Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-22
CHICAGO LETTER.
Correspondence Public Ledger.l
CHICAGO, MarchslS, 1881.


Yesterday was the anniversary OF
the death" Of Ireland's patron saint.
Most readers labor under the impress
sion that the event so long honored
was that of the illustrious saints
birth, and not of his death. Bow
ever, the best authority says that he
was called from earth March II, AID,
465, and was buried at Downpatrick
the scene of his first labors as a Chris
tian missioner. OF course it is geuer-
ally accepted that he was born in
Gaul A. d. 3S7, and at the age Of six
teen years was captured by Mall, king
Of Ireland, and made a slave; then
after serving his allotted time as a
bondman he returned to the land OF
his birth. Shortly afterward he had
a dream in which he was commanded
to return to Ireland and preach Chris
%tiauity. His after course is pretty
we'll known. His mission on the
green isle extended over a period Of
sixty years, 1t may be news to the
general reader to be informed that St.
Patrick never held allegiance to the
Catholic church as dominated by the
church of Rome. But such is the
fact. His Christian doctrine was per-
fectly untrammeled, and was, in every
sense of the word, catholic or univer-
sal. This may account for the "smoth-
cred" differences that have always ex-
listed between some Irish prelates and
the vatican since Rome assumed the
directory of the Catholic church. As
a further evidence that the immortal
saint entirely ignored the powers at
Rome, he pointedly refused to accept
high Palladius, a gospel sent to him by
Pope Celestine 10 preach to the Irish,
This was an overture by Rome to St.
Patrick to have him ally himself to
the Romish church. But, as | re-
marked before, the proposition was
positively declined. With St. Pat
rick's course as a precedent, is it a
wonder that Irish patriots are indig-
nant at the stand taken by Archbishop
McCabe and others of the Romish
church as to the present cause that
agitates the Irish. The church has
or should have enough to do regu-
its internal affairs without
meddling with the quarrel between
Ireland and England, and especially
whom this "meddling' is detrimental
to the interests of Irishmen anxious
to free the land of their birth from the
grasp of a despotic aud soulless foreign
The church is one thing and
the state another, and the former
attend to its own business.
Especially is this interference obnox-
ious to Irishmen when it emanates
from MaynoOth graduates or is dicta-
ted from Rome. st. Patrick found
ireland an Independent nation, and
those who honOred his memory yester-
day are determined she shall be free
and independent again, and as glori-
Gus in valor, honor, science aud art as
she was for hundreds Of years before
a foreign tyrant controlled her desti-
MES. The day in Chicago was appro-
priately observed both in and out Of
church, and at night delightful ban
quets and balls concluded the happy
occasion. The usual parade was dis
pensed with. The banquet Of the st.
Patrick's societyat the palatial Palmer
house was the great attraction of the
evening. The assemblage was very
and composed of Chicago's very
best citizens. Letters of regret we're
received from General Hancock and
other distinguished gentlemen. At
Fanneuil hall Hon. Nick Ford, mem
Der of congress from Missouri, was an.
nounced for some days to deliver a lee
ture, but he did not appear. However
the enterprise was not a failure.
Quite a number ofable speeches were
delivered upon the wrongs Of Ireland
and the remedies necessary for her
redemption from England's thraldom,
and Mrs. Annie Conell Habkirk re-
a stirring poem, Land and Ma
by Mrs. Margaret Sullivan,
a literary star of Chicago. Taking all
in all the occasion was suitably OBJ
aud highly honored from the
impressive pontifcal high mass by
Bishop Fehan down to the humblest
social reunion of friends. Aud as a
browning feature the weather was
simply delightful.
The czar Of Russia's sudden taking
off is still a favorite topic Of converse
ton in all walks of Chicago's society.
| have made a close canvass Of the
sentiments expressed wherever / have
been and have never heard one
word Of sympathy expressed for
the fallen tyrsnt, Of the cause over
which he ruled SO despotically. The
only regret was hat such frightful
causes should exist that would arouse
the sufferers to such terrible deeds.
The feeling is with the nihilists. And