Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-18
But He Enjoys It, Even If Someone Did Steal the
"0u|d Sod,' on Which He Was to Stand six
Ringing Speeches at Chicago Amid Great En-
thusiasm--Leaves for Rochester, n. Y.
TO IRISH FELLOWSHIP CLUB.

| ~ tnI0TI FEI6S" ScO6.
| Chicago, March Tiff President Taft
as he sat beaming behind a bank of
| orchids at the st. Patrick's banquet of
| the Irish Fellowship Club tonight,
knew of reports of the 'Insurgent' up
| rising in the House at Washington, his
deineanor did not show it, President
Taft left at II F. NJ for Rochester,
n. Y.
The President, who during the day,
had discussed in vigorous fashion va
rious live questions of the day, placidly
read a long appreciation of Ireland's
patron saint and touched on the history
OF Ireland and her long struggles for at
least quasi independence. 1t was the
effort of the day for which he had
found time to prepare, and there was
no politics in it. The address showed
remarkably knowledge and research,
and if the heartily plaudts are a cri-
terion, his words went straight to the
hearts of his listeners.
No wine was served at the banquet.
The President said:
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the
irish Fellowship Club: 1t is two years
since | tasted the fine flavor of your
hospitality at Il luncheon where my
stay was only too short for my pleas
ure. When your honorable committee
visited me, therefore, ! yielded to the
temptation and agreed again to be-
come your guest when you should meet
To celebrate the day that awakeS the
heart throbs of every true son of Ire
land.
st. Patricll's day in the morning.
II never quite understood the sgnfi-
canoe of the last three words of the
phrase unless they meant that the
brightness of the morning did not wear
away until long in the night of that
day in the spirit of those who are loyal
to the anniversary.
"On such an occasion as this, ones
mind turns naturally to the history
| of that beautiful island-"With her
back toward England, her face to the
| West'-And the part that st. Patrick
| played in her civilization and develop
ment
st. Patrick was born poorly on the
banks OF the Severn, 3S9 years after
| the birth of Christ He was the son
of British Celt and Roman Catholic
named CalpurniouS and his wife, Con-
cessa. They We're Of the same race as
| those for whom he lived and died
Young Patrick at the age of Is, was
captured by an Irish mauraudng force
ana taken to Ireland and there for six
years in the far western part of Con-
naught, served in bondage as a herds
| man. lie escaped on a ship and reach
| ed provence. in southern France where
he became monk
After a few years of mCnestic life
he returned to Fritain and while there
he definitely formed the purpose of re-
| deerning the island of his captivity
from paganism and bringing It within
| the Christian church.
." St Patrick introduced
| into Ireland the Latin language 1t be-
came the language of the church all
over the island and it made a. union
with Rome that has never since been
| broken. He laid the foundation of the
culture and the spread OF education and
the development of the liberal arts
which put Ireland in the forefron; of
| civilization for a thousand years
! Her history thereafter is q sad one
| \ tale Of sorrow. of injustice. of out
rage, or poverty. suffering and neglect
! fills the pages of Irish history from
!
England to the early days of the last
century.
Certainly not until the 10Th and Goth
centuries have governmental measures
been adopted IN ireland with any view
to lettering the conditions of the Irish
people During the centuries proceed
ing the 18th and clear back to the time
of the Tudors they have been subject
ed to legislation. the whole purpose Of
| which was the selfish exploitation. not
of the Irish people, but of the dominant
country. The result has been that
rrish,neE have gone to other countries.
I'm all our wars the Irishman has
been to the front-in the Revolution.
in the War of 1872 in the Mexican war
and in the Civil war. They are natur-
1lIy a warlike people and their patriotic
love for their adopted country made
them soliiers in the army of The I'm
ion. than whom there We're no more
daring, no more effective than they
Is SIS
For this club. you could have no
more suitable name than the Irish
Fellowship Club, for if you called it a
fellowship club, it would be a reason
able presumption that it must he an
Irish club.
II am glad to be here. I am glad to
feel the inspiration of ones kind that
nermeates this entire company and |
shall long carry in grateful remem-
hrance your cordial greeting.
.Seyen and half centuries of fall
IRE, ignorinious failure is England's
record in ireland. Let her give us what
(can.inaed on Page Twelve).