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KENTUCKY ipiSH- AMERICAN.
LB VULERS 0DDBESS
What the Sons of Old Ireland
Have Done for Our Glo
rious Union.
Always Among the Leaders
in Advancing This Coun
try's Cause.
The Prominent and Brave
Part They Took in the
Revolution.
Represented in Continental
Congress, the Army and
the Navy.
HEROIC AJiM PATRIOTIC ACTIONS
The following is the address which
Mr. William M. Lawler had prepared
for delivery on the occasion of the re
cent A. O. H. celebration of the
Fourth of July. Because of family
affliction he was unable to fulfill his
part of the programme. The paper,
however, contains so much that is in
teresting and instructive that we feel
justified in presenting it to the readers
of the Kentucky Irish-American this
week:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and
Fellow Citizens: The subject, Irish
Americans, which has been assigned
to me on this occasion is one which is
very appropriate for the Fourth of
July. It comes natural for us to join
in the refrain:
" GoringTile bells aiul fife thTfguns
And fling the starry banner out;
Shout freedom tilt your lisping ones
Give back their cradle shout.
For if there is one race of people
more than another which may take
special glory unto itself on independ
ence day it is the Irish. Before we
enter upon the subject, however, let
me warn you that I do not intend to
talk to you about the soldiers or states
men of Ireland, for I shall confine
myself to the noble part which Ire
land's sons played in gaining and
maintaining the principles of liberty
in our glorious American Union. And
if we take the trouble and time to look
up the matter we shall find that the
Irish were among the first to contend
for that chief principle of liberty
which is so dear to the heart of every
man, the right to worship God accord
ing to the dictates of his own con
science. In 1664 Dougan, an Irishman,
called together the representatives of
the colony of New York to frame new
laws, and among these was one guar
anteeing this right. From that day
until the close of the civil war at
Appomatox Court House there is not
a page in our country's history which
is not made more inspiring by some
noble, brilliant or patriotic act of our
forefathers.
The first thing naturally which
engages our attention is the process
by which we became a nation. It is
not necessary for me to dwell upon
the causes which brought about our
separation from England. But in all
great movements of this kind there are
always a great many preliminary
measures intended to bring about the
right kind of enthusiasm, so that
finally the paramount object may be
attained. This movement required
agitation, resolutions and speech-mak
ing, and the cause of independence
recruited some of its most eloquent
and influential leaders from the Irish.
Among these we find such names as
Rodgers, McWhorter, Allison, Car
roll and O'Brien. In regard to the
latter history tells us that during revo
lutionary times the great rallying
places were around the liberty poles,
which consisted of tall trees stripped
of their branches except a tuft of Irish
pcea at the top. This was
called
the wearing of the green. You will
see we are at home. And so was
Jerry O'Brien, as he was one of the
most notable speakers on these occa
sions. And Jerry could fight as well as he
spoke. He and his five brothers en
gaged the English armed schooner
Margaretta with a lumber vessel and
captured her. This was the first naval
battle of the war, and the victory was
due to the ability, courage and patriot
ism of a son of the Emerald Isle.
All through the Continental Con
gress some of the most prominent
members were furnished by Ireland.
And in the convention called to frame
a constitution which would give to
the country a stable and well ordered
government we find in the list such
names as Livingston and Patterson, of
New Jersey, the latter of whom advo
cated the States' rights plan; Fitzsim
ons, of Pennsylvania, the great finan
cier; McHenry and Daniel Carroll, of
Maryiand; Read, of Delaware; Will
iamson and Spaight, of North Caro
lina, and Rutledge and Butler, of
South Carolina, all of whom took a
very prominent part in the proceed
ings and debates of the convention.
But it sometimes happens that behind
closed doors or when we are in suit
able company we are very courageous
and patriotic. The test comes when
we must have our names appear in
print or sign some important docu
ment. Let us look over the list and
ascertain where our forefathers stood
when Congress declared that "the
colonies are and ought to be free and
independent States." Among the list
of signers we find the names of Thorn
ton, Livingston, Smith, Taylor, Read,
McKean, Rutledge, Lynch and Car
roll of Carrollton. It is related that
when Carroll signed some one re
marked: "There go millions; but
there are so many Carrolls King
George will not know which one it
is," whereupon Carroll added the
words "of Carrollton," with the re
mark that there could be no mistake
about that.
This, my friends, indicates the sen
timents which animated those men.
It was the love of that liberty repre
sented by the stars and stripes. It
was the same patriotic impulse which
caused the Irish American citizens to
take up arms and battle for the right.
In fact, without the part played by the
Irish there would not have been a
revolution.
At the battle of Bunker Hill, when
the American eagle was taking his
first flight heavenward, we find one
Major General Stark marching with
his regiment through cannon balls
that swept Charleston neck to the
American lines. Side by side with the
troops of Knowlton they stood, and
nowhere were the volleys steadier or
more deadlythan where Stark and his
followers lay. Some one had asked
Gen. Gage whether the rebels would
stand fire. "Yes," he said, "if one
Major General Stark is there, for he
is a brave fellow."
Where can we find a braver or more
noble patriot than Montgomery at the
seige of Quebec? Imagine a cold De
cember day with a blinding snow
storm, large banks of snow filling the
paths, the British gunners standing,
with lighted matches ready to do Ihe
bidding of their commander. Observ
ing that this scene rather intimidated
his men, he turned.to them and said!
"Men of New York, you will not fe(r
to follow where -your General leads"
On they dashed to the very mouths
of the cannon. The guns charged
with grapeshot opened in their Very
faces, and when the smoke lifted there
lay the lifeless form of Montgomery,
almost under the very wheels of the
artillery, where his headlong courage
had carried him.
Another of the conspicuous Gener
als of revolutionary times was that
grand and grim old warrior, Sullivan.
He it was with Langdon who struck
the first blow in freedom's cause by
the capture of Fort William and Mary
with all its stores. There was not a
General engaged in the battles of
Trenton, Princeton, Staten Island or
Brandywine who exhibited greater
courage or patriotism than Sullivan.
And when placed in command of the
northern division of the army his expe
dition against the Indians, who, in
cited by the English and Tories to
rob, plunder and murder the colon
ists living on the border, was one of
the grandest of the war. The famous
march of Sherman to the sea can not
be compared to it. Jt was simply a
war of annihilation. But Sullivan's
heart relented when he came to the
Genesee valley, one of nature's gar
dens of Eden. The valley was about
twenty miles long by four broad and
had scarce a forest tree in it. There
were many comfortable frame houses
built by the Indians. The tall ripe
grass bent before the wind. Com
fielfl upon corn field as far as the eye
could reach waved in the sunlight;
orchards that had been growing for
generations were weighed down with
a profusion of fruit; cattle grazed on
the banks of the river and all was
luxuriance and beauty. But his
commands were peremptory. An
enemy who felt no obligations and
kept no faith must be placed beyond
The United States ArmorecLCruiser New York.
the reach of inflicting injury. Before
he left that valley everything was in
ashes. My friends, it would take
volumes to tell of the brave and dar
ing deeds of the Irish Americans.
Wayne at Stony Point and on many
other battle fields won many laurels;
Graham at Charlotte, N. C, covered
himself with glory and his body with
scars, and on another occasion this
same Graham defeated 600 English
with 100 Americans. Many others
also distinguished themselves.
Hand, the right-hand man of Wash
ington; Hezlett, at the head of the
Delaware trpops; Irvine, the trusted
friend of Washington, and Knox,
whose father founded the first Irish
society in the United States at Bos
ton. Gen. Knox was perhaps the
most illustrious soldier of the war
next to Washington. He was the
creator and commander of the Wash
ington artillery and fought in every
battle with Washington. We must
not forget Morgan, the hero of Cow-
pens, of whom history says with1 his
trusty riflemen around him he was a
dangerous foe to meet. This Ballin-
ascreen Irishman, wjth fifty Irish
American soldiers, defeating the vet
eran Tarleton with his English
troops, each one bringing with him a
prisoner, is one of the grandest inci
dents of the revolution.
We can not pass over Joseph Read,
Washington's private secretary, who
was offered $50,000 and the best
office of his majesty jf he would de
sert the patriotic cause. He answer
ed, "I am not worth purchasing, but
such as I am, the King of Great
Britain is not rich enough to buy
me." 1 his man was not an Anglo-
Saxon.
My friends, I know not whether
Americans or Irismen have more rea
son to feel the pride of patriotism
swelling within their bosoms at the
rehearsal of that midnight scene at
Philadelphia when the result of the
war was made known. It was a grand
spectacle for both. Lieut. Col. Tighl
man rode from Yorktown to Philadel
phia to notify Congress of Cornwallis'
surrender. He reached the house of
Thomas McKean, the Irish President
of Congress, at midnight, whom he
aroused from sleep to receive the glad
tidings. The Irish-American watch
man called out the hour, half-past
twelve o'clock, and Cornwallis is
taken. That Irish-American city
started from its slumbers and lights
flitted through the streets like a cres
cent illumination. The old State
House bell rang out its treble notes on
the crisp morning air and the hoarse
cannon thundered forth its double
bass in reply. The Irish-American
Congress came early together and
Charles Thompson, that venerable
Irish Secretary, read with clear and
inspired voice Washington's annonce
ment that Cornwallis had surrend
ered, that a nation had been born,
that these grand and glorious United
States are a free and independent
nation- No wonder Lord Mountjoy
exclaimed in Parliament, "You lost
America by the Irish."
But, my friends, it is not necessary
to confine ourselves to our earlier
history to find deeds of heroism and
patriotism recorded to the credit
of Irish-Americans. Both in the
Mexican and civil wars some of the
most important battles were com
manded and fought by Irishmen.
Gen. Kearney was the first man to
unfurl the American flag in the
Spanish-American province of New
Mexico, and he fought in many of
the battles during that campaign. At
Lexington, Mo., Col. James A. Mul
ligan, with only 2,000 of the Chicago
Irish Brigade, held out against Price,
with 20,000 men, for three days in a
most heroic manner, and only sur
rendered after their supply of water
had been shut offfor forty-eight hours.
At the battle of Murfreesboro the
Confederates made a most vicious at
tack on the Union's right, which was
very much demoralized then. But
history tells us Sherdian was there,
and by his consummate valor held the
ground till Rosecrans could replant
his batteries and establish a new line.
At Chantilly fell the noble Stevens
and Kearney. The latter was espec
cially beloved by his men. It was
his custom on the battlefield to take
the reins of his horse between his
teeth, and brandishing his sword in
the air with his only hand, he would
lead his troops in the most desperate
and irresistable charge. At Gettys
burg we find Gen. Mead conducting
one of the most hotly contested battles
of the civil war against Gen. Lee.
The battle lasted three days, butLee
was finally driven back, with loss of
40,000 men. This was the turning
point of the war, and the South never
recovered from the Gettysburg cam
paign. At Cold Harbor we find Col.
McMahon, at the head of his New
York regiment, planting Old Glory
within the Confederate works, when
he was killed and his army driven
back, with a loss of 10,000 men.
Again, at Winchester and Jishers
Hill we find Sheridan engaged in a
week's battle with Early, destroying
half his army and sending the rest
whirling up, the Shanaadoah Yalley.
Myvfrietfds, we have all heard, of
Leonidas and his band of 300 Spart
ans at the pass of Thermopholae and
the retreat of the 10,000 Greeks. We
are also accustomed to hear of Irish
bravery. We have heard of Clontarf,
Fontenoy, Albuera, Cremona and
Waterloo, and we always admire
noble and patrotic men where found.
But, my friends, history has never
recorded the deeds of a braver or more
patriotic band than Meagher and his
Irish-American Brigade at Fredericks
burg. The Confederates were eii
trenched behind a stone wall four
feet high and on heights crowned with
artillery. What a thrill of admiration
and patriotism must we feel as we see
in our mind's eye that brave and
noble band of Irish patriots attacking
that fortification. Once they attack
and numberless guns tear gaps in
their ranks; twice, three times, and
artillery volleys smote them. Yet
again, again and again they returned
to the charge until they left two-thirds
of their number on the field of their
heroic action. Never, says a London
Times correspondent, was more un
doubted courage displayed by the sons
of Erin than during those six frantic
charges which they directed against
the almost inpregnable position of
their foe. That any mortal man could
have carried the position, defended as
it was, seems idle for a moment to
believe. But the bodies which lie in
dense masses within a few yards of
Col. Walton's guns are the best evi
dence what manner of men they were
who pressed on to death, with the
dauntlessness of a race which has
gained glory on 1,000 battlefields, and
never more richly deserved it than at
the foot of Mary's Heights on De
cember 13, 1862.
While our navy has never been very
large until recently, it has done some
very effective service, and among our
naval heroes we find many who are
Irish or Irish descent. In this list we
find the names of Beale, Manly, Cas
sin, McDonough and Barry, our first
Commodore, a title then superior to
any in our navy at this time. Should
we investigate who compose our pres
ent navy it is safe to predict that sixty
per cent, of that navy, which has
amazed the whole world by its un
heard of victories, is either Irish or
Irish descent.
But, my friends, we must not sup
pose for a moment that war is the only
forte of Irishmen. We find that they
are able to compete with other na
tionalities in every line. If we take
into consideration the accumulation
of money we find the names of Fair,
Flood, Field, Mackey and Kelly. If
we refer to lawyers we find such
names as O'Connor, Dougherty,
White and Cochran. Among great
statesmen, Calhoun and Jackson.
Among those who have occupied
seats in the Senate we find the names
of Caffery, Walsh, White of California,
Gorman and others. Among authors
we find Shay, Gibbons, Ryan, Carey,
Logan, Robert Walsh, Ramsay and
Rev. Lambert of New York the only
man that literally flayed alive that
notorious infidel, Bob Ingersoil.
.Among journalists we find Cassidy,
Boyle O'Reilly, Ford, MacMaster,
Donahue and .Grady that brilliant
and eloquent journalist and statesman,
who did more to unite the North and
South by his New York speech than
any other American statesman living
or dead. Among the noted diplomats
and political leaders we find some of
the most brilliant to be either born in
Ireland or the sons of Irishmen. In
this list we find the names of Blaine,
Egan, Collins, Wilhere, Grant, Hop
kins and Harrity. Among theologians
we have Archbishops Carroll, Hughes,
Ireland, Bishops England, Foley and
Ryan. Thus we see that there is not
a nation on the earth whose sons have
done more for the upbuilding of"
American institutions than Ireland,
When the Irishman comes to this
country as a greenhorn he comes per
fectly equipped for American citizen
ship He is a natural-born eemocrat,.
and possesses that love of liberty
which makes him feel at home im
mediately. He has two peculiar char
acteristics. One, his undying love for
the Stars and Stripes, and the other,,
a happy faculty for achieving success.
In the words of Moore:
There is a stone there
That whoever kisss,
Oh ! he never misses
To grow eloquent.
Don't hope to hinder h!ir
Or to bewilder him,
Sure he's a pilgrim
From the Blarney Stone.
BRAVE IRISH MARINE.
Interesting Letter Recounting' Deeds:
of Vnlor and Experiences of Our
Men nt Giiuntannino.
James Egan, who was for some
years a resident of this city, immi
grated at the age of sixteen years from
Galway, Ireland, coming direct to
Louisville. Mr. Egan has always been
ambitious to serve Uncle Sam. Two
years ago he left this city, going to
Boston, where he entered the Mariner
Corps. He was among the first to
land and engage the Spaniards, and
the following letter to his brother,.
Michael Egan, of 2027 Tyler avenue,
will be of interest to his many friends.
Mr. Egan is in Company D, First Bat
talion, United States Marine Corps
It was written at Guantanamo, Cuba,,
and is noteworthy in that it contains
a correct account of their movements.
The fact that a body of our men num
bering but 200 killed 200 and wounded
100 others is remarkable, and fully
justifies his prediction that the war
will be over in a few months. The
letter is as follows:
"Dear Brother: I am writing you
this under very favorable circum
stances, considering the time we had
during the week. We embarked here
last Friday evening and had to fight
every day until yesterday. On Sat
urday last we had our first fight and
two men of my .company were killed.
On Sunday we fought about all day.
We had 200 men and we killed about
200 of the enemy, wounded nearly,
100 and took eighteen prisoners.
"We fought night and day inces
santly without sleep for four days.
The enemy came through the woods
at night and attacked our camp, which
is pretty well fortified now. At the
time we landed here we did not have
a thing to protect us. It is surprising
that the Spaniards did not attack us
in large numbers at first. They never
fight square nor in the daylight or
open. 1 he day they did they got a
bad beating, and we had pnly two
companies of marines.
'This country is full of mountains
and woods, and at night we easily get
lost. So far we only lost two privates,
one Sergeant, one Sergeant Major and
a doctor, and eight or ten wounded.
We all had narrow escapes, and I can
tell you it is pretty dangerous business
dodging bullets. You may be walk
ing along at night on patrol and a
man inside a tree can shoot one with
out trouble. We all hope to get back
all right, but we have to obey orders
and risk anything.
"The weather is very warm here,
and we have been lucky in not having
rain at all, as it rains very heavy here.
We expect the town of Guantanamo
to surrender in a few days, for they
are starving and our ships have the
harbor blockaded. Many of the Span
ish have come into camp and given
themselves up. They reported the
people starving, so we expect the war
to be over in a few months. The
army has not arrived here yet and 600 -of
us have to do the fighting.
"It is pretty hard to get paper and
stamps here, and when you send me a
letter again send me just one sheet of
paper, one stamp and an .envelope on
the inside. I must conclude by wish
ing you all well as I am at present,
as I have not received a scratch yet,
but I don't know what minute some
thing may happen. Tell all the folks
send them my best respects. Your
affectionate brother,
"James Egan."
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