Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-03-15

heights of eloquence are reached.
There are sculptors and artists
ranking with the best, and many Of
Hibernia's children have wooed with
marked success the muse of music.
] Patrick Sarfield Gilmore is ac-
Iknowledged the most famous of all
bandmasters, and several of our
celebrated operate singers, John
Mccormack among them, bark back
to the Isle Of Saints and Martyrs.
The dramatic armament is studded
with bright, particular stars" OF
Irish birth or extraction.
The Irish grace the bench and
bar in every State OF the Union
and Islands of the sea-" They cit
in the most august of all judicial
bodies, the United States Supreme
Court, and let 1t be written that
| Charles O'Connor, unlettered IN the
schools, of "lowly birth and iron
fortune" son of poor Irish emil
grant, rose in the '70s 10 the un-
challenged primacy of the New York
bar. or political lights there are as
many as leaves in the valley Of
| Vallambrosa." Gaels take nat
urally to public AFFAIRS, and many
| haiiing from the ''ould sod" are
playing prominent roles in the
drama OF our national life. James
Gillespie Blaine, perhaps the most
striking figure OF our latter day
civic history, and Nebraska's gifted
SON, international in repute, Will
lam Jennings Bryan, always Wanted
their strong Celtic strain.
Dauntless, magnanimous as foes,
quick to resent injury, quicker TO
forgive, superb in courage. lowered
with vigor, talent OF tongue, brain
and pen, they are ever ready to
war for the ideal, and there was
never cause too weak nor hope too
forlorn for their ardor or supreme
effort il justice dwelt therein. Phil
Sheridan, greatest of great cavalry
chiefs, and Barry, father of the
American navy, were gloriously true
to the traditions Of the fighting
race and reflected undying lustre on
American arms. The blood was shed
at far-off Lexington, II crimsoned
Havana harbor when black waters
of death swirled Ger the Maine,
and Kelly and Murphy were with
Hobson when the hero of Santiago
Bay sank the Merrirnac in a death
less uGGu VI 40 AAAoN
woman to advocate the abolition of
slavery was Abbie Kelley, and the
colored brother reveres John Boyle
O'Reilly. with Wenedll Phillips, as
one of the sturdiest champions and
most beneficial friends of his race,
eager always to protect and uplift
the children of Africa. Gen. James
Shields. Senator from three States,
Governor, Judge, Titan of the
Mexican and civil wars, was the
only Union commander that over
came the idol OF the South, Stone
wall Jackson, and Gen. Patrick K
Cleburne welded a flashing blade
for the lost cause, to name but one
Of many military men who cast their
lots with the land OF Lee and the
Cavaliers.
In distant Colonial days Timothy
Murphy proved the hero of the Cat
skills, and In Revolutionary times
the-~fWere on n<HetHringi line, ''read-
lest OF the ready" Gen. John Sulli-
van struck the first blow at Ports
mouth in the war of independence
and an O'Brien captured the fret
British warship. The first American
General to give his life for the flag
of Washin gton was Richard Mont
gomery. Three OF the signers OF
the Declaration we're born where
the shamrock grows-Matthew
Thornton, James Smith and George
Taylor-and five others were of
Celtic lineage-John Reed, Edward
Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Thomas
Mexican and Charles Carroll OF
Carrollton. The Friendly Sons OF
st. Patrick rendered telling, en-
thusiastic assistance to the father
of his country, and Washington was
often an hOnored guest at their ban
quets. Count Dillon, OF the Irish
Brigade, Mad Anthony" Wayne and
Gen. Moyland, the Murat of the
Revolution, strove Justify for the
Continentals, and In Engiand's Par
lament Burke and Sheridan pleaded
valiantly for the patriots of Valley
Forge in epics of freedom, master
pieces of irrefragable logic and
forensic skill. When France, beloved
France. in the outpouring of her
generous heart gent fleets, troops,
treasure in our needieSt hour and
at Yorktown crowned struggling
Revolutionary forefathers with the
aureole OF nationhood, winning the
gratitude Of every American till the
''last syllable OF recorded time" may
II never be forgotten that shining
number of officers and privates en-
listed under the fleur-de-lis We're
Irish. All honor to theml
The wars Of 1912 and '46 found
the scattered Gael' doing his full
share, and their part in the re-
bellion must be pride to those
who claim ancestry from the
Emerald Isle. Meade, the Rock Of Z
Chickamagua, was of them, as were
likewise the one-aTmed hero, Major
Gen. Phil Kearney, killed facing the
foe at Chantilly, and Col. Patrick I
q. O'Rourke, who was shot to death +
calamity leading his regiment, and
a career of brilliant promise was z
thus sadly cut short, career that
began at West Point, the worlds
greatest military academy, where he
headed his class for four years.
Col. Robert E. Nugent led 1900 into
the jaws OF death at Fredericksburg
and 500 were moved down liko
grass, green sprigs in their caps,
the shamrock and Old Glory in their
hearts The Irish Brigade was never
in bravery on any field
OF Mars. The memory of their
prowess is forever enshrined on
flames eternal camping ground"
The Spanish-American war saw the
Irish element in all ranks of the
and naval service, and
''Bucl1y" O'Neill. OF the Rough
Riders, fatally wounded as he
ut.oocoI ~. II, tl,o xyor. ~ Tho o4foolr