Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-06-03

all too small, as with bands playing,
thousands of school children march
ing two by two, Corcoran Cadets,
National guards, United States
soldiers, United Catholic societies
can war poured into the Ellipse
from all directions" After the post
communion st. Patrick's choir began
the national air, "My Country, 'Tis
of Thee" and all joined in the
chorus, none more heartily than
President Taft.
A street parade preceded the
mass, and it is estimated that more
than 100000 took part, including
members of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, Knights of Columbus,
Woodmen of the World, school chill
dren, members of the United States
army and navy. civilians and ac-
companying bands.
During the mass the Right Rev.
Monsignor w. T. Russell delivered a
patriotic address. 1t was in part as
follows:
Greater love than this no man
hath, that a man lay down his life
! for his friends. John xv:13.
"The spirit and purpose of this
occasion is to honor the soldier
dead of the republic, to help them
by our prayers, and to keep alive in
our hearts the spirit of patriotism
that breathed forth in the lives and
death. All nations have their heroes,
and pride and gratitude have
prompted them to keep alive the
memory of those who wrought for
their native land, and most of all of
those who fell in defense of her
honor, of her very life.
"And surely this, our country, has
not Jagged behind in that intelligent
gratitude and sacred remembrance
of her warrior sons who have fought,
bled and died that she might live.
She is yearly paying out of her
Golfers millions of money in pensions
to safeguard those who did battle
in her cause. or to shield from want
those who were near and dear to
their, and teHsffef; He Il Il; is Is
the noble tribute of nations
grgtitude, not the wage of hireling,
nor the price of blood.
'In no nation on earth is the hero
of land or sea more largely hon
ored or met with warmer apprecia-
tion than in our own America, and
the veteran, soldier or sailor, steps
proudly among us knowing that he
has a place in the hearts and the
regards of his fellow countrymen.
Bet IL the care of the living be no
BILE and just, sweet and tender Is
the remembrance of our hero dead.
In few days the whole nation will
gather round the graves OF her SOL
der dead and honor their memory
with oratory and poetry, with music,
with song, with flowers and with
emblems of wars fierce clash, above
all with the emblem of the nations
life and the nations hopes, with the
Star Spangled Banner They will
decorate the graves of the loved
ones. and all are loved, yea, they
will decorate thousands OF unnamed
graves all over the land.
'Now, we can not, my friends,
for a moment suppose that this is
the expression of mere joy for vic
tories gained, less can we suppose
that 1t is a tribute Of honor to mere
brute force, or the intelligent guild
ance OF leaders; no. there Is
deeper meaning, more far-reaching
spirit back of 1t ALL 1t is the tri-
butte of a grateful nation to the
spirit of patriotism that dwelt in the
souls of the men who died for their
country. 1t was an arrant coward,
one who fled from the blasts of
battle, that sang the deathless
legend, 'Dulce ct decorum est pro