New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-16

saint was then boy, brought over from
| his native country, Scotland, by q
band of marauders and put to tend
in, swine. In this mental occupation
which be pursued for seven years, he
| learned the language of the country and
| became acquainted with the habits Of the
common people. Escaping to France, he
studied theology under his nucle. the
Bishop of Tours. after which he visited
Rome where ne obtained permission OF
the Pope to attempt the conversion Of Ire
| land. Returning as an apostle TO the
scene of his early iabors as a swineherd,
he gained the ear of kings and the hearts
Of the people by his e!oquence and zeal.
So completely did he win the confidence
and impress the faith Of the latter, that
they attribute to him not only the spiritual
blessings which he did indeed help to con-
fer on them. but also the natural advan-
tages which ireland possesses Of freedom
from venomous reptiles. An interesting
anecdote is told of the manner in which he
illustrated to their unsophisticated minds
the obscure doctrine Of the Trinity, then
as now fundamental article of the Ro-
man Catholic faith, as, indeed, it still
is of nearly every Christian sect.
Preaching in the open air to
large concourse of people. he looked
around for some object in nature to make
plain his meaning. 1t was in spring, but
the carpeting grass and budding leaves
gave him no help. Suddenly he per-
ceived bursting from the sod at his feet
some tiny leaves which were not there
before. He stopped. and 10 the sham
rock offered him the very illustration he
sought; three leaves, yet one. The people
saw and believed; and ever since the
shamrock has been the emblematic plant
of Ireland.
Thus did this devout and enthusiastic
people from the first blend religion and
patriotism: and so they do to the present
day. There are Of course thousands Of
Irishmeu who are not Romanists: but
such are mostly the descendants Of the
various settlers whom the policy Of Eng
land has az different times sent over for
political purposes; the descendants Of the
original Celts are almost invariably Catho-
lie. the forms and emblems Of the ancient
faith being moro suited 20 their poetic
temperament. and the weight Of its
long descended authority to their
revercn..al nature. Moreover. this
form Of Christianity has for more
than three hundred years been associated
with their opposition 60 the tyranny and
misgoyernment Of England, so that patri-
otism and Catholicity have become 60 the
mind Of the average Irishman synony-
nous terms. This consistency Of their
faith. which holds the fallen religion more
dear, perhaps because Its fallen" and
ardor of their patriotism. hoping against
hope that the time may ye. come when
the government of Ireland will be as inde-
penden: Of that Of England as her people
are different 10 character. religion, tenn
peramen. and traditions form the band
which holds the natives of the Green Isle
together ia whatever land they may make
their home-a band which in this country,
at least has no: initiated against their
voluntarily assumed allegiance. though
keeping ever in their minds the fact that
in becoming American citizens they have
not ceased to be Irishmen. -