The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-17
tContiued from Page u


the nth of March, was the theme
Of a poem read by President William
A Redden at the opening of the post
prandial exercises. 1t was apropos Of the
gathering last evening which contain
ed many prominent citizens of Irish
lineage and many who cannot boast
Of that distinction. but who have the
utmost respect for the part Irishmen
have played in the building of the
American nation. After hearing the
eloQuence Of the speakers those with
out claim to Irish ancestry were fill
ed with strong resolutions to lose no
time In making a hopeful genealogical
search for some trace of progenitors
who have played q part in keeping
alive the teachings of Patrick and the
racial character that has kept a ma
tons ideals intact despite the power
or tyrannical monarchy.
President W. A. Redeem proved a
most Interesting and versatile toast
master. His Introduction speeches We're
5eveled with pleasant stories and wit.
Mayor E. T. Buckingham, the first
speaker got a rousing welcome and
ne made a splendid speech in response
to the toast The City"
The Mayors speech follows:
Mr. POSTMASTER, Honored Guests
and Knights OF st. Patrick:
For the second time it Is my pleas
0re Is mayor OF Bridgeport to join
of days In the hearts of Irishmen
and their descendants. Looking over
this representative body of my fellow
citizens am impressed with the poo
MENTAL qualities Of the Irish race. To-
might you win hear from lips far more
eloquent than mine. the story of Ire
Had and OF the life and achievements
Df the Immortal Patrick, the patron
saint Of that isle famed in song and
story.
7 see before me men who are
among the leaders In the many avoca-
ftons that constitute the busy life of
Bridgeport. The success of those of
Irish blood In this community is a
fair index OF what they have accom-
blished throughout the country. 1t
demonstrates what the Irish character
Be capable of under favorable circum-
stances
-As you perhaps know, far better
than I do. the life of the Irish in their
native land has been one of continual
nacrince. We know that they sacri-
Need every material gain for the pre-
6ervation OF their religious faith and
national aspirations AS a result
khereof they were weighed down by
religious and civil disabilities. Until
- comparatively recent time in their
own land they were denied education
al privileges and every opportunity to
advance to the higher places in life.
Ruf the Irish were among the first of
hhe European peoples to see the great
opportunities which America afforded
and their tide of emigration was
turned towards this country to which
they flocked in great numbers The
story OF their life here is in decided
contrast to that which characterized
their struggles in their homeland and
Is perhaps the most eloquent tribute
TO the capabilities of the race. Favored
n ,;,I f1I r, ov,
at home, they have demonstrated that
opportunity to them means success.
Their life in this country has been On>
of continued advancement. Given the
advantages of our American schools
together with religious liberty and po-
litical equality they have taken an
eruineEt place in every field OF en-
'deavor to which they have applied
themselves.
These conditions which have de-
veIoped the Irish race in this country
are now accomplishing the same re-
suit among the other European races
who have made this their adopted
country They, too, are taking ad-
vantage of the wonderful opportunities
of this. land of ours; their healthy
alien blood is being infused into our
national life $and they are likewise
proving themselves worthy to occupy
positions of the highest responsibility
and trust.
ssSpea king from my personal expert
ence during my official lifs in Bridge
port IT has been my pleasure to come
IN contact almost daily with many
citizens of Irish birth or extraction,
who are identified with our city gov
eminent Among those VINO nave
served and served well there are two
names which stand out ,pre-eminently
and I feel warranted at this time in
paying a personal tribute to these
,nen and their earnest qualities OF
citizenship as exemplif1ed in years of
pervicc to the city / refer to BERNARD
Heating, our city auditor, and Eugene
Birmingham, the head OF our ponce
department.
ON such occasions as this, when /
am privileged TO meet a gathering
representative of any particular type
OF our citizenship, I am forcefully reg
minded Of the strikingly cosmopolitan
character of our population. / am
also brought face to face with the I'M
pressive fact that we Bridgeporters,
in our admiration and love for ouf
city. forget party ties and the distinc-
lions OF nativity or ancestry.
1T is well for US to meet in this
manner to foster and cherish the ira
-ditions of our ancestry. But 1t is
equally wholesome at such times for
us to renew our allegiance to our city,
the home we love SO well, the pride
of New England. Let us ask our
selves the uuestion-'What am / do
ing for Bridgeport" or again, What
am I doing to make it a better city %
A chain is only as strong as its weak
es- link A city is only as strong as
It's weakest institution 1t is the duty
of every citiZen-it matters not what
may be his party affiliations, his nativ
stv- his ancestry-to strive TO attain
10 the loftiest ideal of American citi-
hi of tn a
uplifting to the highest standard, OF
every institution, whether it be Of the
city the state or the nation.
God grant that the splendid AM
erican citizenship exemplified in the
membership of the knights of ST.
Patrick may be perpetuated among
their descendants. May He so bless
our city that when, SO years from to-
night. your children and your chill
dren-s children, shall gather to cele-
brate in speech and song the achieve
ments of the glorious patron of Ire
land. they may drink a toast to
Bridgeport, as the proudest and most
populous city of all New England. the
great melting pot, in which is fused
the precious ores of all nations, a
center of industry and art, whose
motto shall be-"Equal opportunity
for ALL"
RICHARD T. HIGGINS.
whether against Catholic Spain or
Protestant England the Irish-American
citizen today is ready to stand be-
raatb the FLAG of his adopted country