Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-18
ST, PATRICKSOAY IN IRELAND
lis a Time When Patriots Reflect
Upon Their National Progress.
WEATHER TOO BAD TO CELEBRATE

-
the N~Srtherner's Orange snd
sou~therner's Blue, Orinnmme
of the New ireland.
Falling as 81. Patrick's day does in one
OF the most disaRreeabie months OF the
year in Ireland-a month shivering with
biting gales from the east, with rain. sleet
and snOw-there Is little outside celebra-
ton OF the anniversary in the auid sod.
Throughout the country the day Is gen
orally observed az a holiday and should
the time demand It even on the bleak hill
sides, despite the winds that blow and the
rains hat whip and cut. crowds viii stand
patiently for hours while the politician will
thunder upon a nations wrongs
The celebration, however, as IN this
country, Is more OF a religious and social
character and the festivities Of the day are
preceded by services in all the Roman
Catholic churches and in many Of the
churches Of the Protestant Episcopal COM
munion. But prior to all these is the
ceremony Of the 'drownin' OF the sham
rock" through the wave Of temperance
which has struck 1relan as well as the
United States has led 10 a moderation OF
"drownin' " at which the past must blush.
The c~onviviality OF the occasion is par
~ticipated in by all as is the wearing OF the
shamrock.
Days were there when the shamrock was
looked upon as a mark Of separation be-
tween the descendants Of the races that
compose the population OF the country.
Now II is looked upon as the bond Of union
between all who claim Ireland as their
birth and who. recognizing that fact, are
- A. ~ 49, -
to improve the condition Of the country.
Green IL a Compromise.
And this is as It should be. because the
green which is now adopted as the ma
tional color Of ireland is a compromise,
evidence OF a desire OF the racial units OF
the country to combine for the eountry's
good. This fact Is not generally known and
many an Irishmsn u~nacquainted with the
history Of his own country thinks hat
green was ever the color Of the flag be-
hind which Irishmen went to battle. But
II is a comparatively modern innovation
and to the student Of history It Indicates
the period when Irishmen Of the North and
South OF Ireland combined against the
tyranny OF English oppression. Orange.
taken as the color Of the north, was
blended with the blue of the south and
green was the result. In the days of the
Celtic glory OF Ireland its kings marched
behind the battle flag Of blue, illuminated
by the sun bursting through a bank OF
clouds. II was such a flag that Haunted
in the breeze when Brian Boru defeated
the Danes at the battle Of Clontarf, now a
part of Dublin.
But the green, which signalizes an effort
at unity on the part OF the people Of Ire
land. irrespective OF race or creed, is now
the recognized national color Of the eoun-
try. and under 1t its legions are marshaled
In a warfare more peaceful but more pro-
ductive OF good,
Occasion for Reflection.
st. Patrick's day is an occasion when
thoughtful Irishmen take stock OF the coun-
try's position, and one looking over the
record OF the hast twenty years must feel
his blood tingle with a feeling OF pride at
the progress his native country has made
In that period. Internecine strife, which
had its origin in religious bigotry as we'll
as racial rancor. has been succeeded by
cordial cooperation for the Industrial de-
velopment of the country.
To Sir Horace Plunkett the farmers are
more indebted than probably to any other
man in ireland. Legislation has conferred
upon the Irish farmers the right Of acquir-
ing their own holdings with the help OF
the money Of the state-billions Of dollars
have been advanced at a low rate OF inter-
est for this purpose and many OF the farm
ers Of ireland now own the land they till.
Possession Of the land would not, however,
rave solved the difficulties the Irish farmer
as we'll as the English agrioulturist had
TO face through the insensate, one-sided
free trade policy of the United Kingdom.
He had to be taught to realize the value
OF combination in the face Of competition.
Sir Horace Plunkett did this by his Agri-
cultural Organization society.
But this society went farther. 1t opened
the eyes OF the farmers to the necessity
OF the utilization of science as a handmade
to agriculture and out Of this organization
movement has grown the Agricultural and
Industrial department OF Ireland, as the re-
suit OF which there are in every county OF
Ireland instructors IN agriculture In all its
phases, combined with teachers Of domestic
economy and home industries. with a view
to keeping the children Of the farm on the
soil. Long before this. Agricultural instruc-
tion was compulsory In all country schools
and in towns OF a population Of 5000.
OrInamme Of the New Ireland.
These are some OF the reflections that
come to an Irishman on st. Patrick's day,
1910, a day Wnleh VIII see the shamrock as
the oriflamme Of a re~Juvenated and prog
ressive Ireland more generally worn than
in any other period in the modern history
OF the country. and in many a home in the
old country as well as in the land OF the
Irishmen's adoption viii be heard a paean
Of praise In honor Of
The dear little shamrock, the sweet little
shamrock,
The dear little. sweet little shamrock Of
Ireland"