The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-18
BUCKINGHAM ADDRESS AT
 BIG BANQUET
Pays Deserved Tribute to Pa tron Apostle of Irish Race and Praises Loyalty of Irish Citizenship.

The address of Mayor Buckingham
 at the banquet of the Knights of St. Patrick last evening follows:
 MT. Toastmaster, Honored Guests and Knights Of St. Patrick:
 Perhaps it may sound convention h1ghly honored to have the oppor tunity to respond tc the toast, 'Ou: City oa the oc"aslon of this, tn
 sixth annual banquet of the Knight l of .ct Patrick Nevertheless gentle men. I voice this sentiment in al sincerity. I esteem 1t privilege te
 welcome within our gates these dis
 tlnguished guests. and a pleasure
 t.e allowed, in some small measur at Ieast, to do hk,ncr and reNerellc, to the patron saint ef Ireland ftEVery IriShman leVereS the mem
 cry of St: Patrick. Not only Gid thi
 great apostle of the early church en-
 tighten with the torch Of Christia:1it5 the darkness of pagan and idolatro ouu Ireland of the fifth century, but also he by the establishment of institu-
 tens of education nd learning, mad
 Ireland mecca for students of al Europa. Thus it is that every loyal
 sen of Erin we'll knows the debt O. gratitude and veneratlon he owes tt' St. Patrick.
 "It is well that Irishmen and the
 sons of Irishmen should treasure the
 tla >>itions of their mother country.
 set them, nor to stifle and kill your love for them. I am reminded oi
 " hat struck me as being a very hap
 py parallel. Ii is said that when a man takes unto himself a wife, he gives to her love that is self sacTi-
 f5c1ng and loyal, and yet the love that less ardent, sincere and devoted. So you, the Knights of St. Patrick, we'd ded to this glorious land of your should cherish that same sincere and devoted love for her.
 But perhaps /! am forgetful of my toast, Our City There is a charm about the expression. How we like to say it, Our City Your city and my city. The greatest city in this United states, we think, great in it's industrial activity, great in it's civic pride, great in the loyalty of it's citi- zens; greater yet in its possibilities, and these possibilities are what you make them.
 Each of us has his duty to per- form, as private citizen, as busine ess man, or as servant of the people; and duties conscientiously and honestly to that extent and only to that extent, can we make our city fulfill the ideal of our hopes.
 ..As St. Patrick's day approaches from year to year there come upper most in my; my mind min two +a 5hopghts n one played in the development and pro- gress of our city; the other having to do with h,,tis the part taken by the the moral tone of our city. As far back as we can peer into the pages of dy faisS oraient1g hsstHfs nd with a movements designed to upbuild and improve our country. Whether in W IT or G sana the stnrdy f,on son of pr Erin ence in the councils of our fathers. The early history of Bridgeport is1 not unlike the general record of the
 ..7,he Irishrnan is endowed with faculties that make him naturally politician. I mean a politician in term. He takes lively interest in the City's affairs, and invariably he re- serves the right to act and think for man has attained to the highest of fees within the gift of the people of our city. At various times men of ant offices to which we elect our citi- | zens.
 est. Patrick left to Ireland herit- l because Of this heritage that so many of the sons and daughters of Erin l have made this their adopted coun- new new home @ the high standard % of morality that St. Patrick establish l d. Bridgeport, in common with the i to the healthfu1 and wholesome in- luence of the Irish standard of nor ality; as exempiitled in the daily lives < 1athoiica h1 'siiag throughout the city. In N orlzs of mercy and charity, the Irish and especially the Irish Catholics, are lever to be found wanting. To call 1 ttention to these things is not fat cry; it is giving recognition where ,ur local history shows it to be rich y deserved.
 .'Our city may we'll be proud of he Knights of St. Patrick. I enjoy he rare privilege of having attended every banquet since their organiza- ion I hope to have the opportunity ,f attending many more, that I may