The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-16

U. $. Senator
 erccnce into freedom found them clipging tenaciously to the ideals that had been theirs through the centuries.
 Speakers Table
 At the speakers table were . group of distinguished personages, including Governor Cross, Lieuten- ant Governor Frank Hayes, U. &. Senator Francis T. Maloney, Con- gressman J. Joseph Smith, Editor James McGovern of the Bridgeport Tirnes-Star, Major Thomas J. Ban nigan of Newington, State Senator Matthew Daly, Mrs. Margaret Yer don of the welfare department, Rev. Francis M. O'Shea, Rev. John Me- Grath of Thomaston, Commissioner Joseph Tone, Mrs. Nora Mahaney Harris of New Haven, President George Ryan of the Irish American Club, and others. Dr. John Freney presided as toastmaster.
 Irish music and songs predomin- Rted in the entertainment program Taking part were Jack Fitzgerald and his orchestra, Bill Judd's or- chestra, Billy O'Brien, the Master singers and other entertainers.
 Brilliant Address
 Father Walsh's brilliant speech was the highlight of night of elo- quence. The spirit of the Irish, he said, is something that cannot be encompassed in words; 1t is a mix ture of loyalty toward institutions, persons, faith and memories; 1t is the spirit that sets the Irish race apart, no matter where on the globe its members may be.
 Through the dark centuries of Eu- ropes history, Father Walsh re- counted, 1t was Ireland and monks and scholars which kept alight the torch of learning and love of learn ing. It was Irish scholars who went abroad to found the great univer- sities in England and on the con- tinent; 1t was Irish monks that kept alive the classics of literature from antiquity which the rest of the world was neglecting and forgetting.
 Ireland was perSecuted, but she never persecuted, he went on. 2he welcomed St. Patrick and his teach ings, she adopted his principles and ideals and never has she given them up, down even to the present day, when she holds as firmly as ever to the teachings brought her by St. Patrick and expounded by his suc- cessors. The Irish are loyal to all they hold dear; suffering, persecu- ton and hate could not make them swerve from their beliefs.
 Gift of Virtue
 He said: "Of all the gifts the out standing and supernatural gifts are those of virtue and sanctity. Those are the gifts St. Patrick brought to Ireland. No one is so willing to face the future as the Irish. It is because these gifts are so bound up in them that they can even stand beside the corpse of their father or mother and feel secret joy.
 ''It is that idealism that St. Pat rick brought to Ireland and has re- mained with the Irish through thou sands of years. Bound up with that is the natural sense of democracy and independence that is inherent in the Irish. When St. aPtrick came among them he found them so lack ing in any sense of degradation that, though they were heather, even in their worship. they picked out the noblest objects of Gods work to kneel before; the sun, stars and noblest trees. That was why 1t was possible. by the preaching of one man, to bind whole nation to Jesus Christ. Those natural gifts, plus the idealism given them by St. Patrick. have made the Irish the outstanding people they are today in every nation"
 Fighting Irish"
 Senator Maloney said:
 ~It vas the Irish. who kept nllght the lamp of learniIss through he Middle Ages. We are now fight ing a var as severe aA the Reyolu- ton: the war against depression. end again the Irish arc in the van;