The Irish standard., 1910-03-19


herself the proud title of "The Island
of Saints and Scholars" never would
she have resisted so unflinchingly the
cruel tyranny of her foes. What was
the true secret of her exhaustless vi
tality and unconquerable energy, when
tragedy after tragedy filed the land
| with desolation, and distress and trib-
ulation clouded the horizon of her
glory? What was the source of her
unfailing self confidence. amid the
| encircling gloom what but the cher
ished memories and the sweet and VEN
cradle and beloved name Of her sanity
patron. These memories and this ven-
Grated name are like the perpetual
presence of the encircling ocean that
beats forever upon the slvcry sands
of the shores of Ireland "murmuring
the music of eternity" Through their
ever remains faithful; a thousand
times darkened, yet never without its
saving sunlight; visited but too often,
alas! by hateful evil and pale death,
vet always returning Phoenix-like to
a new life. with the youth and buoy
ancy and gladness that f1l the earth
and air when summer Is nigh. Beauti.
full Ireland-proud mother of valiant
sons and virtuous daughters-there is
really something grand and Sablc in
thy checkered career Thy fidelity, we
know. has been sorely tried, but we
know, too. that it never wavered, and
the splendid gems of purity and her
sister virtues. which holy Patrick set
in thy diadem still sparkle with un-
diminished lustre. ever giving birth
'"Io sacred. thoughts in souls OF
worth"
The enthusiasm of this large and ap-
preciative assembly, which have the
cherished honor this evening to ad-
dress, forces irresistibly upon each and
all Of us the conviction that in the
Irish h-American heart the love of Ire
land and her patron saint is a warm,
living reality
"And will not cool
Until the heart itself be cold,
In Lethes pool"
But let us not, in the fervor of our
enthusiasm, he led to assume that ven-
Grafton for st. Patrick is exclusively
1Iibernian. Nearly every nation re-
gardful Of human ideals has paid It's
tribute of praise to our illustrious pa
tron. as the supreme type Of noble
manhood. A. philanthropist in tho
trucst sense, ST. Patrick combined In
his own wonderful personality the ap-
parcntly Incompatible qualities of tho
man Of the world and the saint. Tho
ascetlc points to him as the true ideal
OF the man of God, while the historian
recognizes in him the intrepid pioneer
in the great work of civilizations; a
man whose achievements have exer-
cised, directly or indirectly, n pow
erful influence on the making of the
nations.
Not without n keen appreciation OF
st. Patrck's intrinsic worth and of
his influence upon history, did the emil
nent president Of our grand republic
leave the helm of the ship Of state and
hurry to Chicago to grace with his
august presence our cherished celcbra :
tiOns. The compliment is truly great
one, but not too great, We hope, to be
beyond the generous appreciation of
Irish Americans.
Right gladly then may we unite our
voices to swell the chorus Of the thou
sands who today sing the glories of
, st. Patrick. Well may we place our
! tribute or devotion on the unsullied
. altar of his memory, with ever gratc-
full hearts for those noble principles
time be reflected in the people with
, whom his lot was cast
! Hc eyes OL I'LL IDcTLy IONInb people
are today centered on the "Emerald
, Ise," anxious to see what the present
crisis in British politics may mean for
Ireland. May Ircland's patriotic rep
resentatives at Westminster achieve
at last that freedom for which they
have so long and so arduously strug-
, gled. Then in the noble and patriotic
l language of Charles Phillips: eve
: shall turn from the blight and view
t Of this wintry day to the fond antici-
pations Of a happier period, when oul
a PROSTATE land shall stand erect among
the nations, her brow blooming with
: the wreath OF science, and her paths
strewed with the offerings of art, the
v breath of heaven blessing her flag, the
z extremities of earth acknowledging
r her name; above all, her mountain!