The Irish standard., 1915-02-27

practical man. He saw, although 9th
ers did not, the golden fringe of the
mantle of glory that would finally COW
er this land. He saw before him a
long and bloody struggle with the
mightiest nation on the earth. He
saw poverty and deprivation and death
but, what Of that, he also saw, on
the wrecked clouds of war the beau
tiful bow of freedom.
The soldiers did not march away
then, as they do today, with their
friends and sweethearts accompanying
them to the depot and bidding them be
of good cheer. Those were desperate
times. They went in silence, looked
at and gazed after by eyes filled with
tears. They went to Highland this is
true, Notwithstanding what the lec-
turer said the other day at the Uni
versity-those who first went out with
Washington went to fight five times
their number, to fight the veterans of
England, the victors of many battle.
field. (Applause.) Roman writers
love to tell how we'll Horatius kept
the bridge in the brave days of old.
But, while the story of the tabled
Coolies will be known only to the stu
dent, the gallant defenders of another
bridge will live in the hearts of their
countrymen, and the immortal shot
fired at Concord shall echo throughout
the world while fetter is to be brok.
en-, while bondsman is to be set free.
(Applause.)
The struggle went on. Over and
over again the Colonists were beaten.
Now and again they would meet the
enemy with something like equal num-
bers, and the eagle of victory would
proudly perch on the Stars and Stripes.
And so, they went on as best they
could, hoping and fighting until they
came to the dark and combre gloom
of Valley Forge.
1t was at that particular time and
on that awful occasion that the real
birth of this republic took place. Then
indeed was the motto "E pluribus
Unum" made reality. For when
everyone seemed to be in despair,
when all hope seemed gone, when the
Tories in Philadelphia and elsewhere
were doing everything possible to dis
courage Washington and his soldiers,
when they were insisting that he
should give up the unequal and hope
less contest, the friends of liberty the
world over came to the rescue. l shall
mention only a few names. l speak
the first with the greatest of rever-
ence. Germany sent us a Won Steuben.
(Applause.) And he displayed the
very quality that has ever since char
acterized his nation. Some call it mil
itarism; l call it efficiency; call it
thoroughness. He took those raw
recruits, men in despair, men without
hope. men ragged and hungry, and in
a few months he moulded them into
|
saw. The Dutchman sent his Schuyler
the Frenchman his Lafayette, the
Irishman his Jack Barry, the Pole his
Kosciusko-each and every one Of
these countries sent his bravest anc
his best. But more than that, anG
listen for you may we'll be proud as
knights of Columbus, they and espe
cially the Catholic countries sent III
not only men but money when it was
most sorely needed. l quote from {
non-Catholic authority: 1.-THE friendl,
sons of st. Patrick and their compatri
OTIS in Ireland were the first to re
spond with financial aid to the dis
tressed colonists. Catholic France
sent formidable fleet and furnished
10000 men and $3,OOO,OOO.OO. The
Catholics of Canada raised, armed ant
equipped two full regiments, Will,
Catholic Spain threw open her home
ports and the port of Havana to the
American Marine, and contributed 8,
600 barrels of gun powder, blankets FOL
ten regiments and 100000 francs fol
the young Republic" (Applause)
But grandest of all, inspiring all, was
Washington himself. His presence
was electric; he enthused the soldier
Trenton, Saratoga, Monmouth and 9th
err battle scenes passed quickly on;
until at last, by the victory at York
town, the old banner won its place ir
the air and became glorious forever
(Applause.) And that banner is today
as unstained as it was when first flung
to the breeze. That flag has ever been
a symbol of hope. It was destined In
the course of time to be tried in bit
ter struggle, but it came forth victori
GUS and unspotted and floated over a
land where for the first time since man
has kept record of events the heav
ems dawned above and domed a coun
try with serf. a servant or a slave
prolonged applause)
The war is over; the boom of can
non has died away; and the sun OF
peace and of liberty smiles on the
young republic, and compensates gen.
eral and soldiers alike for many a no.
BILE sacrifice.
But where now is Washington ?