Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-11-07
A letter from an American Catholic
to Isc Rev. Father O'Acefe, Pas.
tor of st. rnul,S Church.
MINERAL PoISr, Nov. 6, 1872.

nenty Catholic in all my views, 80
Catholic am that no title is dearer to
me than the simple appellation-"An
American Citizen No aspiration is
stronger than to possess sufficient intel
ligence and virtue to enable me to do
honor to my citizenship and discharge
fully my obligations to my adopted coun>
try. And Rev, Father, of the thousands
in Mineral Point, no one is more ready
than to concede to you that same dis
interested patriotism--yea more, | es-
tcem you as an accomplished scholar, as
gentleman possessing large acquires
ments and liberal culture--you are en-
titled, therefore, aside from your Sacred
Calling to my deepest regard. Permit
me to add that this high regard springs
in part from the fact that VIC have SO
much in common,
If am rightly informed We nre in
our origin deccn1ed from the brave i'm
pu'sive Celts. No ocean rolls between
our native places. In religion, we are
Catholic In education, both have en-
ioyed superior advantages. In politics,
we cast our votes for the winning side.
We have yet more in common:
Some years ago We left our native
shores to yield allegiance hencetorth to
the freedom planted on this new Cont.
nent My memory runs back to but
little beyond that ocean voyage. Here |
found all things that make life desir-
able. Our institutions have delt LIBERAL
ly with me--ra nan Of foseign birth, To
them owe every good | enjoy, Great
indeed is my obligation, for | enjoy very
much for which am profoundly gratc-
ful Such is my attachment to these
blood bought institutions of my country,
that | would willingly risk my all to per
petuate them as they are to my children
and my neighbors' children. And, Rev
Father, when we came to this country
we found here a peculiar order of things,
There were institutions here without
complete parcllels in the whole record OF
history. | know that you are well
versed in the annals Of the worlds pros
gress, and your knowledge will bear me
out. have reference now neither to
Mormoniim, nor yet to that other twin
relic of Barbagism, Slavery, but solely to
the common school system of our free
country. And, Rev. Sir, if | have de-
tanned you too long with this prolix at
tempt to convince you of my great re-
spcct for you, excuse me while proceed
at once to tell you why | am so interest,"
ed in your acquisitions and your doings
When we came to these shores we
found Americans glorying in their ma
tional system Of education. 1t was q
system, let it be noted, with an ope n
Bible in it; the unadultered word and
not catechisms; the Patriots Of the rev.
olution could no more construct an ef-
fectiVe educational system wi,hou. the
Bible, than philosophers can construct
an universe without God. Let me re-
peat it sir, that the Bible has always
been in the national schools The rea-
son they gave us for an open Bible was
this, and you will admit its validity
that moral character as well as iatelii-
gence was necessary to perpetuata free
institutions. You know sir as well as |
that immortality and ignorance are the
great foes Of liberty The imaoral and
ignorant are worse than useless in the
conducting Of cur benevoleus enter
prises, our charitable organizations, our
churches, or our asylums for the needy
and the unfortunate. These asylums,
churches, organizations and enterprises
constitute the chief glory Of our State ;
they are wreathes around her brow as her
chief adornment To perpetuate these
we must have intelligence guided by NOR
al qualities Where shall we find this
intelligence, this moral force You
readily answer that the State must edu-
cate her citizens in her schools to dis,
charge all their civil Obligations. The
education offered, then, by the State Of
Wisconsin, must be an education under
good moral influences. But whence shall
We obtaia these influences necessary to
deyelope in our publ, schools, the high
est typo Of an American? Let Ills Holt
ness, Pope Plus the sixth, answer You