The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-20
OUR COEYTR
sPEKCH ny HON. A N KELLEY.

ter, Macs, grand banquet was given IL
delegates. In response to the toast "Our Cou
try" Hon. A. III. Kelley, ex Mayor of Ricl
mond, We, and President of the Union spoh
as follows:
Mr.. Prtsident-It would be an easy al
pleasant office to answer this sentiment in th
customary and merited phrases of patriot
Pr1de with which 1t is commonly raosi ved.- NJ
land upon earth, measured by it's freedom il
advantages, its history or its future has olaims
80 commanding in the admiration of it's citi.
zens; Easier still, and even more pleasant
would 1t be for me, Southron. standip in the
midst OF New England, and face to face with
men the vsst ejorty of whom were, but a
few years ego, my foes as was theirs to spend
my time in congratulations that the strife is
ended and in earnest invocation to both sides
to recognize that ending and labor with kindly
nature TO efaoe every lingering evidence of it's
But suoh response, however appropriate else
where, does not seem strictly befitting such an
assemblage as Ours, and prefer to say word
on the theme of this toast as it appeals to us
IN our position as Catholics.
among the many misrepresent ations of
which the Church has been the victim, one of
the most serious, and perhaps the most inde-
fensi6e is that which depicts her as the foe of
OWL liberty. The very con trary has been her
character in all the ages.
There is no fact of the early biatorv of tho
Church more inexploable any other theory
save her love of liberty, than the persecutions
OF which she was the victim, at the hands of
earth
was there a more perfectly tolerant oreed
than that of pagan Rome. Within her hospit- |
able walls every faith of the world reared it's |
fame, and offered its sacrifice unmolt ed save
our faith; and the superficial student dismisse, |
as paradox incapable Of olu ton, the ciroum-
stance that this empire which welcomed with
the calm indifference Of weak conviction Of
Its own creed, the religious systems of sll he
earth, should have exhautt ID every appliance
OF cruelty for the determination of the Chris
tiaus.
Yet the reason is mt Far g., ao.L a..
Church alone OF all the faiths that knocked at
Romes prond gates, proclaimed that corner
stone OF all liberty the essential equality of
men Hence. from the first, sas resolutely
denied u the Emperors these divine or semi.
divine honors, which oil others freely oonced
ed, and braved fire and sword the faggot and
fam1shed lions in upc0r querable devotion to
this first principle of liberty. 1t was as the
champion of the subjant--as the challenger of
the desptt t, that the Church baptized Rome {
with the sanity blood of Pontitfs, Confsssora,
Doctors, Virgins and laty of every age and
class
Aud down all her hist,ry hss she preserved
this character and exhibited this devotion. 1t
was she " ho neIYed the fcee bur HA.Fa, ,Rrst of
Italy, then of Germany, TO lay he fonndat ions I
Of thoee fl st temples of liberty in Europe-the !
free cities. =
1t was she W ho stood by Cas- lie and Arrapon !
In their long and gallant fight for the dlson. f
thrallment of Spain II was one # her bishops I
who wrote EoRlaRd's immortal Charter, tue ! T
alphabet OF freedom for two-nsy, t5ree-cnn v
ttnents. 1t was she who smote Empires with a
the blight of InterdicU when their soyereipoa T.
refused Justice to their sul iscts rTill the no.
bles cease from their rapin. said a great pre-. q
late. let the Mass cease, solemhze marriage t
perf1r II II, service over the dead, st zip tae d
oburchsS OF All ornament and proclaim . rui. n
versal Lent" Z
Freedoni is the air iu which che has ever G
fl neutrality-suspicious. that in which she has I
ever withered n
Aud it has ever heretofore bean so II ia | A
to-day. Point to the country where the hand Il
OF power lies heaViest on the people, and there @
tne Church Is In h ction now. Point to the o.
land in which the people are freest, and there v
she is most II .urisbiuR. n
Nor need it surprise that she has ever b
been the h'mest guardian of a true patriotism. 81
What lS that snb;e spirit which men oall pa IL
trlotismi What was it that nerved the i'm %,
mortal three hundred who of their heroic 4
bodies made mighty barrier to Persia's ad- eC
1ance What was it that inspired the hosts W
hat fought under the heaven given Labsrum re
IS Constantine stayed the II ood of Rome's de- ra
'linef What YVES it that bore aloft that simple
quare of crimson silk which hoated under the
imperial eagles from the Ganges to the weedR
What WnS 1t that in many immortal fields
'dvanced TO glorious heights the starry banner
# our own loved country in the fight for free. sp
ON on land and seat W
May not speak even here in the heart of re
massachusetts of that other standard, forev or ii
nrled, which flashed across the pathway of oV
he nations like red meteor athwait the Rr
rauq1il COURSES of the stars-the flag that oe
Dated over Stuart's knightly plume which ye
III in folds of woe Stonewall Jackson's bier I'M
eel tn
What of this and of all was the suffioing in. Br
,irationH Lore of oountrv-not becanae Il 10 | thu
The, Tor stsrlle Sparta gave it q more luxu- Inc
ant growth than teemiDg Egypt; not becAuse col
10 po:ceTJuI, for mighty Rome ever exhibited tho
ore gloEloue examples of its power than some ha
the savage tribes it easily destroyed; not be- ere
use 1t IS beautiful, for the hAt and weary
aims OF Holland witnessed as surperb dovo-
IN rs ever hallowed lovely Attioa or the fair 7
Ids OF France; not even because it is free for .nd
lere has patriotism been sealed with nobler AOU N
'AtioBS of generous blood than within the ma
rders of tae enslaved land of your fore und
hers wou
No, the patriotism which has inspired all sec
% heroic achievement and more heroic sacri. pre-,
is the love of country, because it IS home pro
10 our country, or the site of our heArths, oivi
sltars and our fathers graves-it is the The
'e of our living and our dead that easily - -,
as our devotion and commands our lives
contributed a titbe of " bat the cbnrob has sgai
en- to deepen and intensity and sanctfy the as II
o of home To it's origin she has assigned over