The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-13


 | esThe subject of American Patriot 1 ism is always most interesting and in spiring I consider it an exceptional honor to address you, noble sons of Americas veteran patriots, this subject tonight. Your fathers were the very personification of practical pa- i triotisrn. Your names are names of patriotic American heros- Your blood is the blood of patriotic American martyrs. Your very features are the Iikenesses of American patriots who, in the hour of the nations greatest need, sacrificed all that earth holds dearest, buckled on the armor of war, rushed where battles ragged, and offer ed for the honor of American life the very life blood of their own
 esYol1 E1onored sons of American he- roes and martyrs need no inspiration to spur you to defense of the very highest ideals of American pa triotism- You are doubly bound to- an undying love of OUT country, loyalty to it's life and veal and an ever lasting defense in peace and war of American honor and American pro- gress.
 However, no matter how strong we it is always well to frequently re- .vive the old spirit, renew the old res olutions, and thus increase the old fervor. So it is with our patrit- ism.
 teLove of country has always been, after love of God. the magic inspira- ton of the most marvellous deeds of human history. At its shrine the he- ros of every nation and time have burned their choicest incense Of ad- miration and reverence. The most fascinating folklore, the most charm 1 ing poetry. the most inspiring music, the most brilliant oratory, have all borrowed their charm and beauty | %I,< SIGN OF MANS HONOR
 t"Take away from people their love of IGod and love of country, and you rob them of the vital sparks of 3ndi- lvidual and national honor. Gold and precious stones, commerce and indus try, armies and warships. may all aid l in the material glory and progress of a nation, but after religion the best and only guarantee of nations suc- cess is the patriotic loyalty and love and industry and sacrifice of her citi- izens.
 'HThe whole glorious history of our great country is a wonderful story lOf patriotic zeal and achievement What other force could have placed i Washington, the VTginian surveyor, at the cradle of our nations hopes and made him the father of the greatest republic on earth? What other force could have transformed Israel Put ham, the ploughman. into god Of war?
 I '.It was patriotism which sent Pat rick Henry's words, Give me liberty or give me death.' ringing round the world, and made Nathan Hale regret that he had but one life for his coun- E try. Patriotism hung the signal lan- 1 church, sent Paul Revere dashfng
 through every Midd1esex village and farm, and reused the heros of Lex Fington and Concord and Bunker HiH to their duty.
 <.sIt burned in the little breast cry ing, Ring. Grandpa, Ring!' and it animated the aged Bell Ringer at Philadelphia when he Ioosened the great tongue of Liberty Bell and rang out the glorious proclamation of American Independence.
 WHAT PATRIOTISM DID,
 Patriotism reddened the snow-cov- cred fields of Valley Forge with mar tyrs' blood, strengthened the soul of Molly Pitcher at Monmouth and dic- tated saucy Jack Barry's noble re- fusal, not all the fleets of the British navy could tempt me to sell my coun- try's honor Patriotism endowed the eIoquence Ii of the saint1y Catholic Jesuit Bishop Il Carroll and the learned scholar Ben jamin Franklin with the power to persuade the 1egions of France under lafayette and Rochambeau to make
 
 Morris and Dominic Lynch and tI,e Friendly Sons of St. Patrick to place their powerful financial aid at Wash 1ngton's disposal and guided the ad- vice and assistance which merited from The Father of His Country the loving and grateful title of Brother Jonathan for our Governor Jonathan Trumbull.
 I Patriotism raised your fathers those noble Boys in R1ue-to the dig nity of national heroes where from Sumpter to Appomattox. they fought
 and suffered and died for Liberty and Union. now and forever, one and in
 separable It 1ashed F,arragut to the masthead at New Orleans raised tTe Star Spangled Banner up among tfe clouds on Lookout Mountain, and put blossoms of blood on the spries ,f green in the caps of Meager's Irish sI IZouaves at Mary's Heights It rang the good old bug1e boys from Atlanta to the Sea and put fire into Phil Sher- idan's turn boys turn and sent his warriors Whirling victoriously Up the \ Shenandoah Valley
 l. CONSOLATION OF PRISONERS Patriotism eonsoled the countless martyrs, starving and dying, amid the horrors of rebel prisons. sounded taps consecrated the graves of all our sol dfer dead. Love of country ennobled the American wives and mothers and sisters and sweeth carts who with smiling faces urged your veteran fath- CTS on, and with courage and sym pathy put inspiration and iron into the men st the front while they them ! selves battled with poverty at home. or in the garb of a nurse or Catholic