The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-07-23

the law-breakers and rioters In this cas-,
were the only ones to be the sufferers W.
would have very little to say. very little tt
away upon them. But it is the Catholi,
cause and the Irish nsme would sntHer, ahi
we cannot afford to see them injured
without an effort to prevent it. No mat.
ter what they may intend, those who
would interfere violently with thia process.
sion and endaDger the peace of the commu-
nifty on such grounds, would be greater
enemies of Irishism and Catholicity, than
! the Orangemen themselves. warn all pa
rents, husbands and brothers, to 60 to their
employments, and attend their ordinary
avocations as usual on Wednesday next,
and to return peacefully to their homes in
the evening, as though no such temptation
to do evil was ever thrown in their way.
Let Catholic mothers and wives and sisters
remain at their homes and attend to their
nome duties, and allow no unworthy Curl
osity to draw them near this Orange pro-
ccssion. On the other hand, let me entreat
you to do everything in your power, now
apd hereafter, to spread and foster spirit
OF Cancellation and forbearauce, in accord
ance with the teachings of our Holy
Church, which, echoing the words of the
apostle, commands you to love them that
hate you, bless them that curse you, and
pray for them them that prosecute You.
Remember that We are in free country,
and that you ourselves We're instrumental
in making the laws which yon are now
asked and expected to obey. The author
tiles, also, who are to enforce those laws,
are chosen by the people therefore, any
of violation of those laws would be the most
,grlevous of crimes and the most dishonor-
able of deeds. If the Orangemen violate
the law you need not grudge them the
glory that will accrue from their lawless-
ness, and you can rely on the properly
tod NIL TO AL-,,,
adequate punishment; but if you now
nsurP the power which the people have
fornsnHg.~nd freely delegated to the officers
OF the city and State, you will simply af-
ford your enemies an excuse very plausible
II rot entirely valid, for saying: These
irish Catholics are not fit to enjoy the lib
critics we have accorded them as American
citizens, and in justice to ourselves and for
the safety of our institutions we must find
some way of abridging their present free
dom and keeping them under proper res
traint.' Listen, therefore, to the voice Of
your Church, which is the voice of God.
Obey now the commands of the Church,
which are the commands of God, aud thus
your cause will be peacefully and glorious
~ triumphant. In the hope that you will
be strengthened against this new tempta-
ton, now bestow upon You my benedic-
ton"
CONVENTION OF IRISH SOCIETIES.
At a convention of Irish societies, on the
night of the l1tb, the following address
was accepted:
To the People of the United States and the Citi-
sers Of Ne,c York in Particular:
The attitude assumed toward the societies
represented in the body by a portion of the
press of New York. and the Misrepresentation
of our motives and actions which have obtain
ed circulation, oblige to come before the
public in vindication of our character as law
abiding citizens. studied effort has been
made to induce the belief in the minds of the
American people that the societies represented
in that body are composed of intolerant, bgot-
ed 1rishmen, arrayed on religious grounds
and ready to assail and persecute them for diff
ference of belief, which should be left entirely
between the conscience of each individual and
his Creator. Nothing could be farther from
the truth than this assertion.
The Convention of the Irish societies of New
York and vicinity was originally organized for
among Irshmen in this country, and promot-
ing harmony and tolerance of opinion, and a
union in good brotherhood of ali who claim
descent from our common country. How that
mission has been fulfilled the history of our
body forever twenty years can testify. Be.
! fore the advent of our organization our people
had been artfully divided by designing men
| and were embroled in continual faction feuds
by the machnations of those who practised on
their weakness to rob them of the wages of
their toll.
Through the exertions of the Convention IN
end was put to these senseless contentious, and
our people were taught to see the folly of the
divisions that had distracted and degraded
them, and q union of kindly feeling based on
our mutual interests and common nationality
was established, which has never since been
broken, and has contributed to elevate our peo-
pie in the eyes of our American fellow citizens
In token of that fraternaf union it has been
our custom to parade together on the 18th of
March in each year-a day honored every-
whore by all Irishmen, without distinction of
creed-but the records of those parades, as
we'll as the continued approval of the authori
ties of the State and City, bear witness that
our public displays have been always free from
offence to the religious or political feelings of
our fellow-citizens, and have never, in q single
instance, endangered the peace of the commu-
nifty. The charge that We are hostile to our |
Protestant fellow-countrymen would be too
absurd to call for refutation were 1t not so per-
severingly reiterated. That some may be de-
ceived by it is easily disposed of in o portion |
of what are called the Irish societies. No in |
quiry is ever made as to what are the religious |
or political opinions of those who are present. |
ed for membership in good faith. In most of |