The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-02

cessible TO OF Iowlies oirth provided he be
a native OF this Republic, even 10 The child born
to-day OF the emigrants arrived among Us but yes
terday, so, neither more less, 10 the Hottest
emnence in the Catholic Chu ch even the Chair
OF Peter made accessible to every Catholic priest.
be he born as lowly as Hndebrandt or Sixlus v.
To Catholics there is no other significance in the
ceremony OF last Tuesday. That man VINO stood
so meekly the altar steps OF 81. Patrick's
Cathedral and seemed to bow MS head TO receive
the highest honor OF the Roman purple as II he
were about to be crowned with thorns is in very
deed the son OF emigrant parents, born in lowly
CONDITION and risen step by step to his present
eminence through the sheer impeIling force OF mis-
native goodness, winning love and good name
from all within his communion and without
1t has ever been the boast OF American citizens
that the social equality guaranteed by federal
constitution makes every natve-born freeman
eligible even to the Chief MaRstracy of the kenub-
lic IL can since last Tuesday, be the boast Of
every American Catholic-why should not say OF
every American citizen THAT the first dignity in
the Christian Church. place among the long line
OF Sovereign Pontins stretching 1900 years back to
st. Peter is now accessible TO every boy born on
American soil.
Among the boys who ministered on Tuesday
morning in the sanctuary OF ST. Patrick's, or the
throngs OF their fellows who eagerly watched out
side for one glimpse OF the Cardinals robes or
passing smile from his iatherly oountenapce, there
was not one, percnance. VINO did not feel, as ne
looked upon the pale features ana shrinklnR lorm
he one day exalted TO that same proud station by
learning, labor ana spotess purity of life.
Any gives other significance Jhaa this
to tho elevation OF our Archbishop TO the Cardl-
nalaie misunderstands the poiicy OF Plus TX. and
The purposes OF the Catholic Church. and mistakes
the preiudices OF his creed or education Tor the
doctrines and aims OF his Roman Catholic fellow
citizens.
We may well rejoice tnen that the same equal
its which throws open 70 true merit in every walk
State now breaks down the barriers which have
stood between American Catholics and the subllm-
est oflce OF the Papacy,
But there are pregnant lessons 70 be learned
from this event which marks the irst centenary
OF religious liberty beneath the protection OF our
and Leonard Neae IN the see or Baltimore whose
hand placed the berrettG on the brow OF the nrst
In the beginning OF 1775 John Carroll, alter the
suppression, by Clement Xivi Of the reiglous so
ciety TO which he mad vowed his lie and gwen It's
best years, FASTENED back from Europe to ald with
MS family IN tue coming struggle lor independ,,
ence. We find his brother, Charles carroll, OF
CarTollton, prominent In that same year rs mem
Der OF the first committee OF observation" es-
luton OF Congress desires Charles Carroll ITO
prevail upon Mr.. John Carroll to accompany the
committee TO Dapada TO ASSIST them IN such mat
ters they shall think useful" THIS committee
comprised Charles Carroll himself Benjamin
Franklin and Judge Samuel Chass. inc Zeal VI
the CAROLS ana OF the entire body OF Maryland
Catholics fur the cause OF Independence, and
wen known TO Washington ana 10 Congress-. the
influence which the amended constitution OF Mary
land tine work OF Daniel Carr0U had III the
framing Of the federal constitution is too we'll
known TO need special mention here; but IL will
interest the reader to be told IN this year OF grace,
1876, wnen something like cry OF alai IN IS raised
at this phantom oil Papal aggression, that II was
by the Instructions Of Washington that BENJAMIN
franklin. In 1856, while ambassador az Parls, 90
tanned from Rome the appointment OF John Car
roll as Vicar General OF tn4 American Church IN
the United States, ana later as first Bisnop OF
Baltimore. Taus we may reckon among the
founoers OF the Roman Catholic hierarchy IN this
Republic the very founders or that Republic itself,
just as certainly as we must acknowledge among
the fathers OF American Independence not only
Charles Carroll, OF Carrollton, out the Jesults,
Jonn Carroll and Leonard Neale. Nor did Wash.
ington anu Franklin, when independence had
should die out with their friends The CAROLS.
| lney, too, aided. by every means they could en-
poy, tile establishment OF the 1rst college
IN the very heart and centre OF the Unlpn-at
Georgetown. over the prog esa OF that building
Washington watched win as much care almost
snown the tree in the college courtyard 10 which
! the .,Fatner OF his Countryi' TIED his horse when
! he daily rode out 70 visit his friend and walk
round with MIN 10 inspect the progress OF the
new edince.
they contributed to found mad not DIED out after
the lapse Of century one TACT chosen among
many may l1dcate mere. A descendant or Charles
\ Carroll, fighting for Union during the late
war, was strlGken down ny mortar wound on
the battle held. mere was no priest nigh 70 hear
\ the dying mans confession ana give HIM the ao-
solution ne craved. But, calling his most trusted
officer Ia Pr0testantl ne forced him To receive MS
last confession, bound MIN by solemn prom
se to repeat " IN ms name TO a Catholic priest
at the nrst opportunity, and expired happy at
having fulfilled ms duty 20 his country and MS
God. When, later. his Protestant friend, With
streaming eyes, Desought the FIRST priest ne met
TO near THIS confession, do you, reader. marvel
that the minister OF GOO was as incr sdulous 1T
hrst as he vas aiterward moved by the recital OF
au act OF piett only pardleled by that OF Bayard,
u Cherdtier SGn8 peur et sdns reprocheP
Had Washington aud Franklin lived to behold
what New lorA witnessed last tuesday, think you
fnnN Re M
IN this land or the Catholic Church, or at
tue eyaitatIOn OF an American Bishop to the rank
would Benjamin Franklln's spirit rest tin he mad
obtained or lne see o. Baltimore and the worthy
successor OF John Carroll the honor that has
come unsolicited and unexpected TO the successor
OF John Hughes.
my pen, let me add, that had Providence spared
10 the Union they mad saved Abraham Lincoln and
Ms r n csn,Ta nave osem N GSs
tuesdays celebration among the dtgntarles
VINO witnessed the inauguration OF the first Amer
When France at the beginning OF our caami-
tous civil ar, threatened TO uphold the southern
New York that their choice fell TO proceed 10 Eu-
rope 20 ask the mediation OF tne Holy See with
the French Emperor, In order 10 prevent his
giving effective aid or countenance TO the Con-
us not unknown that again and again they
solicited Tor Archbishop Hughes the honors OF the
Cardtuaate. Assuredy they would not nave seen
IN the elevation VI hia successor design aiming
at the subverslon Of free institutions or demo.
cratic equality.
There was one venerable man present at the
inauguration ceremonies whose birth Is almost CO.
eval with that Of the federal constltutiun-Tnur-
low Weed. the writer OF these lines mad not
looked upon DIS face SINCE the memorable day our
forces marched rom Washington TO the disastrous
neio OF Rul Run III he met him at the sacrsty
door ol ~. Patrick's Cathedral
Did that man, whose green old age is one OF the
few links thai unite our degenerate present with
the Qrcat-souled generation OF Washington and
his peeTR--did he behold in the impressive cere-
monies OF Investiture ytulng omnous OF danger
20 civil or religious liberty lie rather exulted
thaL religious freedom IN our land had az length
too. mad been praying. lie had wished Tor 70 In
favor OF tue great Archbishop whose ashes
posed In the dark vaults beneath, ana ne reioiced
mat II mad laiien on one Win whose many virtues
a long LIE had made BIN thoroughly acquainted.
No no There is IN the elevation or John
McCloskey menace 20 liberty or 10 equality.
We With no other 10 convince thereof William Cul-