The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-01

lived. "Gcld too highly refined is not fit for
common use, and requires certain portion of
alloy to make it bear the stamp which gives it
currency"
While Duke of York, his patience and endu-
rance had been fearfully tried by his calumni-
ators and prosecutors but they failed to make
him lose the favor confidence of his royal
brother, " the merry monarch" Indeed it is
a beautiful trait in the character of the pleas
ure-loving Charles, that he valued his princoly
brother at his full worth, and was never
happy as when this fraternai friend was by his
side.
The Exclusion Bill is, of course, too well
known to be explained here; but how keenly
does it make us realize the cruel wrong and
fierce injustice which logged the steps of Eng
lands rightful heir-not because he was want
ing in any manly virtue, in any kingly attri-
butte, for was he not the gallant admiral who
twice defeated the Dutch feet7 the maguan-
imous vice-regent whom Scotland idolized 3
but because he had become a Catholic and
lived in the daily practice of his holy faith.
With the change in his religious belief came
the change in public opinion. The gallant
sailor-priuce, the prudent and clear sighted
patriot, became the target for every vile insult
and base accusation.
Were not all of Jeffries' cruelties laid upon
his shouldersR Was he not accused of setting
fire to the city of London Was he not believed
to be the instigator of every conspiracy against
his royal brother7
Poor, princely victim of G. nations bigotry !
was he spared single blow which it was in
their power to iuflict upon him7
AS soon as he had brought his italian flower,
oh hrid tn ulo %
| shores, did not the House of Commons sterny
insist upon the cruel penal laws being put into
effect! Chivalrous England! What welcome
for timid Catholic wife of only fifteen sum-
mers! Then came his accession, and his too
noble efforts in behalf of liberty of conscience.
The bishops rebelled against this humane pol
icy, the people were taught to look with dis
trust upon every measure of his government.
His army was intended, it was said, to overawe
Or if necessary, to cut the throats of his Pro-
and pitiful story.
Afterwards came a time when his own child
rem raised their hands against him; and while
recalling this page of his 1ife's history, every
feeling is lost in compassion for the poor, be-
trayed abandoned father.
An English poet, describing the circum-
stances of James departure from England
writes these lines:
1--WE thought of ancient Lear, with the tempest over
Discrowned betrayed, Abandoned but naught could
Not Mary, his false Regan nor Anne, his Goneril."
But to our mind the broken hearted, bewil
dered James is a far nobler character than the
passionate and too partial Lear. The last was
strangely incapable of approaching the exalt
ed virtues of his Cordelia; while james could
not be made to believe in the treachery of his
Mary. One had acted foolishy and unjustly
towards his daughters, while the other had
never failed in his duty either as friend or
father to his children. Lear reaped the fruits
of his own passionate folly, while James found
thorns where his own hands had scattered
roses.
The Battle of the BoyRe ia also hurled in
false testimony against him. Perhaps the gal
liant sailor was no match for the veteran SOL
der; but we know that James army was
"rabble rout," while Williams was double in
number and perfect in discp1ine-and those
who still dare to accuse the true hearted Eng
lish king of cowardice are wilfnlly blind to
the glorious record of his victories over the
Dutch and his unequalled heroism in the
armies of Turepne. The dying words of this
noble king are unsurpassed in pathetic gran
deur by any of Shakespeares heroes. "Serve
God" he said to his young son, and never
| place the crown of England in competition
with yonr eternal salvation"
Beautiful lesson from one who had been
taught in the school of adversely, ard who bad
preferred to lose his earthly crown rather than
| value it above his hopes Of Heaven!
| Where shall we fiud moro pathetic scene
than that which witnessed James the Sec
ond, dying in exile, yet consoled by the
promises of Louis XIV, the greatest mon
arch of Europe, that he would ackuow-