    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 12, 1999]
    [Page 364]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 364]]

    Message on the Observance of Saint Patrick's Day, 1999
    March 12, 1999

        Warm greetings to everyone celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. Each
    year on this special day dedicated to Ireland's patron saint, I am proud
    to join millions of Americans in remembering our Irish heritage. We
    remember with pride our ancestors who stood on Ireland's western shores,
    yearning for the promise of America. Fleeing famine and injustice, they
    longed for a new world of opportunities. Millions of these courageous
    men and women set sail from Ireland to seek the promise of America. They
    gave to their new homeland their strength and spirit, sinew and
    determination, eloquence and wit. In return, America offered them the
    opportunity for a better life, the chance to rise above poverty and
    discrimination, and a future where they could live out their dreams.
        The Irish who came to America endured many hardships, but they
    prospered and helped to build our country with innumerable physical and
    intellectual contributions. Irish Americans seized the opportunity of
    freedom that America promised. They gave us Presidents and patriots,
    judges and journalists, social reformers, peacekeepers, artists, labor
    leaders, and educators. From their grand literary tradition to their
    deep religious faith, Irish Americans and their descendants have
    enriched every facet of American history. But this celebration is a time
    to look to the future as well as to the past. Today as we pay tribute to
    Saint Patrick and his example of faith and determination, we rejoice
    that the faith and determination of the Irish people have brought about
    the promise of peace in Northern Ireland and the resolve to approach
    differences not with weapons, but with words. Americans are a vital part
    of the process in Northern Ireland by virtue of our shared heritage and
    shared goal of lasting peace and a better future for all God's children.
    By lending our hearts, minds, and prayers to the work of peace, we can
    best fulfill our obligation to the generations of Irish men and women
    who have given so much to our Nation's life and history.
        Best wishes to all for a wonderful celebration.

                                                                Bill Clinton