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

England owes us origin to Patricl
through Irish immigration int
Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham
London and other manufacturing
and commercial cities. The vas
Catholic hierarchy in America
Australia, New Zealand and othei
parts Of the globe trace, in lik,
manner, their spiritual lineage t
Ireland and St. Patrick. Within
the halls of the Great Council of the
Vatican St Patrick counts more
Bishops for his children than any
other saint, save Peter; for the
iprelates deriving their faith from
ireland are moro numerous thar
those of any other nationality. And
no apostle (Peter always excepted }
has his anniversary in so many
countries and with such demonstra-
tons of Joy as Patrick"
This testimony Of one of English
blood will not be questioned on
the grounds that national predilec-
tions have c0lored It. II Is based
on unquesHoned facts. From the
Catholic point of view there is no
room to doubt that ST. Patrick,
through his spiritual descendants.
has wrought great things for the
cause of Catholicity. In this con-
nection we Of the race that rever-
ence and cherish the memory OF
Patrick can fittlngly appropriate
the words the great Latin poet put
| in the mouth of Aneas, "Quae regio
in terris nostri non plena laboris''
! (what region in the wide world is
not fun of our labors).
The faith delivered to our
fathers by Patrick and carried by
their descendants to the remotest
region OF the earth was In the
course of time to become the means
of keeping alive and intensifying
the spirit of Irish nationality. The
English invaders, after they apos-
tacized, tried to make the Irish
share in their apostacy. The saw
age penal code was enacted for
that purpose. and Montesquieu, the
great French writer, dealing with
this infamous code declared that 1t
"was conceived by devils, written in
human gore, and registered IN
hell" It's enforcement was an at
tempt to rob the Irish at one and
the same time of their religion and
of their nationality.
It was a challenge flung at the
Irish. History tells us how they
met the challenge and fought till
they wrung from the English
enemy a pledge for the concession
of civil and religious liberty
a pledge that was shamelessly
violated as soon as made. Patrick
Ford. in the Irish World. left US
this description of the duplicity
practiced by the English on that
OCCASION: Hating at no infamy,
teaching both by precept and by ex-
ample that the end justifies the
means, England's feudal habits and
treacherous tactics prevailed The
Irish. after a long and gallant
struggle. were outnumbered,
trampled upon, thrice decimated by
famine, disease and legalized massa-
ere. But the vitality of the race
was indestructible. Pursued with
fire and sword AYE. sometimes
seemingly blotted from the face OF
the earth-the remnant rose again
and again, giving the alien garrison
neither peace nor rest, and more
than once gaining large share Of
its lost liberties, only TO be tricked
out Of them by English artifice and
treachery, playing on Irish credul-
ity! BY way of example we may
cite the treaty of Liberick, by
which comparatively fair allow
nnce Of civil and religious liberty
was guaranteed TO the Irish under
the most solemn pledge. Having
won these concessions at the
sworod's point with valor such as
the world never saw surpassed,
Sarsfield and his heroic brigade
sailed away. Having done all that
mortal men could do. and scorning
10 register any obedience to English
laws. they took their stout arms
into the service of France. Butt
the flash of their cleaning swords
had scarcely disappeared below the |
oceans rim when the solemn treaty |
was torn to fragments. and the |
penal code OF Elizabeth revived"
These words were penned by Pat
rick Ford fortv-two years ago. |
Read in the light shed upon Eng
Ish duplicity they show that the |
irish people are no more justified
n placing faith in England's
pledges in the opening years of the
wentieth century than they were
n the last decade of the seven
zenith century. The leopard has
lot changed his spots. The treaty
If Limerick was torn in shreds
The home rule act of 1914 ON the
tatute book has been virtually
lulliFied. And this after Irish
Hood has been poured out like
yater in England's defence, be-
ause young Irishmen who fought
nd died for England were con-
,inced that she would keep her
gord solemnly pledged to ireland.
hat is the latest specimen OF Eng
ish treachery which will be OBJ
ruded upon the attention OF men
+ our race as they assemble on this
4. Patrick's day to do honor to the
lemory of Ireland's patron saint.
he ugly fact that Ireland has been
ricked again will not down.
This year st. Patrick's day Will
@ celebrated in circumstances OF
unparalleled gravity. The hopes OF
ur motherland for speedy dellv-
rance from Castle rule has been
ashed and it is to America, the
and of our love, that her people
urn for that aid and recognition
he so richly deserves.