this fact, we have been criticised for not going in larger numbers upon
the broad prairies and fertile lands of the West. I admit the farmer’s
life is the ideal one, but it took something more than hands and limbs
and brains, too, to go upon a farm. It required money even when land was
cheapest. How could a family in Ireland, turned out on the roadside by
the crowbar brigade, who with the greatest difficulty could scrape
enough together to pay their passage to America, be expected upon their
arrival to purchase land and agricultural implements, to go farming
with? It was hardly within the possibilities. Even if the father came
alone, as he often did, he was compelled to go to work on the first
opportunity to provide for his immediate wants and save something to
send to the half-starving family at home or pay the passage to America.
And, if it was a son or daughter who managed to come, they were ever
striving to send for one more of the family or likely enough, to send
the greater part of their hard earnings to pay the exorbitant rent of
the heartless landlord. I know whereof I speak. I am a living witness of
those happenings. As a boy, I was compelled to leave the land of my
birth, and I can say without affectation, that I never experienced more
real joy than I did when making my first remittance to Ireland. Though I
knew the ultimate destination of most of it was the landlord’s pocket,
still I think I had more pleasure in sending than he had in receiving
it.
“‘More true joy Marcellus exiled feels,
Than Caesar with a Senate at his heels.’
“Of the gold seekers of ’49 who rushed to the coast, many of them were
Irish. Many settled down in different parts of that slope and as you
know, many of them became millionaires. I need only mention the names of
Flood, O’Brien, Mackey, Phelan and others, to conjure up visions of
wealth. But, _cui bono_. The richest people are not always the most
interesting even when the wealth is honestly acquired, and here I may
remark (though a little foreign to the subject) if the wealth of many of
our multi-millionaires were tomorrow turned into the National Treasury,
it would not begin to compensate for the moral shame and degradation
their practices have brought on the republic. Kerosene colleges will
never make straight, or light, Heaven’s pathway.
“When the greatest crime of the nineteenth century was about to be
perpetrated in the dismemberment of this Union the Irish people of the
West, in goodly numbers, rushed to its defense and sealed with their
blood, their love of the republic. You all, no doubt, have heard of a
Sheridan, a Shields, a Corcoran, a Lawler, and others of the West, who
died that the Union might live. Ingratitude has never been the failing
of Irishmen. Gratitude for favors, even small ones, adherence to
principle, through good and evil times, have ever been characteristic of
the race. Prior to that war, the hereditary enemy of our people despised
America. Since its termination, they have hated, but fear it. You know
Gladstone, when Jefferson Davis was inaugurated President, exclaimed
that a new nation had been born. We may in the future as we sometimes
have in the past, send de-natured Americans to London, but no occasional
slobbering over the great republic by perfidious Albion can disguise
that hatred. Napoleon said, scratch a Russian and you will find a
Tartar, scratch an Englishman or an Irishman of the garrison, and almost
invariably you will find a hater of America.
“In conclusion, let me say, and I say it with some pride, but in no
boastful spirit, that the Irish people in the West, though having to
struggle from the lowest rung of the ladder, are physically,
intellectually, morally, and I might add, financially, the peers of
their neighbors. They are not a dying race. I wish some competent hand
would write their history.”
Mr. Moloney’s address was greeted with much applause and cheering, and
at this point Senator Carter of Montana arrived in the hall and was
escorted to his place at the head table by the Secretary-General and Mr.
Moseley.
PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: “We are honored this evening by the presence
of one of our most earnest members, whose distinguished services to his
country in the United States Senate and earnest and unselfish devotion
to the work of our Society endears him to all. It is with pleasure I
introduce Hon. Thomas H. Carter, United States Senator from Montana.”
SENATOR CARTER: “_Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Members of the Society, Ladies
and Gentlemen_: I am billed upon this program to deliver a ‘Capital
Welcome.’ I at once disclaim ability to do that.
[Illustration:
RIGHT REVEREND M. C. LENIHAN.
Bishop of Great Falls, Montana.
Vice-President of the Society for Montana.
]
“‘Capital Welcome’ seems to imply a good or excellent welcome, and that
accomplishment is beyond me,—but I most cheerfully extend to you a
cordial welcome to this, the Capital City of our common country, and I
sincerely hope that as you each depart from here, you will not feel
impelled to write upon the register a sentiment similar to that written
by one of our distinguished fellow-countrymen upon leaving a
watering-place in England. Each of the party was called upon to write on
the register of the hostelry a sentiment, and one bright member wrote
these words: ‘I came here for change and rest; the porter has the
change, the landlord the rest.’
“The man who wrote that was not the same man whom Brother Lee desires me
to tell about, who described the kind of a man that Casey was. The man
at the head of the table said ‘What kind of a man is Casey?’ ‘Well,’
says Murphy, ‘I’ll tell you what kind of a man Casey is. I went over to
Casey’s house. Says he to me, “Murphy, will you have a drink?” I says,
“Of course I will, Mr. Casey.” He says, “Murphy, shall I pour or will
you pour?” “Pour yourself,” says I, “Mr. Casey.” He says, “All right,
tell me when to stop.” He poured out a drop or two, and out of
politeness I said “Stop, Casey,” and Casey stopped. That’s the kind of a
man Casey is.’
“This Society needs no welcome to the Capitol City of this nation.
Wheresoever you may turn in viewing our parks or avenues or historic
halls, you will see in bronze and in marble mute evidences of the
appreciation expressed by a grateful people of the achievements and
contributions of the Irish and the Irish Americans, in building up and
maintaining this great Republic.
“In LaFayette Square, immediately in front of the White House, is a
statue of Andrew Jackson, a renowned President of the United States who
was the son of an Irishman. Out in the northwest part of the city, but a
few days ago, we assembled to unveil an equestrian statue to a man whom
General Grant pronounced the greatest soldier of any time, the son of an
Irishman, Philip Sheridan. Come down but a little farther and you will
find a square adorned with trees and flowers, and in its center a
beautiful statue to Admiral Farragut, of Irish blood on his mother’s
side. Over in Iowa circle, to the northeast of this point, is the statue
of General John A. Logan, the son of an Irishman. Pennsylvania Avenue
has been gazed upon for years and years by the sightless eyes of a
bronze statue of General John A. Rawlins, the confidential friend of the
peerless victor of Appomattox. General Rawlins was of Irish extraction.
“Across Pennsylvania Avenue from this hotel is a great building in which
throbs the heart of the mighty postal system of the country for which we
will expend two hundred and thirty millions of dollars during this
fiscal year. The first Postmaster-General admitted to the Cabinet of a
President was John Barry, the son of an Irishman. And that reminds me of
the way Cabinet officers are selected. It is generally supposed that the
President’s Cabinet is organized in conformity with law, but such is not
the fact. One day Postmaster Barry received a note reading thus:
‘Tomorrow and hereafter you will attend Cabinet meetings.’ Signed
‘Andrew Jackson.’ It was that which established the custom of calling in
the Postmaster-General as one of the counselors of the President of the
United States, and that custom has been maintained to this day.
“Go through the hall of statuary in our Capitol, and there you will find
in marble men of proud fame in this country’s history—General Louis
Cass, Henry Wilson, General Shields and others, making a long roll of
men of Irish birth or lineage which I will not undertake to call here
tonight.
“Just across the Potomac River, when the life of the nation was
assailed, Colonel Corcoran of New York was the first to move forward
with the Stars and Stripes. When the Capitol was menaced from the
southwest, ‘Phil’ Sheridan was there with his cavalry to meet the enemy.
When the fate of the nation was trembling in the balance upon the
historic field of Gettysburg, the Union Army was directed by the
masterful mind of General Meade of Irish blood.
“I will not go back to the early days of the country’s history. It is
sufficient to say that in a parliamentary inquiry as to the conduct of
the war against the colonies by a committee of the House of Commons of
which Edmund Burke was a member, this interesting fact was brought
forth. In the cross-examination of Major General Robertson, Mr. Burke
asked the question, ‘Of what elements is the Continental Army composed?’
Robertson said, ‘On authority of General Lee, I inform you that more
than half the Continental Army is made up of Irishmen.’
“The illustrious names that adorn our country’s history are entitled to
imperishable renown because of great deeds well done in that
Revolutionary struggle. Among them is a list of men of Irish birth,
beginning with the man who struck the first blow, General Sullivan, and
continuing along the line to the close of the war. And when I think of
the contributions made, the common sufferings endured, and the
sacrifices made without limit as to time or circumstance, I say the
Irish and their descendants are entitled to the privilege of claiming
with proud confidence that this is their own country.
“The history of Ireland is confined to an island with its curious, sad
and heroic circumstances, but the history of the Irish people is limited
only by the inhabitable portions of the globe.
“I have been, as you have been, chagrined to perceive the disposition to
rob these people of the credit which is truly and justly their due. Who
can read of Burke and Goldsmith and Johnson and Sheridan and Tyndale as
English authors without a feeling that some one has been guilty of grand
larceny and misrepresentation.
“Who can read the page of history which places Arthur Wellesley as an
Englishman without feeling that the hero of Waterloo has been misplaced?
Why deny to this island, bereft of the right to control its own destiny,
the privilege of claiming the honor and distinction properly due to the
achievements of its distinguished sons?
“It is desirable that a society like unto this should be established in
England to change the trend which leads to error and confusion. What we
undertake here should be undertaken there. I am glad that this Society
has taken up the work of developing the history of the Irish and their
descendants in the United States, for it is a great and glorious feature
in American history. While proud of the past, while proud of the
achievements of those whose deeds we record, it is important, I think,
that we should at the same time bear in mind the duty we owe to the
future.
“I would that the Americans of Irish birth and descent in this country
could unite their energies and make of this force in American life a
leading force for higher conceptions of civic duty, a force looking to
better living, a force working for a civilization such as has not been
dreamed of by those who have struggled in the past. This we may do while
recording that which has gone by with fidelity and truth. Let us be true
to ourselves by working for such conditions as will make our race more
distinguished henceforth in its achievements than it has been in the
splendid work of the past.”
PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: The next and last toast of the evening is
“Advantages of Historical Research to Irish Americans.” The response
will be made by a noble American of Irish ancestry, who comes from the
granary belt of the great Northwest, the land of Sitting Bull and the
brave Sioux, where the ardent flames of patriotism burn with the
intensity of true Americanism.
What means this gathering here tonight,
What Spirit moves along
This crowded hall and touching light
Each heart among the throng
Awakes as tho’ a trumpet blast
Had sounded in their ears
The recollection of the past,
The memories of the years.
Oh, ’tis the spirit of the West, the spirit of the Celt,
The breed that spurned the alien breast and every wrong has felt,
And still tho’ far from fatherland, we never can forget
To tell ourselves with heart and hand,
We’re Irish yet,
We’re Irish yet.
I take great pleasure in introducing to you, ladies and gentlemen, Hon.
Robert J. Gamble, United States Senator from South Dakota.
SENATOR GAMBLE: _Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen_: I accept the
kindly and humorous felicitations of your President. I admit I hail from
South Dakota, once the land of the Sioux, of Red Cloud and Sitting Bull.
In these later years, however, it has been transformed with marvelous
rapidity into an empire of wealth, of productiveness, of social and
civic development, and with ideals at least equal to those of any in the
Sisterhood of States. In her wonderful prosperity she has been as
jealous of the one as the other. In her Constitution and in her laws she
has sought to make liberty secure, to foster and provide for the
education of her children, to encourage the highest ideals of
citizenship, to inspire a patriotism worthy of the opportunities of her
people. Along all of these lines we feel South Dakota has met with a
high degree of success. She stands almost the lowest in the percentage
of illiteracy of her population. Pauperism is scarcely observable.
Wealth and comfort are very generally diffused amongst her people. Her
schools and colleges are equal to the necessities of the state. The door
of opportunity is open to all. For more than a decade she has produced
each year more wealth per capita than any other state in the Union.
(Applause.)
Mr. President, at this late hour I give you assurance of brevity in what
I have to say. I appreciate very much the compliment of your invitation,
and indeed it is a great pleasure to be present on this occasion and to
respond to the toast to which I have been assigned.
The history of Ireland in itself is a sad one, but the high purpose and
invincible courage of her manhood and her womanhood, their high ideals
and devotion to liberty and to national integrity, have been fraught
with blessings and have brought encouragement to human liberty the world
over. (Applause.)
Within the circumscribed limits of their own nationality success rarely
crowned the patriotic efforts and heroic struggle for liberty of the
Irish people. Their field of activity, however, has not been confined to
the land of their birth, and has been limited only wherever humanity has
asserted itself against tyranny and in a struggle for better conditions
and for orderly liberty.
America owes a wonderful debt of gratitude to the Irish race. We must
recognize that preceding American independence there was a strong
element of our population composed of Irish Americans.
Among the strongest advocates for American independence were Irishmen,
or the descendants of Irishmen. Hancock and Rutledge and the Carrolls
and their co-workers contributed vastly to the development of a National
spirit. The work of these strong, patriotic and efficient men had much
to do with drawing the colonies together in united effort and cementing
their interests in the common cause. Their voices had long been raised
in protest against the Mother Country before the musketry was heard at
Lexington. These brave and courageous men, and their associates, with
their large vision and patriotic purpose, pointed out the way and
crystalized the sentiment for national independence. The work they
performed for the cause of national independence, though different in
character, was as important in its way as that of the actual
participants in the field, of the general or the soldier.
As indicative of the high character of the Irish race, and of their
activities and large influence in the formative period of our National
history it is gratifying and with a sense of pride in this presence to
state that in the First Continental Congress, with a membership of
fifty-four, eleven were Irish or of Irish descent. The same race has
also to its credit three presidents of the Republic whose ancestors came
from the Emerald Isle. And Roosevelt, an honored member of this Society,
not only our President, but the most distinguished citizen of the world,
takes pride in the fact that he can trace his lineage to this
indomitable people. (Applause.)
Of the membership of the Continental Congress that put forth the
immortal Declaration of Independence, twenty per cent was Irish or of
Irish descent. The hand of Thompson that first transcribed it upon
parchment was Irish; the first signature that was placed to it as
President was that of John Hancock, an Irishman-American; and when those
immortal words were read for the first time to the assembled multitude
from the balcony of Continental Hall at Philadelphia, it was by the
voice of an Irishman, Mr. Nixon; and when it was placed in type for the
first time it was by one Dunlap, an Irish printer.
In the spring of 1777, when Congress appointed eighteen
brigadier-generals, six of those who were thus commissioned were Irish
by birth or descent. Among the number were the dashing and brilliant Mad
Anthony Wayne and the strong and courageous Clinton. I need only speak
of the accomplished Montgomery, whose valor has been justly praised and
who died a hero’s death upon the plains of Quebec, or of Sullivan, the
splendid leader and the associate of Washington, upon whom the latter
leaned more than upon any other, and for whose great service the thanks
of Congress were extended; of Knox and Stark and many others who were
ideal and successful leaders in the great Revolutionary struggle. It has
been asserted, but undoubtedly with very much exaggeration, that half of
the Continental Army were Irish or of Irish descent. Even if this be not
true it must be admitted that the race had a large representation in the
Army, and it speaks well for their patriotism and devotion to the cause
of American Independence.
The Irish race I think can take a just pride in the accomplishments of
its people, not only as statesmen and leaders in contributing vastly
towards shaping the policies of the colonies in the formative period of
our history with a view to the ultimate forming of the Federal Union,
and also in leadership and on men in the field of battle.
But it was not alone upon the land that the heroism of the race asserted
itself in the cause for National Independence. If not the first, at
least among the first naval fights of the Revolution was the capture of
the British ship _Margaretta_ at Machias Bay on the Coast of Maine on
May 11, 1775. The Americans were commanded by Captain O’Brien, the son
of an Irish immigrant. This victory has frequently been called “The
Lexington of the Seas.”
It was John Barry, a native of Ireland, who received one of the first
naval commissions from Congress. Through his ability and leadership and
his many well earned victories he brought the highest credit to America
upon the seas. Commodore Barry today is justly called “The Father of the
American Navy.” He was the great naval commander of the Revolution. I
might name many other distinguished officers of this nationality who
rendered conspicuous service to their country and added to the fame of
the Navy in the war of the Revolution.
Irish womanhood also gave evidence of its devotion and heroism in the
person of Mollie Pitcher, who took the place at the cannon of her fallen
husband and is accorded a hero’s place in the battle of Monmouth.
The devotion of those of Irish blood did not exhaust itself in the cause
of the Revolution alone. In the War of 1812 it contributed some of its
most conspicuous figures. It was Jackson at New Orleans, Commodore
Stewart on the sea with his _Constitution_, McDonough on Lake Champlain
and Perry on Lake Erie that won imperishable glory for the American Army
and Navy in that War.
In the war with Mexico the men of this race had representatives in the
persons of Generals Kearney and Shields. The latter also received the
exceptional distinction of having been elected to a seat in the United
States Senate on three different occasions in separate elections from
three different states.
In the recent war, among the most illustrious names is that of General
Sheridan, the son of an Irishman, and although less conspicuous others
of the same blood rendered high service to their country, and amongst
them are such honored names as Meade, Logan, Meagher, Mulligan, Shields
and Corcoran.
It is no idle boast to assert that the names of the men of Irish blood
adorn the most conspicuous pages of the history of the Republic. They
aided as wise, safe and patriotic counsellors in laying the foundations
of our institutions. They fought with heroism and devotion in the
struggle for independence, both upon the land and upon the sea. In every
trial and test that has come to us in our history they have made willing
and great sacrifice to defend the honor of their country and to
perpetuate and sustain her institutions.
Ireland has contributed much to the Republic. In a high degree the race
has been unselfish. The devotion of the race has not alone been confined
to the United States. It has been frequently and truthfully said though
not always gratefully and freely admitted that she gave a Wellington to
England and in these later years she has also contributed a Wolsey, a
Roberts and a Kitchener. To France she gave McMahon, and to Spain an
O’Donnell.
Many of her brave and devoted men followed Bolivar in South America and
aided materially in laying the foundations of the Republic in the
Southern Hemisphere.
On every field of human endeavor the Irish name has a conspicuous place.
In statesmanship she has given Burke, who enriched our language with his
oratory. She supplied also Phillips, Grattan and O’Connell.
In literature she has been most generous in giving to the world
Goldsmith, Moore, Collins, Knowles, Sheridan and a host of others. In
the sciences she has contributed Lardner, Rowe, Proctor, Tyndall,
Faraday and our own Fulton.
Nor has she been lacking in the field of Art, but America adopted as her
own the gifted St. Gaudens. In philosophy and theology she has many
distinguished names.
Mr. President, in conclusion I would state I believe “The advantages of
Historical research to Irish Americans” will give them a more just
appreciation of the Irish character, of the services they have rendered
in founding, sustaining and perpetuating our institutions and in
maintaining the highest ideals of our common country.
PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: One final word. The Secretary-General wishes
to say something, and I know it will interest you all.
SECRETARY-GENERAL LEE: Mr. Chairman, I move you that the thanks of the
American Irish Historical Society be tendered the speakers of the
evening for their excellent services in our behalf, and that the entire
address of each be printed in the Journal.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.
SECRETARY-GENERAL LEE: Mr. Chairman, I move you that the thanks of the
Society and its invited guests are justly due and are hereby tendered
Mr. Thomas J. Talty, Manager of the Hotel Raleigh, for his careful
personal attention to the banquet and its details, and for his uniform
courtesy to members and guests.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.
SECRETARY-GENERAL LEE: Mr. Chairman, I move you that the thanks of the
Society be tendered to our fellow-member, Mr. Henry L. Joyce, Manager of
the Marine Department of the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, to
Mr. W. C. Hope, General Passenger Agent of said Railroad, and to Mr. P.
Wilfred Heroy, Eastern Passenger Agent of said Railroad, for their
courtesy to members and guests of the Society and for their successful
efforts to make our trip by special train pleasant and comfortable.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.
PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: This ends the proceedings of the Eleventh
Annual Banquet of the Society. I thank you one and all for your
attendance. The next annual dinner will take place in the city of New
York, and we hope you will all be with us there and that the attendance
will be even greater than tonight.
There being no further business before the Society, I declare this
meeting adjourned.
COMMITTEES.
The Committee in charge of the entire proceedings in Washington were as
follows:
DINNER COMMITTEE.
HON. EDWARD A. MOSELEY, _Chairman_, Former President-General.
REAR ADMIRAL JOHN MCGOWAN, Former President-General.
MICHAEL F. DOOLEY, ESQ., _Treasurer-General_.
HON. LAWRENCE O. MURRAY.
PATRICK J. HALTIGAN, ESQ.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.