The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-29
A Sermon and a Protest.

Not long since in a church in Montreal a
catholic meeting was held In which Libero
was sung for the rest of the souls of the French
Canadians who had fallen victims in our war.
The benefit of the mass applied to all of that
class collectively. Alter the performance OF
the Ltberd, Rev. Mr.. Beaudry, priest Of st.
Constant. preached sermon in which our
people, government, religion, Institutions and
national struggle were handled very gingerly
and not so decorously as the spirit of the New
Testament would seem to dictate. The large,
congregation was mainly composed Of Jealous
French patriots and ofthe relatives and friends
who had emigrated to the States. n
Such an audience, the Montreal Witness
says, needed strong anti-American pill, and
Mr.. Beaudry having got his patients together,
administered very large doses. But ques-
ton may here arise, whether the Libera was
really got up for the rest Of the souls Of the
slain in battle, o. whether the prime object
was not to reach the souls of the living and
give laundering counter-bIast against emf
gratonto the States? We think the reader
will find no difficulty in forming correct con-
clusion upon the subject after he, shall have
read the following extract from Mr.. Beaudry's
sermon.
Forty Thousand of our countrymen are
lighting under the flag OF the United States !!
Fourteen thousand inundated on the battle
field for cause which is foreign to us! This
blood has been shed uselesslyl 2 asagga a
What does the French Canadian owe to
the United States? What can induce him to
quit his country, where the soil largely re-
wards his labor? What equivalent does he
find amongst that foreign people, unless most
generally the contempt OF his nationality, the
persecution OF his religious faith, and the ha-
tired of everything he holds most dear? And
it is Tor such country that the French Cana
dian will pour out his blood, and that the
children OF our soil will willingly give them
selves up to be led to the slaughter !" lisl
SO much for the sermon, and now let us
hear what the protest says The sermon has
been published and thrown broadcast over
the land, and has been read with indignation
and surprise by many Of his countrymen now
in the States. Some of them residing in Troy,
New York, and recently soldiers in our army,
have united In writing an answer and protest
which they have sent for publication in the
Mo itear. They utterly repudiate the state
ments of this preacher and say they are not
true. The above extract from the sermon is
answered by the soldiers in the following
style - 7'
"You ask what the French Canadian owes
to the United States? He owes to them
bread, butter and happiness things he does
not find in Canada" The statements of Mr..
Beaudry about unfair treatment they repel as
either willul SANDER or q mark Of gross ig-
norance. TIE French Canadians are met by
the American Professionals On footing of per
feet equality with themselves. The utmost
religious freedom prevails, which is not the
case in Canada, where tithes, church-rates.
and taxes for the priests sectarian schools are
emf reed. The United States having become
their home, they have only paid debt OF prat-
itude aud consulted self-interest n He6ting
under the Federal flag. at tah 57e9f7
But these soldiers seem to be actuated bv
higher motives. The following has the true
ring of Liberty in it,-a kindlof music to which
this clerical gentleman turns deaf ear.
"No, Mr.. Beaudry, our blood has not been
shed uselessy. The cause for which French
Canadians have fought under the flag of the
United States is not a foreign cause 1t is the
holy cause of mankind, of freedom OF equali-
ty, OF humanity, OF the rights of man, of the
abolition of slavery. In fighting to maintain
the Union aud its free institutions, we have
fought for our own cause, and for the cause of
all the oppressedp'
These are noble sentiments, and Prince Ma
poleon would read them with great pleasure.
They show how French hearts beat on this side
of the Atlantic. Mr.. Beaudry has fred his gun
in vain, for there is constantly increasing
stream of French emigration to the States