The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-10-02
The Religion Of Paszioti.m.

The late proceedings in the legislative
body OF the French Empire display one
phase OF patriotic resolution which we can
not but regard with feelings of the warmest
interest, and which we hope sincerely may
be studied in this country with the atten-
ton It SO we'll deserves. One sweet use OF
grave adversely was proved. Admirable
thoughts were uttered in glowing words.
Indignation confronted 4cSlumny. The
passion OF true patnfotism asserted itself
subilmeiy against the schemes of reckless
baseness. 1t had been rOundly said that the
Protestants of France do not regard this
war with Prussia as their Catholic country
men regard lido not look on it as q
struggle of nations--but as o strife of re-
ligions; do not think of it as trial of
strength between its Empire and its widest
foe, but rather as q war between the le-
giOns OF the Protestant and the "Papist.n
All this is false quite false. By whom
the idea was sent abroad it is not easy to
say. For what end it was disseminated it
is difficult to imagine. Both source and
purpose are unimpoftant now. The mo-
mentous point is that the sorry tale is one
Of proven falsehood: Two Protestant
Chamber on Tuesday last to speak the
thoughts OF their cOuntrymen-their CO.
religionists. These gentlemen came to
make. a solemn protest. They repelled
with indignation the Accusations levelled''
against q. section of the people. "The
Professionals of France" said they, "are
ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes
forstheir country" OF this grand readiness
of this true devotion-the proofs have
not been wanting: Between Saarbruck
and Cariguy the blood that has been shed
for la belle France was not all the blood OF
Catholics. Moreover, Bavaria marched her
Catholic army, and lat army fought and
bled, beneath the sombre flag of Prussia.
Orrfo or l.,
of both the creeds are found in both the
camps. He is too intelligent to confuse SO
clear an issue as the one this war presents
to him. He too keenly feels the goad of
wounded honor to let prejudice of sect con-
sign his name to infamy. To be Chris
tian and patriot is his general wish, and
not to be bigot and q traitor. Besides,
these French Professionals are fused with
France. Social relations and domestic
ties unite them alphabetically with the
nation. They are parents, children, wives.
The universal emotions of human nature
are theirs. Around them are the mourners
whom the hand OF war has robbed of u ia
ther, husband or a brother. Such losses,
which are terrible and crushing to the be-
reaved, may well be called recuperative to
the nation, for they draw on the perpetual
fount of sympathy, and they knit together
the souls of the long estraDged. Thus it
is that the disasters of nation and the be-
reavement of the home have set all men
side by side in France. "For FIenchmen,"
said M. Chevreau, "there is now but one
religion-the religion Of patriotism ~ Is
there no tongue in this that speaks wise
counsel to our hearts Is there no lesson
in all this for Irelandf There is, solemn
lesson and noble stimulant, if we will but
learn while there is time, and strive to-
wards what is better. God knows it is not
our great prosperity" that sets US Irish
men against each other. The disasters of
our land are gone far beyon the counting.
If misfortune and deep wrong could have
We shssa1 thorough uniopv even as one man
ficers of our evil fortune. faced the arti-
wish of Ireland now to emulate France in
patriotic union. Let the Catholic be
generous and the Protestant sincere. Let
both of them be Irishmen, not in name
alone, but in the generous spirit of Il COM
mon hope and a universal tolerance.-Na-