The Irish standard., 1912-12-07


the principles which actuated their
lives and the motives which inspired
their sacrifices are the important mat
ters for history. l do not mean the
narrow history which dazzlcs with the
prejudiced record OF heroic deeds, but
refer to that history which gradually
and imperceptibly indicates itself on
the mental, moral and physical pur-
poses Of a nation; that history which
teaches the world that only the good.
the pure and the elevating will survive
that which is evil and debasing; that
history which crystalizes human SYM
pathy into creative happiness; in such
a history as this, these men will ever
live and upon the loom of their mar
tyrdom will the fabric of Irelands
story be woven to completion.
"They lived not for themselves but
for their country; onward and upward
they climbed the mountain of self
denial and the Gethsemane of their
cause they gladly pour forth the trib-
ute of their blood. Their lives are re-
splendent with the spirit of moral and
physical courage which has immortal
lied the Irish race in every great
emergency, and their hearts pulsated
with that quality of valor which has
ever made the Irish people an import
ant factor in every struggle for un-
trammeled freedom.
1T is the blood of men like Allen,
Larkin and O'Brien which has conse-
Grated the cause of liberty in every
land and it has been the countless
martyrdo1n of Irish patriots which has
kept Ireland alive today as nation.
Today the degenerate standard of
Alaric is but a name, and the King
doms of Atilla have decaycd with the
bones of their founder; the Goth, the
Vandal and the Hun have ceased to
exist even in the voices of their own
languages; every vcstige Of these ma
tlons have been eaten by the rust and
moth of time, but the Irish race, the
Irish ideals, the Irish cause live TODAY
as brightly, as hopefully and as vigor-
ouslyy as they ever did. Ireland may
have wavered in her policies but she
has never trembled in her devotion to
God and country.
"And yet no nation in history par
allels the trials and sutferings of the
Irish race. Every torment which in
genuity could devise and every torture
that cruelty could conjure have been
utilized for centuries in an effort to
crush out the spirit of Irish patriot
ism, her people were deprived of life,
they were stripped Of citizenship, they
were robbed of land, they We're denied
the means Of an education, they were
despoiled of property and driven like
lepers from their country. Still, in
spite of all these miseries the Irish
people have held steadfastly to the line
of their traditional nationhood with a
resistance which stands alone in the
annals of Christian courage.
"Paradoxical as it may seem, it is
nevertheless true, that the persecution
of the Irish race has been blessing
to every country but Ireland itself.
The continued era OF penalty and
blood long ago caused Ireland to open
the flood gates of her emigration and
scatter her people on the crest of
every wave. To every land Irishmen
have drlfted and wherever the desolate
exiles have settled there you will find
the influences of Irish civilization, of
Irish learning, of Irish craftsmanship,
of Irish soldiery, of Irish character and
of Irish patriotism. Go where you will,
to any spot where the white man has
ever beaten a path and at the bottom
of their civilization and enlightenment
you will discover the work of the Irish
pioneer.
1--WE cannot all be martyrs, but we
can and should be Irishmen of the
worthiest type. In the sanctuary of
our manhood reposes the hope of Ire
lands cause, the destiny of the Irish
people, and, whether we fall on the
blood stained field of battle or in the
wilds Of the uncivilized forest or in
the crowded haunts of the city, let us
ever go down as soldiers of duty, and
not as henchmen of fortune; let us
be loyal to our country; let us be firm
in the faith of our country's cause;
let us be staunch in the friendship of
each other and let us unite our hearts
toward the achievement of Irish inde-
pendence.
20 glorious Isle Of Song! O, mystic
cradle of hope! O, valiant warrior of
God! May the day be near at hand
when thou shalt dare to freely and