The Irish standard., 1914-03-21

bridge, where he took command of tho
continental army, was Col. John Fitz.
gerald and James McHenry. The bold
dash of Montgomery into the heart of
Canada, winning victory after victory.
but destined to fall before the walls Of
Quebec and the exploits of the fearless
Mad Anthony Wayne, will ever be a
chapter read with interest by Ameri-
can students. The first signal victory
won by the Americans was the cap
ture Of Boston after lengthy seige,
the American forces took possession
of the city under the command of Gen.
eral Sullivan on the 18th Of March,
1776. General Washington showed
bis appreciation of the services not
only of the great General Sullivan, but
of the Irishmen and their army, when
he issued the following order:
Headquarters, 18th March, 1776.
"Countersign, st. Patrick
Parole, Boston,
THE regiments under marching or
ders to march tomorrow morning.
"Brigadier of the Day, General Sui
livan.
by his Excellency's Command"
On each subsequent St. Patrick's
Day, Washington never overlooked is
suing a special order as compliment
to his loyal supporters.
Loyal and courageous as were the
leaders and soldiers in battle, those
at home were not less wanting in en-
thusiastic and energetic support of the
great cause. During the early part of
1880. Congress appealed for financial
aid to the citizens to save the govern.
ment from bankruptcy and what seem.
ed the inevitable collapse Of the revo-
luton. Twenty-seven Of the Friends
of st. Patrick in Philadelphia contrib
uted $442,500 and severally pledged
their property and their credit not
only did they jeopardize their prop
erty, but in the event OF failure, signed
their death warrant, as this was an
act of high treason against the king.
Even in parliament the voice of
lrishmen was raised in vigorous pro-
test against the injustice of the Stamp
Act. Bush, Barry and Conway were
there and the greatest OF all contem-
poraneous statesmen, Edmund Burke.
No grander figure ever rose to address
parliament; from lips fell sentences
charged with compact thought carry
ing to their hearers the political phi.
losophy Of the day, as well as the best
Interpretation for the solving of per-
picking governmental problems. Point
ing out with all the fervor that flows
from the deepest convictions of the hui
man heart, the erring course of the
English crown and ministry in their
treatment of American colonists, he
stood fearless Of a kings wrath and
unyielding to the demands of the ma
jority.
Burke knew the difficulty of quench-
ing fire of liberty in the hearts of the
colonists. He knew the stern resolve
in the minds of the signers of Declara-
tion Of Independence. Six of them
were of his own race. All these sign
ers well knew they were signing an
instrument which would mark the COM
mencement of new nation or seal
their own doom. You have read that
famous document arraying the crown
and setting forth the reasons for es-
tablishing new government. We
commemorate the event as the Fourth
Day of July.
1t is one thing to win the independ-
ence Of nation and another to es.
tablish government. The Continen-
tai Congress was fortunate in securing
the services Of Charles Thompson as
secretary. To him the most impor.
tant doctrines were entrusted, regard
ed by the legislature as the faithful
repository Of their condolences. He
served them we'll. When the conflict
was over the new nation took it's place
among the powers of the world, it was
Thompson who carried the notification
Of the high commission which notified
Washington he was selected to the
presidency. There was Butler, from
South Carolina, and Cass from Michi-
gan, in the senate; there was Shields,
who represented in turn, Illinois, Min
nesota and Mississippi in the United
States senate, served as governor OF
Oregon. as an officer in the Mexican
and Civil War; and there was Thomas
Nelson, the signer Of the Declaration
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