The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-02-19

when selfishness rules the courts and
the government, and the old patriotic
spirit is either dead or comatose.
There are three striking and startling
epochs in the history of this Republic
in which the patriotic spirit was up
permost,. and a dominating force. In
the decade 1853 to 1878; in the. decade
1851 to 1861; and in civic contest of
1885 to 1872. I do not mention the
actual periods of war because am not
discussing the intense patriotism of
camp and bivouac and battle, but the
patriotism of peace, that goes with
civic government. For the purpose of
illustration let me refer to local condi-
tions in Toledo, Immediately after this
great War of the Rebellion, and Toledo
ittingly illustrates the dominant and
dominating patriotic spirit everywhere
in evidence at that intense time.
Among the first of new acquaintance
1 met on my return from the war in
July, 1865, was that broad minded and
scholarly and patriotic Irishman, Ste
phen ]. Meany, then editor of the To-
ledo Morning Commercial. 1 became
Intimately associated with him on that
paper, and through him first met
Father Hannin, one of the most en-
thusiastic and devoted patriots have
ever met. He had more energy ana
vitality than any human being have
ever known, all the enthusiasm ami
intensity of devotion of my valued
comrade of the war, Father O'Brien,
of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
And as evidence Of the fact that Father
Hannin was devotee of the Union
soldiers, he never missed inviting the
writer and others of the war to his
patriotic entertainments. I remember
his famous celebration of st. Patrick's
Day in Whites Hall, Summit street,
March II, 1866. On that occasion
Father Hannin assigned me to the toast
1.-THE Irish Soldier" In an old scrap
book find the following printed re-
port of that speech: ....
IF I should say the Irish race is the
most belligerent race in the world you
would concede it without argument, but
when say that the Irish race is the
strongest race in the world in blood
strength and national vitality you may
call for the evidence. Let US see. The
Phoenicians, the Spaniards, the French,
the Danes and the Britons-all invad-
ed Ireland by war-and each in turn
was absorbed and assimilated by the
Irish. The green isle is still ireland
and the Irish heart and impulse are
still true to the traditions of the Iris!
race.
"And here is another characteristic
of the Irish race! No race ever crossed
the Atlantic or the Pacific that has 90
rapidly and thoroughly assimilated witt,
our free institutions. For instance
Patrick Henry, half Irish in blood. and
all Irish in, spirit, the foremost orator
of the decade preceding the war OF
the Revolution, was the first to ex-
claim in public, Give me liberty or give
me DEATH
"The Irish Catholics of Maryland led
by the Irish bishop Of Baltimore, were
ahead of the Puritans of New England
in the Revolutionary movement. The
Irish of South Carolina were holder
and more aggressive than the patriots
Of Massachusetts, Bay. And now, let
me recall some of the great wars in
which was allowed to take an humble
part. No battle was ever fought with
out heroic Irish blood Redeemed the
field of carnage. The last successful
fight of the war was led by that Ohio
born Irish soldier, Gen. Phil Sheridan,
at Five Forks, Va. 1t is conceded that
Sheridan was the greatest cavalry gen.
eral of the war, and he divided the
honor with Hancock and Hooker, az
the most brilliant battlefield general.
'The soldier who led the most des.
perate and hopeless cavalry charge, ct
the entire war was an Irishman-Col.
keenan, Of the Eighth Pennsylvania
Cavalry. At Charlottesville he led a
charge of four hundred cavalrymer
against the advance of stonewall
Jackson's ten thousand Confederates
This charge stunned and scattered the
advance and in the confusion Stone
WALL Jackson, next to Robert e. Lee,
the greatest general Of the Confederate
army, was killed.
1.-THE famous Irish Brigade, imnor-
talized by the Irish poet soldier, Col.
Charles G. Halpine, did more desperate
fighting and lost more men than any
ether Brigade of the, Union army. Ger.
Phil Kearney, the hero of four wars.
was an Irishman. He was desperately