The Irish standard., 1914-01-03

and beauty to those masterpieces or
art produced by the greatest of Amer
ican sculptors, Saint t.Gaudens. The
muse of song inspired the Irish heart
of Moore, who swept the strings of
>Sn,'n's Harp" and 10! the whole world
g with Its. its sweetness; ss ss; ~ And sa.ss to-
in =. of the simple folk. They
are the, >omfort and solace of thou
sands of Irish homes.
But the leadership of Ireland's sons
is not restricted to the fields of ora
tory, craftsmanship, literature and art.
Even in the industrial and commercial
world they have proved themselves
masters of commerce and captains OF
industry. Particularly is this true of
our own country. In fact, we are
greatly indebted to this race for the
part they have played in our national
development. Among the presidents
of banks and railroads, and, in fact,
of all the leading industries of our
country, may be found countless
names of Irishmen.
Has Furnished Her Share of States.
men.
Ireland has also furnished us with
her share of statesmen and governors
and presidents. In our congressional
halls sit dozens of members of Irish
descent. Among the most noted of
the past years is Bourke Cochran,
with his unequaled flow of Celtic elo.
quence. The Sullivan family alone,
in New England, furnished a governor
for Massachusetts, one for New Hamp-
shire, and another for Vermont. Three
of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence were Irish by birth and
five were of Irish blood. And Charles
Thompson, who read that famous doc
ument on the birth-coming of our re-
public, was Irish by birth.
Andrew Jackson was the first Amer
ican president to rise to that exalted
position from the lowliest walk of
life, without the prestige of birth or
the polish of education. And this
Irish president was probably the first
in the history of the world to climb
so high through the "free choice of
free people,"
Conspicuous Ia the Realms Of War.
These remarkable people. with their
love for the fray, have made them
selves equally conspicuous in the
realms of war. Wherever roars the
din of battle, there may be found
the spirit of Irish chivalry. Whether
it be David Crockett at the Alamo;
whether it be Houston fighting for
the liberty of the Lone Star State;
whether it be the Irish Brigade at
Fredericksburg or Phil Sheridan rid
Ing like god of war onto the battle.
field in Winchester, turning defeat
into victory; whether it be Andrew
Jackson at New Orleans or "Stone.
wall" Jackson at Chancellorville, it is
that same daring, impulsive, indomit.
able Celtic spirit of gallantry, forever
weaving crowns of glory for repub.
lies, forever forming the character of
nations, forever enriching the history
of Ireland's sons.
1t is hard to estimate our indebted
ness to this wonderful race. In every
phase of American life they have been
a predominant factor in aiding the
growth and adding to the greatness
of our country. Without our Irish
names, our history would lose half its
brilliancy, our crown Of national glory
half it's splendor.
When we stop to consider the ad-
versity with which the Irish race has
met and the fortitude it has displayed
in bearing its afflictious, what it has
achieved in spite of these adversities
and afflictious, and how it's sons have
mounted to the pinnacle of fame, we
cannot but conclude that the Irish are
wonderful people.
Why, then, should they not be per-
mitted to govern themselves? They
have withstood the persecution of cen.
turtles without ever fahering. For
generation after generation they have
been oppressed, without ever waver-
ing in their determination, without
ever losing their strength of charac.
ter.
They have so often and so splen-
didly shown themselves capable of
leadership, directing the armies of
empires, sitting as legislators and
statesmen in the councils of nations,
ruling as governors of states and
presidents of republics, are they not
capable Of governing themselves? Did
God intend that this people, so re-
markable and yet so fortunate, SO
capable and yet so helpless, so worthy
and yet so oppressed, should be sac
rificed for the aggrandizement of Eng
land?
For the Good Of All Peoples.