The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-03
Bishop Gibbons and the Irish World.

Autograph" which we cannot find COM
mendable under any aspect. Its allusions
to the Bishop of Richmond are not only
ill-timed and unjust, but decidedly disre-
spectful. The World undertakes to be
excessively Irish, but we suspect that
money is Mt the bottom of its nationalit
Certainly it is very un Irish to speak I'M
kindly and even insolently of a prelate 80
distinguished for zeal and piety as Bishop
Gibbons. 1t is also very un Irish not to
have mother wit enough to know that
sensationalism must not tread upon for
hidden ground.
The occasion of the present patriotic
out burst of the Irish World is letter of
Bishop Gibbons written in reply to an in
vitation to be present at a celebration of
Fictoria's birthday soon to be held at
Richmond. We published the letter in
question two weeks ago and need not ro-
produce it now. 1t seems that certain
British residents of Richmond determined
to celebrate the event referred to, and in
vited the Bishop, rs one of the public dig
nitaries of the place, to be present. The
answer was an acceptance couched in kind
and respectful terms. At this the Irish
World flares up in the following language:
This letter, like most documents of the sort,
| is studiously vague and non-committal still
1t positively encourages and approves of the
coming celebration-and in this does it offend.
The festival in question is avowediy British,
monarchial, and un-American-a fact OF
ignorant 70 go even further, the motives
that prompt this commemorat' on are empha-
tically anti American. In the published adj
dress which first attracted attention to the
anniversary, We find the following phrases:
That many of US british settlers) shall
ever be converted to Republicanism, pray
not We know and appreciate too we'll the
blessings of our own form of government, and
see how vastly superior it is to the despotism
of Republic.
II tcll do Jietoria's heart good 10 knor tha: her
SUBJECTS are s1H toyd! to the old nag, although they
are in an alien land"
Here is a set of servile rascals living in our
midst, breathing the air that sweeps around
the homes and tombs of Washington and
Jefferson, yet Boosting of their changeless al
le9snce to foreign sovereign. Sarely, if
there were many such settlers Nativsm would
have arguments enough to Justify its proscrip-
Inmates that the object of their meeting is
the encouragement Of emigration from Eng
land" From no point of view can we see
that such emigration should enlist the SYM
pathIes OF an American citizen.
We cannot hold that respectable citizens
OF any foreign monarchy, residing in this
country, shonld be cut off from social in
tercourse because Of loyalty to their coun-
try. This would be an extreme of Repub
licanism as affected and irrational as the
" orlds Irishism. We cannot carry poll
teal convictions 30 far as to refuse an in
vitation to good dinner because it is
given in honor of the Queen, or even if it
were given by the Queen. At Washington
Itself, doubtless the British minister will
give just such dinner, at which the
highest functionaries of our government
will assist, without tainting the escutcheon
Of their Repub'icanism. In England too,
tight under the metaphorical nose of the
Queen, the 4th of July is most brilliantly
by Democrats and Aristocrats,
without any offence being thereby given |
o the British Lion which used to roar so
It the Eagle.
No. We believe that the shock to it's |
so artfully pleaded by the
World, is only feigued to make point |
With. The real offense, if there be any at
III, is that an Irishman, or an Am
'rican of Irish blood, should in some
manner sympathize with government
which has been SO unjust to Ireland. 1t
nay be that in ireland drinking the
Queens health or celebrating her birthday
las special political significance. 1t
nay be additionally regarded ms a trait
IF Orapgeism and a. desertion of Irelands
cause. But if SO, it is only convent ional,
and can have no such meaning in this
Here Englishmen and Irishmen, Orange
men and patriots, all meet on neutral
ground. 1t is unseemly to transfer to this
country the acrimony aud the arbitrary
ests of European Issues. Bishop Gibbons
knows that, though of Irish parentage,
le is officially an American Bishop.
As an American he can meet any foreigner
n the celebration of his national festivals
without endorsing the outrages of his ma
ional government: as an Irishman's son he
IAN, on American soil, interchange with an
Inglishman courtesies which might have