The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-14


Republic, hovers over the halls of Congress,
or paused to admire the marvellous beauty
of the bron ze-dOors of the Capitol-thcs Sc I'M
equaled er-pieces of the sculptor Is
Bkill-these too were the work of this man
| Of Irish lineage. PerohsDce some of you have
stood beneath the shadow of that calm, stern,
face in our public square, whose fixed lip and
noble brow might stand for those of the very
god of war-tbat heroic figure which recalls
the name and perpetuates the fame OF Stone
wall Jackeon-it was the work and the last
important WORK of the lamented John Henry
Foley, q native lrishman-the foremost artist
of Great Britain.
And yet, glorious es is this retrospect, what
sadness tinges it on every side as we remem-
Der that this fertile mother of heroes 10 un-
known amid the patioos
The son of every other land remembers
with pride that he has left behind MIN a
Fatherland, which is one Of the great family
of Empires, with right to sit at The council
board of sovereigus and participate In the
order and administration of Christendom
Alone of all the great constituents OF America,
the son of Erin bows his head, abashed, when
the muster roll of the nations is called, for
Ireland, alone, answers not he sweeps the
thronged highways of the sea with esger eye 7;
but no golden sunbnrst on its field of green
streams from the peak OF man-ot-war or mer.
chairman, in witness of the restored liberty
aud sovereignty of Ireland The telegraph
flashes from day to day beneath the sea the
Ireland's veal, or fear for Ireland's woe, empha-
sizes the interest of the tale to him.
The clash of ideas, like the clash of arms,
goes on, and no hope quckens his pulse that
either in wars fiery furnace or in the subtler
flame of diplomacy will be fashioned Irelapd's
deliverance. The weary years passed by each
| rosy at its coming with the light of some fresh
prospect of Independence (; each gloomy at its
going with the storm of lew 6isappoin tment,
| and she fingers, forgotten, 1t would seem, OF
Heaven and of mon.
And yet, how spend her title 10 human rev.
| erence how venerable and low uranscendent
her claim to human gratitude!
Before England knew the common Law OF
Rome the code of Justinian, ireland had her
system of jurisprudence complex and perfect.
Before the Oldest dyuasties of Cbristendom
before Norman foot trod England's soil; be-
| fore the MooIs were driven from Spain,-nay
long before they entered it; before Naples
was ducby or France kingdom; before
Attilla ravaged Rome or Constantine upitted
the Labarum, Ireland was a united nation
strong, prosperous and free. When In the
| wreck OF the Roman Empire were menaced
the learning aud arts and creed of Chrsten.
| dom, smittSn Science and flying Faith found
| their refuge, secure and impregnable, in the
sanctuary of Ireland's monasteries. When
| under the swords and spears of Asiatic saw
| ages, night of heathenism was stealing over
Europe Ireland's priests flooded the gloon
| with the lamps of Ireland's erudition, and re-
planted the banner Of the cross on every hill
| side of Western Europe.
| Our Church boasts the majestic chords O
| the Gregoriau chant, but the religious music
of the convent of St. Bridget is older by 1
Italy new revelation Of poetry and literature
but an Irish poem. "The Pilgrimage of St
Brandau," was its inspiration aud it's precuso
by many generations. Older far than th'
| trou bad ours of Provence or the Minne-singer
| of Germany were the harpists and bards o
| Ireland.
Least of all need speak of her prodigou
| labors in the cause of Faith. What land doe
| not bloom with the flowers and flourish will
| the fruits of Ireland's heroic planting! How
many episcopal Sees may not repeat the proud
| story of our own, and boast that their frs
Bishop and their last were of Irish blood.
How many cities, if asked to mention thu
priest who left the deepest impress and the
| most cherished memory would answer, ~
Richmond answers, when she remembers thai
! noble man and model pr:est-may the sod OF
| Massach usetts lie lightly his honoreC
| breast-Fatber Tim O'Brien-" our best wa,
an Irishman."
This is the land, aud these the people that
our Union honors with the first place in bel
| title Long may it rest there, not only tc
| bear witness to the prosperity aud achieve
| ments of this Christian association, but 90 hel
keep alive in our hearts the hope of that
other Union, which shall one day weld Ire
| lands Provinces together, and bury Ireland
| feuds, and dry Ireapds tears, and answer
| Ireland's hopes, and reward lreland's unoon
querable faith as the channel breezes ehsl
loosen the folds, and the dawning day revea
the emblems, aud the guns of the naton
| salute the sovereignty of Irelaud's flag as il
| floats over our fortrssses and feet-the stand
ard of united people-bappy, prosperous snt
! free.