The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-19
CASHEL'S PRELATE.
Archbishop Oroke Makes Patriotic Be
ply to an Address Of Vel
come.
A Clear And Concise Statement Why
Irish Priests Take Part in Pol

1 equity oupllu, Oh tiiG 1lUu uil., ttIG- IA
answer to an address presented him by
the president, professors and students,
made the following reply: [ wish you
to accept my best thanks for the very
/ beautiful, put far too fattering address,
which has just been read am pretty
we'll used to receive addresses, though
not from such bodies as yours, and am
fairly puzzled, therefore, as to how, or
in what terms, / had better reply TO
the one now presented to me. 1t liter
ally loads me with commentator.
There IS no good, suppose, in saying
that | do not deserve it,or,a at all events,
that I do not deserve it in the measure
in which it was given; for, were | to
/ say this, you are too snreWd not to
perceive at once, that / was only doing
what is usual ON similar occasions,
that is, affecting not to believe myself
something above the common, whereas,
in all probability, would feel grossly
offended with any one who would not
take me to be SO. But, seriously gen.
! tlemeD, you have been unduly kind to
me iii your address. Amongst g. var
! ieUy of other excellencies for hich /
get credit, you are pleased to say that
| you recognize in me the strenuous advo-
cate of Catholic claims in the matter of
education, a laborious bishop and a good
.frishman. 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, that
as a well brought up youth will proba-
bly, be good and useful citizen, SO a
state is likely to be flourishing, 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, for
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
ascertained results. AS a bishop, [
fausae hank God, been fairl-
successful. / 10 II, s~seak now
work done by me Of. ass he SO.
where I founf q zslous Priesthood az.
an excellent Irish flock; but / refer
solely to the time, now more than ten
years, since he 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 I entered on
my duties there an utter stranger with
out much OF name and absolutely I
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,
fer the promotion OF which I have al
ways strlven mo outrage of any moment,
like that hideous one that occurred a
few days ago in Kerry or in an infin-
itely less aggravated shape, have taken
place in the archdiocese of Cashel.
What do politics mean? Politics now
simply mean hood and clothes and de-
cent houses for Iflshmen and women
at home; they mean the three great
corporal works OF mercy; they mean
5he 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,
therefore. who shrinks from what is
jailed political strife, and would suffer
,hings TO remain in Ireland as for CEN
,uries they have been, by the act de-
;lares that he cares but little how his
lock is fed, clothed or housed, and he I
prefers an attitude Of inaction, bring
ng with it the high approval OF the
privileged classes, to one of legitimate /
contention and anxiety resulting III the :
Uplifting and socialimproYement of his i
,oor suffering flock. Hence, then, the | !
,resenee OF priests and bishops in pol j
tics, not, indeed, as matter of choice,
Tut from necessity. | am, Of course,
ii Irishman. though / believe my !,
lame is Dutch, and you are pleased to
hink am a good one. The words, a
God Irishman, imply a good deal. !.
What. for instance, do we mean when
re say of a certain person that he is a
God and faithful friend2 We mean
hat he has warm and sympathetic !
cart. and that, when there is a Gues-
ion of his friend, he is generous, relis-
lie and prepared TO make sacrifice for
is sake. 1t is the same with the good !,
rishman. He loves the green
elds and mountains, the sparkling
treams. the holy wells, the game. the :
astimes, the ancient ruins. and all the
istoric and legendary lore OF his ma
i've land; his heart bieeds and his hand
] clenched on seeing, as he does, the q
est Of Gods people in bondage, down !
4 the dust under the heels Of their
ereditary oppressoTs; he longs for the 2
ay when the spoilers hand will be ta-
en- from of bis peoples throat and out
t his peoples pocket: and there is mol
rice he would not pay, even the cost t
f his life, TO bring back TO his country 4
Dmewlat of its pristine grandeur, and a
our into her lap all the chief elements b
{ plenty. In that sense am a good e
rishman. Coming over here, As did, Z