We are a composite nation, comprising people from all the countries of Europe with about one seventh of them of English origin; yet when we hear the foolish speeches and read the foolish articles of the minority in reference to Anglo-Saxonism, and blood being thicker than water, we realize the importance and necessity of the work inaugurated by the American-Irish Historical Society, in recalling and recording the deeds of Irishmen and their descendants in America. We find on the rolls of the minute-men at the time of the Lexington “alarm,” over 150 Irish names, and Col. James Barrett of Concord and Dr. Thomas Welsh, who were prominent in the day’s battle, were of Irish descent. We find also the name of Hugh Cargill, who, together with one Bullock, saved the town records of Concord from the ravages of the British soldiery. Cargill died in 1799, and the inscription on his tomb records his birthplace as Ballyshannon, Ireland. He came to America in 1774 in time for the Concord fight. He bequeathed to the town the Stratton farm for the use of the poor. Many of the men who fought on that as on every other day of battle during the Revolutionary War, claimed Irish birth or Irish ancestry. This Society is now endeavoring to collect records, letters and papers throwing light upon the part borne by the Irish race, that we may have our full share of the glory of our country; also that by critical scrutiny and analysis we may discover the truth, giving credit to all. This is a duty we owe these brave, devoted, self-sacrificing men who perilled so much for this government under which we live, and whose benefits we hope to transmit to our posterity. We are not unmindful of the dangers threatening us at the end of the century from within and from without. We recognize the fact that if the Republic is to be preserved we must call a halt to this awful headlong rush for wealth, holding up some nobler object of ambition. A great writer has said: “The finest fruit held up to earth by its Creator is the finished man.” What our country needs to-day is true men; men who recognize the truth of Plato’s maxim, “Justice is the health of the state.” Where can we find in history better types of true manhood than among the founders of our Republic, many of them of our own race and blood? This country has passed through four wars, and in our time many are filled with the lust for new conquest. May we not well pause on a day like this and see whither we are drifting? Shall we seek the friendship and alliance of the great robber nation of the world, whose flag is known where rapine and wrong has been done to weak and feeble races, or shall we not rather adhere to the doctrines laid down by the Father of our Country, and “observe good faith and justice toward all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all?” ADDRESS OF REV. S. BANKS NELSON.