The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-10-16
BOOSTING HIeERNIANIsM.

BOOSTING HlBERNIANIsM. 4
The Hibernians of Ramsey County |
have undertaken a big task; task |
that will tax their ingenuity and re-
sourcefulness. Concerning the sue
cessful outcome-there can be no ques- |
ton: The Hibernians of Ramsey Coun, |
ty decided to erect a building Of their
own; club for social purposes; a !
meeting place where they may gather;
where the spirit of Hibernianism will
be all.pervading. The zeal with which
they have undertaken their task guar
antees the success of it, but back of it
all, and this is the important thing,
it fills long-felt want; it establishes,
centralizes, and crystallizes the spirit
of Hibernianism in st. Paul in man.
ner impossible to successfully establish
in any other way. The Ancient Order
Of Hibernians has continued to in
crease. in the United States generally,
but too many people have the idea that
the persons upon whom the burden of
fostering Hibernianism must fall are
the native born Irish men and women.
This is not true. The only conclusion
that could be drawn, If it were true,
would be the conclusion that Ireland
must continually be drained in order
to furnish recruits for Irish organiza-
lions in this country. The spirit of Hi
bernianism in ST. Paul, is to great ex-
tent the spirit Of the sons and grand.
sons of Irish men in America; the
spirit of the daughters and grand
daughters of patient long-suffering
Irish women. 1t is unholy for any
man or woman with drop of Irish
blood in their veins, to suppose that the
ideals of the Irish race are to languish
or indeed to be abandoned, because
| there was not enough virility in the
second and third generations of Irish.
Americans to carry the burden so we'll
and so unselfishly as was done by their
forebears. True, here and there, you
will find individuals who are so afraid
of what people might think of them,
so skeptical because remark might
be made about their Americanism, that
they remain outside the pale, while
they are yet willing to partake of the
fruits of Hibernianism. The Hiber-
mans have flourished in spite of these
Individuals; in spite of the aloftness
of these individuals from whom CO.
operation is not to be expected. The
Hibernians of Ramsey County are to
be congratulated on their noble enter
prise. Hibernians in every quarter of
] the country are watching hopefully the
success which Is soon to crown the ef-
forts of their st. Paul co-workers. To
purchase ground, and erect a building
In a city the size of st. Paul, is no
small task, but to suppose that those
who have undertaken the work could
do it without the aid of every member
of the order would be to ask them to
make bricks without straw" Matters
have now developed to the point where
the name and fame of Hibernianism Is
at stake. The burden Is upon the Hi
bernians Of the community. Everyone
will share in the success of the under.
taking to the same extent, and every.
one personally feels that the success
or the lack of success in this under.
taking is due to them. 1t cannot be
stunned, It must not be avoided. Hi.
bernians have duty to perform to
themselves; to those who follow. 1t ia
a happy circumstance and one that can
be pointed to with pride, that among
the most active workers in Ramsey
County are the young men and women
not native sons and daughters of the
Emerald Isle, but children and grand
children of those who are born there
The success of Hibernianism in the
future depends upon the Hibernians
Of the present. If we decline to per
form our just share, and fail to re
spond to the impulses Of self-sacrifice
little can be expected from those who
succeed us. Honor is not bestowed
except for sacrifices made and work
performed. No generation of Irish men
and women have yet failed to perform
their full duty. The present genera.
tion has shown its ability and desire
to shoulder the burdens of Hibernian.
ism, and perform it with willing hands.
The mission of Hibernianism in this
country has just begun. The order
has been Entrusted with the noblest
work that has been bequeathed to any
organization of men embracing one
faith and being the descendants of one
race.
Our rational heritage must be pre-.
served. 1t must be preserved in its
full strength, that the traditions, the
faith and the nobility of the Irish race
shall not descend to weakness. These
are the considerations which have
prompted the Hibernians of Ramsey
County to erect for themselves and
those to follow, a monument to Hiber.
MAN zeal and integrity. That they
will succeed, is the hope and prayer of
Hibernians everywhere.