The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-02-26

were Tories, too. in those days) the
golden fringe of the mantle of glory
that would finally cover this land. He
saw poverty and deprivation and death
but, what of that, he also saw on the
wrecked clouds of war the beautiful
bow of freedom.
Roman writer's love to tell how we'll
Horatius kept the bridge in the brave
days of old. But, when the story of
the tabled Coolies will be known only
to the student, 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 a
fetter is to be broken, while a bond
man is to be set free.
No need now to go into details about
the long and desperate struggle: no
need to tell of the dark and sombre
gloom of Valley Forge; no need to
remind you of the efficiency of Van
Steuben, the dash and the brilliancy
of a Lafayette and Koscuisko, the
well-sustained gallantry of the men of
the fighting race. All, those were the
days when the hyphen was neither
challenged nor despised.
The foreign foe was conquered, but
Washington's mission was not ended
yet. An internal evil cropped up that
threatened to eat into the heart of the
republic. The army was on the point
of revolt; there was little money and
less credit Liberty looked as If it
were mere delusion-a heritage of
woe. Luckily for America, fortunately
for posterity, the peoples voice was
raised in no uncertain way proclaim.
ing that Washington should be the
first president. He was fitted for the
position by his wisdom, by his patriot.
ism, by his discretion, by all that could
inspire confidence in man toward man.
And now the revolutionist became
conservative. Washington saved his
country from the fate of other lands.
He calmed the storm. There was no
American Madam Roland to cry out as
she was dragged to the block, 20, lib
erty, what crimes are committed in
thy name." No, we had no reign of
terror; we had no Madam Roland even
as we had no necessity for Charlotte
Corday. Liberty was here no empty
name; for Washington not only
brought the nation out of the valley
of death, but he was leader and
guide for the people he redeemed. He
watched by the cradle of the young
republic; he saw her bloom in her
youth and grow fresh and strong; he
saw her credit established. her debts
| wiped out and the star Of promise rise
in the heavens and hover over this
land of liberty. And, when his work
was done, when his days were draw
ing to close, he saw her a nation
free as the bird that flies and wings
the balmy air-a nation destined to
swell with every age, gaining momen.
tum as 1t rolls on with the flood OF
time until in our day it stands, and
shall continue to stand unless through
ignorant cocksureness or criminal in
efficiency, monument of strength and
indestructibility.
Such is America; such was Washing
ton. We are the inheritors of the leg
acy left by our Liberator. Shall we
be worthy of the trust? have not
much misgivings about the future
Dark and threatening clouds may here
and there hang over US. But this land
that gave us, in our emergencies, 9
Washington and Lincoln, q Gran,
and q Sheridan, will produce the mar