National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-05
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS FRIDAY MARCH 1875

TO strengthen and to sanctIIy 1t. Yea, 1 hesitate
not to assert that there is no truer friend and ad
mirer OF the United States than the Chief Pastor
Of the Church, Plus the Ninth.
1t was not his fortune to live IN the era OF our
Revolutionary heroes, nor TO labor for American
home; but be labored for her good by the moral
elevation he bestowed on those who were to be
her bone and sinew, and he won the heart Of this
single handed, for his own doWn-trOdden nation a
moral emancipation which astonished the world,
and which elected from Americas noblest states
man eneonIums that any hero might we'll envy.
During the months that he spent In America he
traversed almost every corner Of the United
states on MS erIana o. mercy enroiing sx nun
abstinence. Then, his laboTs ended, he went
homo TO Ireland, soon to pass to his better home
assert that no single mortal man ever had such
fruits to show for the labors Of his life for IL Is
estimated that over five millions OF loving and
under his leadership and used his name as their
battle-cry Of moral Victory. Never did any man
go down to the grave with as many blessings
as many tears OF sorrow for his irreparsble loss,
and with rs many saved ones to meet him as his
triumphant escort on the other side Of the great
Ills spirit still lives among rs, his work still
goes on, not now with the gigantic proportions
that made his life 2 marvel and have rendered
his name immortal; but quieter, more widespread,
aud we trust more rich In solid good. He scat
tered the seed, and thousands Of hands are busy
ii
which he has many q follower to-day, even among
the highest prelates Of the Church on both sides
Of the Atlantic.
Most ftTipgly, then, Will we place the statue OF
the hero Of Temperance beside those Of the heroes
OF our Independence. He will represent the spirit
Of the great Catholic Total Abstinence Union Of
America, under whose auspices the fountain Is to
be erected, and will typify Religion intoxicating
the virtue OF Temperance, without which our peO-
pie could never be 1T to enjoy the blessings won
for us by the wisdom, the integrity and the Valor
of our immortal heroes. And If, besides, be will
represent Old Ireland standing by the side Of
America, so much the better. Commodore Barry
was an Irishman; Archbishop Carroll was the son
OF an ITishman; Charles Carroll, Of Carrollton,
was the grandson Of an 1rishman. America did
not honor them the less fer that, nor will he be
the less at home n their company because he was
an lrishmsn. And who, pray, have so good q
right TO rejoice at Americas glory and to stand
with her against her traditional enemy? We
say il in no bitterness, England herself would
acknowledge that it would be miracle which
she has no right to expect II lrishmen were not
the foremost to work for England's defeat, and
to rejoice at Americas victory.
Yes, friends, the idea Of the monumental foun-
tain is glorious. Push 1t to completion, men Of
Philadelphia, and the country will be proud Of
Of your enthusiasm; but would that my voice
could ring out to every temperance man and every
Catholic throughout the land, and make them
rightly appreciate how thoroughly this is work
that interests them all, and rouse them to emu
late your noble zeal and energy. If their hands
cannot share in the work OF rearing and adjoining
1t, they ought at least jealousy to share in the
honor Of defrayiDR the expenses construction
and from my experience l am certain that so
they will
On then with the work! Finish It splendidIyl
And may 1t prove to be what we intend-to our
country, tribute Of cOngratulatiOn; to our nOn-
Catholic fellOH-ctiZens, a pledge of tr1ternal
feeling, of social sympathy and perfect commu-
nifty OF interest; and to our ellow-CRtholics, .
source OF honest pride, an encouragement to tenn
perance and all the virtues that flow from 1t, ana
an incentive to emulate the patriotism Of those
noble heroes for whose deyotedness to their coun-
try, not less than fer their Christian excellence
our religion loves and hUnors them.
And not only to our own element in the cele-
bratiOn of the Centennial Of American Independ-
enee do we wish glorious success, but to every
element that is to contribute 70 its grandeur
May it be the grandest national festival that the
world has ever Deheld. May 1t be worthy of all
the glories with which the God Of nations has,
during a century, crowned the men and deeds OF
1776. But above all, may that day be the iDfu-
sion into our country Of new spirit for new era,
or rather q new inbreathing Of the same grand old
spirit that first nodded our country's young life
in the purest mold of virtue and patriotism. And
whatever there may have grown up Of unfalth-
fulness to that noble spirit, o may our Centennial
day shame and drive out Of existence forever!
May the spirit Of 1776 take by the hand the Amer
lea Of 1876, and lead her safety to her heaven
appointed place, the highest and the brightest In
the galaxy Of nations.
At the conclusion Of Father Keane's eloquent
grafton, the immense audience manifested their
appreciation by indulging in q perfect storm Of
applause.