The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-19

IN all probability, l would feel grossly
offended with any one who would no
take me to be SO. But, seriously gen
tlemen, you have been unduly kind te
me in your address. Amongst a var
ieJy of other excellencies for which
get credit, you are pleased to say thai
you recognize in me the strenuous advo
cate of Catholic claims in the matter o1
education, a laborious bishop and a gooG
Irishman. In so far you do me but
justice. I was engaged in teaching,
during great portion Of my early life,
and in many lands, and know, there.
fore, from personal experience that it is
with states in this respect, as with in.
diyiduals. in so far, at all events, thai
as we'll brought up youth will proba.
bly, be good and useful citizen, SO a
state is likely to be fourishing, respect
ed abroad and happy at home, in pro-
portion as education in the strict sense
of the word is priced there or neglected.
Hence / am and always have been, fol-
the diffusion Of useful knowledge, for
| the spread of good schools and for the
suitable recognition of them by the state
according to their public form and well
lascertained results. AS bishop, /
fiiuss'ee' hank God, been fairl''
successful. 10 ii. s-ssak now
work done by me o. &ss
where / fouRf q zelous fries sthood az.
an excellent Irish flock; but / refer
solely to the time, now more than ten
years, since lie came to Cashel of the
Kings as head spiritual ruler, and dur
ing that period, it is my proud boast to
be able to say, that though entered on
my duties there an utter stranger, with
out much of name and absolutely
without a record, / have never since had
one hours trouble arising out Of my
ecclesiastical relations, with my priests
or my varied relations with my pious
and patriotic flock. / can add that,
owing no doubt, to the thorough union
that existed and which still exists un-
broken between our priests and people,
for the promotion of which have al
ways strlven mo outrage of any moment,
like that hideous one that occurred a
few days ago in Kerry, or in an inin-
itely less aggravated shape, have taken
place in the archdiocese of Cashel. |
What do politics mean? Politics now
simply mean bood and clothes and de-
cent houses for IYlshmen and women |
at home; they mean the three great
corporal works of mercy; they mean
the protection of the weak against the
strong, and the soil Of Ireland for the
Irish race rather than select gang of
strangers and SPECTATORS. The preist,
who shrinks from what is
called political strife, and would suffer
things to remain in Ireland as for CEN
5uries they have been, by the act de-
;lares that he cares but little how his
lock is fed, clothed or housed, and he
prefers an attitude of inaction, bring
ng with it the high approval OF tho
privileged classes, to one of legitimate
contention and anxiety resulting in the
Uplifting and socialimproyement of his
,oor suffering flock. Hence, then, the
presence Of priests and bishops in poll
tics, not, indeed, as a matter of choice,
tut from necessity. am, Of course,
IN Irishman. though l believe my
lame is Dutch, and you are pleased to
hink am good one. The words, q
,Ood Irishnan, imply a good deal.
What. for instance, do we mean when
We say of a certain person that he is a
,ood and faithful friendg We mean
hat he has warm and sympathetic
leart, and that, when there is a ques-
ion Of his friend, he is generous, relia-
lie and prepared to make sacrifice for
lis sake. 1t is the same with the good
rishman. He loves the green !
ields and mountains, the sparkling
treams, the holy wells, the games the
'astimes, the ancient ruins, and all the
istoric and legendary lore. Of his ma
i've land; his heart bleeds and his hand
j clenched on seeing. IS he does, the
est Of God's people in bondage, down
4 the dust under the heels Of their
ereditary oppressors; he longs for the
ay when the spoilers hand will be ta-
en- from of his peoples throat and out
his peoples pocket; and there Is no
rice he would not pay, even the cost II
I his life, to bring back to his country
OmeWhat Of its pristine grandeur and e
our into her lap all the chief elements I
t plenty. In that sense I nm q good g
rishman. Coming over here, - I did, q
ssss Esssss sRs