear 432 to 1909. The world OF st.
Patrick's time, measured by the world as
we know it in the twentieth century, was
vastly inferior in wealth, in population,
in knowledge and in the development OF
material resources. 1t was a crude world,
weighed by our standards. Centuries were
to elapse before it could know anything
about astronomy, about gravitation, about
steam and electricity. But there was no
lack in those days of the qualities which
make the highest order of manhood-cour-
age and loyalty to principle. The Irish
men Of the fifth century possessed these
traits in an exceptional degree, just as
these characteristics are among their most
admirable attributes to-day. They proved
themselves a strong, high spirited, valor-
Gus race in the wars which we're waged in
the British Isles in the early centuries of
the Christian era. They have been dem
onstrating these qualities ever since. There
is many battlefield in Europe in which
the sons Of Erin have been conspicuous
for brilliant courage. They have fought
in their time with the French against Eng
land. They have fought under the British
flag in nearly every part of the world. They
have proved their valor in the wars of the
United States. The last time they we're
called upon to show the mettle of the Irish
soldier was in South Africa. They showed
the same reckless daring and undaunted
courage there that they have displayed in
all the centuries in which they have been
fighting the battles Or Ireland or those of
other countries. A gallant, martial, Iowa
BILE race are the sons of the Emerald Isle.
To the faithful sons of Ireland the cele-
bration of st. Patrick's Day has an i'm
portance and meaning wholly apart from
the significance which the average person
attaches to it. On the spiritual phase of
st. Patrick's Day it is not necessary to en-
large. But there is side to the celebration
which everyone can understand and into
the spirit of which he can enter. It is the
custom of the Scotch to pay annual tribute
to the memory of Burns. The English have
their celebrations in honor of St. George.
In the United States we have Washington
and Jackson, who typify the achievements
of the American soldier and statesman in
the early days of this republic. st. Patrick
has been remembered through !, 800 years,
not only as a spiritual force, as wonder
fully successful missionary and organizer,
but as the embodiment of the Irish spirit.
Hence his anniversary is observed not only
in Ireland, but in that larger Ireland which
is to be found in the hearts of millions of
lrishmen and Irish women in the United
States. St. Patrick's Day is not only cele-
brated in the Emerald Isle, but in the An
tipodes--in Melbourne as we'll as in Dublin !;
in the chief cities of India as we'll as in
Cork. For wherever there is a true Irish
man st. Patrick's Day will not pass unob-
served. 1t is a fine sentiment which makes
men of every race loyal to the memory of
their country's great men. Therefore,
whether we be Teuton, or Scot, or English,
we can join in spirit with those sons of the
Emerald Isle who annually pay tribute to
one who, though dead for many centuries,
yet liveth in the hearts of millions.
1t will be sad day for the world if the
sentiment which moves Irishmen to honor
the memory of st. Patrick, or the sentiment
which inspires the people of any race to
commemorate the deeds of the illustrious
men of other generations. shall give way
to indifference and cynicism. True senti-
ment is the greatest impelling force in this
world for noble achievement. Like the
touch of nature, it makes the whole world
kin. 1t is sentiment which, in the form of
loyalty to ideal and the inflexible determi-
nation to be their own rulers, has held the
Irish people together through veal and
through woe, for free and independent
Ireland. 1t is sentiment which makes the
soldier lead forlorn hope in the face of
certain death. 1t sentiment which makes
the miner go to the rescue of his imprison-
ed comrades when he has only the slight
est chance of returning alive. 1t is said
that Napoleon was utterly devoid of senti-
ment, but the legions who followed his
banner were full of it. Nothing but the
truest sentiment could have held them to-