Hon. Patrick J. Ryan of Elizabeth, N. J., told in a most interesting manner of the growth of New York and of his experiences as a boy romping about on the present site of the hotel where the banquet was held.
Mr. T. Vincent Butler of New York made a short speech about our fellow-member, President Roosevelt, and proposed a toast to his health, which was drunk amid much enthusiasm.
Dr. M. F. Sullivan of Lawrence, Mass., gave a number of very practical suggestions as to how the membership of the Society could be increased and the sphere of its work extended.
Mr. David Healy of New York spoke of the supreme importance of the work of the Society in centering the light of organized, intelligent and painstaking research upon Ireland’s part in the making of American history; of her contributions to America’s greatness, and the proud place which has been honorably won by her children as an integral part of American life, American ideals, and American nationality.
“One of the great disadvantages with which the Irish element in American life has had to deal,” said Mr. Healy, “has been the fact that histories and school text-books, current in the English speaking world, have been too largely the product of minds influenced and prejudiced by inherited anti-Irish animosities and pro-English traditions.
“The Irish have been considered as pre-eminently a martial race because of their persistent and unconquerable struggles for a score of generations to vindicate the principle of Irish nationality.
“It is true that the Celtic race has also been universally awarded an exalted place in the realm of poetry, oratory and song, as well as in devotion to family and in faithfulness to principle. It remains for the American Irish Historical Society to show other and equally important and admirable characteristics of the Irish race, and to point to other fields wherein Irishmen have distinguished themselves in meeting the current and pressing problems of America’s rapid and unparalleled development.
“It remains for us to realize and to show to others that not only was it the Irishman’s pick that brought the earth’s hidden treasures to the surface, his shovel that made ready for the iron rail across the continent, but it was Irish brain and enterprise largely that developed the mines and constructed the steel pathway between the East and the West, thus making a national unit qualified and competent to deal with the nations of the world.
“In the great life current of American nationality, the rich red blood of the Celt has been a dominant and fructifying tributary.
“It also remains for us to realize our shortcomings and to aim for the highest ideals, not to be content with a leading place in the world of military renown, financial, industrial and commercial enterprise. We should earnestly seek correspondingly high places in the realm of philanthropy, moderation and universal brotherhood.”