The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-04-24

rrander object. Many an Irish father told
me that it was hard to rear up children in
America, but it was more hard when those
hias11sn were taught in the public schools.
sChey were too independent, they were be-
t56 control, they despised their parents
akf FAeyer vet heard in America of a child
f6at was taught by the Christian Brothers,
br. tho nuns, or under the influence OF his
Church, that as q rule was not an honor to
the Church, and a prop to his parents in
ssSgsirS old age. A fact heard in Rome not
1900 than two months since ought to en-
conrare Catholics to be determined. But first
lat me tell YOU this-that the Catholics Of
America-most of them Irish, and vast
proportion of them from that wonderful
little island--are making most gigantic eff
forts to educate their own children. When
I was in New York q little more than three
years since, nearly 10000 Catholic children
Tere taught in Catholic schools. Though
these men have to pay the ordinary rate,
still. rather than sacrifice conscience and
Give up their children to danger, at every
Tisk and every sacrifice they educate them
themselves. was down at Atlanta, where
the last great struggle of the COnfederacy
md the Union was fought, and where many
q Rallant Irishman fought and died bravely
nnder either flag. Well, there, amidst the
ruins of that town-that burnt down town
for the education of 500 Catholic children.
And throughout the country everywhere
the same. But now what is the fact that
ann about to mention 1t is this, that 1
;xas told by the Bishop in Rome that the
Eeaislature of New York has at last struck
it's flag-and all honor to it for it's liberali-
,ty-and has given $500, 600 for the educa
ton Of Catholics in New York. All we
have to do is to say: " We cannot trifie
with our conscience. We must stand by
oar children. We must shelter them. We
must protect them. We must send them
:,<<> ha hiatt of life Tn fsuh with
something better than broken reed we
must give them the protection and the
strength of q religious education" And
now comes the question, and the important
one-Are we bigOts for saying that No.
Ia O man bigot because he educates his
child in the true knowledge of God {? No.
Very well. Does it tend to make man q
higotf lam Catholic; all my family are
Catholics, got no education, no example
hnS what was Catholic, but can speak for
myself that never conceived the idea of
hostility to man because of his religion.
And venture to say that the Catholic peo-
ple of Ireland are the most liberal, the
most tolerant of all differences OF the kind
Of any people in the world. They are
taught to love their God, and to love their
neighbor for the sake OF God. viii that
knowledge send q man out into the world
with q hatred of his fellow creatures 2 On
the contrary, the more he knows OF religion
the more he knows and respects those who
happen to differ from him in religious faith
Now, gentlemen, as to the bill before the
House at the present moment, would only
say this, that it is under the charge,
% far as Catholic interests are Re,
Karded, of certain bodies, and that
al good Catholic members will give
every possible assistance in their way to
make the bill as safe as it possibly can be.
We can only do q certain thiDg-we
hope for the best. 1t is not for me to deal
~-r,kI xIs1 csr nf hn
all, my mind was occupied with other
matters-yery, very serious and very ur-
gent-and, therefore, shall only follow
unto the lobby, when necessary, those who
have amendments to propose. But, believe
me, the fight is not for the present-the
fight is for the future. First of all nail
your colors to the mast, and say. you are
bound by conscience and bound by obliga-
ions you owe society, and especially your
own children and the children of your poor;
that you will have no compromise
with irreligion: that you rather will have
Ehe teachings of your Church than the
teachinge of those gentlemen, many of
whom care about no Church whatsoever;
that you don't want to have free-thinkers
in yonr children. Free thinkers! Let me
give you one passage, one word or two as
to what a free-thinke r solemnly declared as
his creed the other day in the mock Council
aE Naples. The Council was blasphemOusly
oEened in the name of another Trinity
different Trinity from that which all Chris
tian men adore. This man, one of them,
then said in his profession of creed that the
name of God, the idea of God, had been
associated with every wickedness aud every
oppression from the days of Christ to the
present time. He also did this: he paid a
compliment to the Catholic Church, for he
said Inasmuch as the Catholic Church, the
Roman Church, is the truest exponent of
this idea, we must, therefore put it down,
If necessary, by force. Let me give You
another idea of this free thinker, which
will not commend itself to those who glory
IN the virtue of the women of the Irish race.
He asked for larger and fuller develop.
mentof the rights of women, irrespective
OF law and of religion: that she may form
any connections she pleases, disregardIng
the sanctl'y OF the marriage tie and the
obligations of law. Well, we don't want
that. We want nothing that leads to it,
We believe the mere development of the
intellect may lead t. such. We want n !
sheet anchor. We want something that |
moves man strongly IT, fiIith-to something |
which will he his guard, aud his shelter and !
his prOtection--tlat which may protect him |
, in the moment of danger, which will be at |
any period of his life II harbor III feture and |
safety. Most al You come from IL nation
which has stood 10y it's faith through trial |
and adversely. Now is the time Tor stand |
ing up still for what we hold with the
UBicn--that religion must be the basis of
education. You Catholics must now pro- |
claim to all England that you will not have
any education for Your children, and en-
IL. Il.