The Irish standard., 1919-04-19

mand. Oaoe again It has beea shown
Ito 10 that the soul Of the nation cannot
be killed. This was Ill these brave
hearts hoped to accomplish. and they
have accomplished it. The price was
q dear one; these valuable lives were
q loss not only to Ireland, but to the
world. They were loss to Ireland
because they were answering in their
loyalty; they were a loss to the world
because q pure literature. which the
world Of today can i'll afford to lose,
was daily blowing from their pens.
And yet, Ireland has been purified;
Ireland is awake; they freely gave
themselves-it is worth it all.
The spirit of sacrifice which they
showed in Easter Week is since show.
ing itself in many movements in Ire
land. I will mention but one: the
Irish mission to China. 1 will venture
to say that the spark of sacrifice en-
kindled in the hearts of these young
missionaries, who are volunteering for.
mission fields in far Cathay, was
caught from the glowing fire that
burned in the hearts Of the Easter
martyrs. Yes, what Pearse and his
companions did for the cause of Ire
land, these young hearts feel they can
do for the cause of God. This pure
Esprit, which is not earthly, has affect
ed everything in Ireland; we find now
nothing of the gross naterialism
characteristic of other nations Noble
hearts, perhaps you have effected
moro in death than in life.
They are dead and gone. Genera
tions yet unborn will read in the pages
of history Of these brave men and their
noble deeds, the nobility of their char
acters, the purity of their lives, the
sublimity of their deaths will yet stir
up many a young heart to deeds of
valor, virtue and sacrifice Future
generations will point with pride to
these, their forebears But what of US
of today? Will future generations be
proud of us. The work begun in Eas-
ter Week is not yet complete. Ireland
is not yet independent. We will be
unworthy of our race, our blood, I'M
worthy OF these noble hearts, that
were stilled in the Easter Insurrection
of 1916, il we allow the present oppor-
tunity to pass. Now is the time
Think long and deep on Ireland's
wrongs through the centuries; think
on the long line of noble heroes, not
the least Of whom are those of Easter
Week. If you are Irish, nay, if you
are fair-minded, the blood will tingle
in your veins; you will be galvanized
into action. What we want now is
action. Often before in Erin's tragic
history has the cup of liberty been
dashed from her lips when she was
about to taste the sweetness of the
potion. Is it to happen again? Not
If we are true to the sacred trust con.
fided to US by Pearse and his comps
trfots. England is already feeling the
pressure Of Irish opinion, or rather of
the demand of the Irish race urged
from the four corners of the globe. We
can add to this pressure and force
from her now what she has held from
us adown the centuries.
The long night of Erin's sorrow. is
lifting. l see the gray dawn Of the
new day; I feel the refreshing breezes
from the hills of liberty. Today Ire.
land takes her place amongst the ma.
tions Of the world, and tomorrow: we
will write the epitaph Of Emmett.
May the Easter of 1920 see this glori.
Gus tomorrow dawn for ireland.
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