The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-11
LOCAL MATT RS,

night for the benefit of the Young Catholics
Friends Society, attracted large audience. The
theme ''Charity and Philanthropy" and for
an hour and half he deeply interested his hearers
This gentleman has the reputation of boldness md
Independence in the expression of his views, with
plentiful supply Of originality and humor.
Ia the course Of hs introduction to the lecture be
said that the word philanthropy" in age plays
nearly the Same part in mems minds and actions
A. did, in former times, the word "charity;'' and
that philanthropists regard philanthropy" as
much more important work than that of "chari-
ty" Charity is now considered the giving Of
aims to the poor and relief to the aflicted in other
words, charity is understood merely to consist in
aims giving. When, therefore, a man is represent
ed as thus distinguishing himself and worthy Of
our admiration and homage, we call him philan-
thropist.
1t was his purpose to draw the distinction be.
tween charity and philanthropy, and illustrate the
difference Of the two by historical and other obser
vations
Philanthropy 10 simply natural, human senti.
ment, and embraces the love of mankind; but the
love thus inclined simply that which is natural
to which human nature ia equal and perfectly ade
quatc. 1t is a sentiment which arises in the natural
human heart good will toothers-which leads US
10 seek for the qualification of our own sentiments
Chdrity ID supernatural, virtue which consists in
loving God above all things-in the love Of God
aIone and In the love Of nature for the sake of
God. Philanthropy consists in loving our fellow
men Tor the sake of gratifying our own sentiments.
Charity s the love OF cd sup RENE, fret and last,
and our neighbors as ourselves, in God and for
God; not for our own neighbours sake merely, nor
Tor our own; for our neghbor belongs to God, as
we do The natural man is net capable of charity
except only as his nature is neutraiized and ec-
vated by Divine grace. And thus charity proceeds
from God
In an age of unbelief, when the supernatural
character OF religion is lost sight of, men lead
charity out OF the way, and resort TO philanthropy
mus, toHards the conclusion of the eighteenth
century, literature was arrayed against religion;
orators made great and constant efforts to over
throw Christianity, and, in their own language,
they sought to "crush the wretch!' Just in pro-
portion as this belief spread in France and other
countries, we find philanthropy gaining ground.
Noltaire and his associates were philanthropists
and said nature was sufficient to guide mankind
they re]ected the doctrine Of mans fall, and said
that nature was pure and noble, infinitely and de
finitely practicable; and accounted for the evils
and wrongs, and outrages in society, by the
prevalence Of the belief in the supernatural
BY the prevalence of religious belief and wor-
fship. Thus by overthrowing your churches, over
turning your affairs, disrobing your priests, and
leaving man to the native benevolence of his ow n
heart, they commended that evils would disappear,
paradise on earth be regained, and nothing but
elderly, equality, and fraternity" prevail; thnt
there would be nothing but love and good will
that the wolf and the lamb would lie down to-
gether, and that the fresh waters would burst forth
in desert places. Thus said these philanthropiss,
who warred against the church and religion. They
soughtto revoutionze society There is no doubt
there were accumulated abuses in the preceding
centuries, and that classes of society oppress-
ed by the Government-by priests and ministers
of State; but your purcst and best Government ia
| not exempt from abuses; and pure and holy as ia
our American Democracy, sometimes public men
are found not of strict integrity, who seek to pro
mote their own Interests rather than those Of the
people. He repeated, they rebelled against reli-
mat 4 "A
the throne, against the beautiful and rich, and vr-
tue became crime. And when philanthropy
established itself, what was gained or accomplish
ed in delivering society from the evils of which
complaint was made? The world has passed iudg-
ment on the acts of the French revolution, in 1889,
and call it, very appropriately, "the reign of ter
ror." When Robespierre became the dictator of
France, he first published a pamphlet advocating
the abolition OF the death penalty; and yet know
that this phianhropist caused blood to run in the
public streets
Within the last sixty years political revolutions
have been professedly prompted by philanthropy.
and natural sentiment-believed by MANY to
benefit mankind-yet every one of them has turn
ed out the very reverse of what was intended
w hat makes Spain weak? The effect of revolu-
tions Why 10 Italy SO unhappy, and not in the
enjoyment of its beauty and religion? 1t is be.
cause the phiian thropist has carried revolution
there, and sought to create happiness by mans
agency alone. All these things have been going
on in the name OF :" liberty" and popular liber-
ty ~ Those revolutions compel governments to
increase their military force and adopt more rig
orous measures for their preservation, and to guard
against their overthrow.
He stood not here to advocate despotism and
monarchy, Tor he was opposed to both. He was
an American citizen; he was for his own country
a republic. For his own country repubicanism
only was legitimate, and the best Cover nment
But because he was republican, and for the union
of the States, it did not follow that he must be in
favor of republican form of government for
France, Russia, Austria, or Spain. The Almighty
God has given governments best fitted for the
people, and every one that attempts to overthrow
them is warning against Providence. What have
you gained in Europe for what you call popular
liberty? What good by the froth and fume of
Mazzini in Italy, Kossuth in Hungary, and
Thomas Francis Meagher? [slight Kissing An.
swer me, If you can, before you hiss. You have
revolutionized in Ireland, and in 1892 lost your
Parliament by it. In lS4S what did you gain by
Sievcgamon? daughter few Irish exiIes have
been sent to Australia, and the heart of your
try broken. Will you point me to my owl coun-
trys We merely threw off despotsm, but were as
republican as when the first colony was planted.
There never a moment when domestic order
was not continued and preserved When the Bri-
fish government broke the contract between the
crown and the coloniss, we were ipso focto free;
because the disobedience of the sovereign absoves
the subject. Whether George the Third was ty-
rant or not the Peoples Convention, in l776, said
be was, and declared the colonies absoved from
their allegiance to the British Crown. And it s
foul dishonor on the patriots of our Revolution to
cradle cut tbroats, who only on religion and
society. What, ask, have you gained in Hun
gary, in Italy-by the Radical in Spain-by
Young Ireland Young and green enough.
[Laughte 1t is cold Ireland" honor, for the
preservation of the faith which makes it her glory
through three hundred years of martyrdom. ZAP.
plause.I have no respect for the youngerlings of
England, France, Ireland, or America You may
call me "Old Fogy" if you choose, but have
lived too long to make a"Young America
Laughter / have fears; and would here
say, although have come to Washington, am
not seeking office. [Laug hter.]
The world was in a bad state when the Apostles
went forth to preach charity-when barbarians
from the North overrun the Roman empire, de-
stroyed the old civilization, and left not a wreck
behind, except what was preserved to the church
Yet out Of heathenism and barbarian the church,
BY silent working of charity, formed great and
prosperous nations of Europe, and made them the
freest and foremost nations OF the world in reliev-
ing on the one hand and opening on the other the
hearts ofindividuals to the cries Of dstress-each
ing them that they held riches only in trust to be
used for the love of God. Thus was Europe re-
deemed from heathenism and barbarisIp, and be-
came powerful.
Charity works silently, and does not blow the
trumpet, saying "Hearken all ye nations, and see
what noble acts we perform"-while philanthropy
must have some great show and form associations
must have movements attracting the public attcn.
tion-and when it gives aims sound the trumpet.
We have philanthrophists among US. whether
have, don't know: and If Won have 7 don,,