SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1900.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 17 March 1900, Page 4

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1900.

ST. PATRICKS DAY

A prodigal display of green ribbon and green flags in the streets to-day reminds.any one who might otherwise have forgotten it that, thi.s is the festival of the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish have always been most lovingly punctilious in their observance of this occasion, showing- a striking contrast to both the English and Scotch, who give but scant attention as a. rule.to the celebration of either St. George's or St. Andrew's clay. The two last-mentioned national saints are in their personalities more shadowy individuals than St. Patrick, and intinitely less closely identified with the countries 'that have .adopted them than he who converted to Christianity the rough chieftain Diohu on his o\yu threshing- floor. They never seem to have appealed to the English or Scotch imagination as St. Patrick did to the Irish, and little if anything has been done to perpetuate the celebration of their days as national, festivals. Consequently as such they may be said to exist no longer. But St. Patrick's Day flourishes green as the Emerald Isle itself, and its recurrence year by year, revives in the bosoms <Sf Irishmen throughout the world that love of country and pride of race in which the Irishman takes second place to no man. It cannot be denied that less commendable sentiments have often inspired the most enthusiastic, celebrators of the clay. Occasionally it has been used as an opportunity to stimulate those feelings of enmity towards Great Britain which all well-wishers to the Empire desire to see buried for ever. St. Patrick's Day has also achieved an unpleasant notoriety through being set up in opposition to that other great day in Ireland, ■ -the anniversary of the battle, of ..the , Boyne. But for any bad odour which ma} r cling1 to it in that respect, the, unwise zeal of the. Orangemen is greatly to blame. St. Patrick's Day owes its

prominence to more than one "class of associations in the minds of the Irish people, but it owes it also in a. very great measure to the fact that. Irishmen, with a good deal of the temper of the French, liave quite the French genius for celebrations — a genius the English and Scotch are signally lacking- in. British history teems with great events that are worthy of annual commemoration, but we never trouble about them, and it is questionable if one out of a thousand or a hundred thousand knows the year in which the battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar were fought, still less the days of the year.

The celebration of St. Patrick's day this year is Likely to be more enthusiastic than it lias been for a longtime past because there is gathered round the anniversary to-day a wealth of new associations -whiqh will stir to its heart the people of Ireland and the Irish all over the world. Her Gracious Majesty, is on the eve of paying- a visit to Ireland, the first she has made since the Prince Consort died, nearly forty-years ago. It is going- on to half a century since the Queen set.foot in that part of her dominions. We cannot here enter into the causes which have kept her away. Many of them we deeply respect, and it is impossible to say that the Irish themselves have not been responsible for others. But unquestionably her earlier presence in Ireland would haA'e been calculated to lessen, the .sense of. alienation which a section of the Irish people feels with regard to Great Britain. We feel confident that her present visit, made at the cost of much inconvenience to herself, will not fail' to touch de.ep.Jy .her Irish, subjects, and that, though coming- late amongthem, she will be welcomed with all the loyal generosity of "which that

large-hearted people .is capable. Her Majesty has expressed her sense ot the gallantry of her Irish ; regiments in the "Transvaal, and, better still, she has done an act which we know will appeal to Irish sentiment more than any words can. She has ordered that the ranks of the Irish regiments m future shall wear, on St. Patricks Day, a sprig of Shamrock in their headdress. How great must be the gratification this announcement has afforded Ireland is shown by the fact that even Mr Redmond could not refrain from a warm recognition of it. Her Majesty's example will, we trust, be followed in spirit throughout the Empire. The Government of >iew South Wales was quick to imitate it, proclaiming to-day a public holiday as a tribute to Ihe deeds of, valour wrought, by the Irish soldiers m the war. And where there has been no official or specific; announcement or that kind, the generous feeling- that prompted it in -New South Wales will not be absent. Whether we are among the fortunate individuals who have "enjoyed a complete holiday today or have had to go through with our usual amount of Saturday's work we shall have in ' proudest remembrance that section of the British people whose sons have so nobly fought and died for the glory and integrity of the Empire.