The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-11-18
sary in defense of her loved ones.

were heroes ana nerOlneS, ana II may
be we'll said of them in the language
OF the poet:
Full many gem, of purest ray Sc
rene.
The dark unfathomed caves Of ocean
bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush
unseen,
And waste it's sweetness on the des-
ert air."
Yes, they We're marvels of physical
bravery and almost superhuman en-
durance; and there was need that they
should be. No Pullman palace car or
vestibuled train existed to bring them
hither, no tourists excursion bounding
along over steel Orders, no railroad as
forerunners of civilization as now, in
wiling them in to take up their farms.
no joyous procession with banners
waving and brass bands playing, such
as greeted the Chief Executive of our
nation here a few days since, and such
as we have, in great abundance here
today, marched forth to greet them on
their arrival.
They journeyed for most part afoot,
and a prairie schooner and OK team
was luxury. They made their way
through trackless sWamps, hazel brush
and wooded waste, through primeval
forests, across swift running bridge
less streams, their old flintlock or muz-
zle leaders their only source of food
supply.
They left what they considered the
over-crowded countries of the East or
came from beyond the briny deep to
try their fortunes in the wild and
lonely West keenly alive to lettering
their condition and that of those near
and dear to them, their family, for
they were essentially men of domestic
instinct with love for home and FAM
lily, having a fine appreciation for pure
air and fertile soil, and every fiber Of
their hearts beating true to the prin-
ciples of civil and religious liberty, and
they brought with them two qualities
OF priceless value-love Of country and
love Of God. Yes, my friends they
were God-fearing Christian people,
diamonds in the rough, as chivalrous,
brave, self-denying and valiant as the
KNIGHTS nf thn 11y fn 1o
or die. revering the memory of the
patriots and sages who had made the
Declaration of Independence and those
that gave their lives to put those prin-
ciples in operation in order that they
and others might enjoy them, ever
mindful of the sacrifice of Bunker Hill
and Lexington; the privations of Vail
ley Forge; and the victory and sur
render at Yorktown, and I have no
doubt their descendants are equally
capable Of sacrifice and self denial.
If, in paying this tribute from the
living to the dead we re-kindle within
us the spirit that animated them, we
shall with each recurrence to their
lives grow better ourselves, and at the
risk Of in q measure depressing. have
accomplished our object.
Our lives have been cast In easier
times, have been laid on broader, long
er lines with added responsibilities.
We live in an age of stupendous mar
wells! We gather the fruit of trees
that our forefathers planted. The war
Whoop of the savage is succeeded by
the CLEAN of the tomahawk by the
glare OF the incandescent lamp. Dan
ger of the kind that threatened them
is to us unknown. Privation, such as
they sustained assail not honest toll,
however humble. Wealth and luxury
wait attendant upon thrift and skill,
and entailed estates no longer cheats
merit of it's due, by putting a mortgage
on the future of mans efforts.
Opportunity, peace, order, law and
the solace of sweet religion are the
portion OF the poorest Struck by the
hand of industry and progress, the
sleeping beauty has awakened, and be-
hold an enterprising village. Touched
by the finger Of modern invention the
prairie and forest, as by enchantment,
have revealed their secrets and poured
their riches into the lap Of labor. With
in the memory of many here, who still
claim to be young, you have trans
formed by your industry virgin for
est with one log hut to substantial
village with many comfortable and
beautiful homes. And your town is
built on firm foundation because af-
ter more than a third of century of
trial you know the resources Of this
part Of the state.
You are fortunately situated because
for general agriculture it ia difficult