Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-21

church in America, one in which she
has passed through many severe trials,
but has arisen triumphant above them
all There were dark and stormy days
when all the powers of prejudice were
being used against her and her very
existence seemed endangered. Dema-
gogues, seeking their own interests,
strove to convince the American people
that the Catholic Church was an enemy
of their institutions and that the safety
of the countrv's future demanded the
church's overthrow, For time it
seemed as if they must succeed. Public
sentiment. that tickle toy of every pass
inc breeze, was reused to frenzy.
Chapels and converts were burned or
DESTROYED Catholics were oppressed,
ill-treated and despised, but the church
kept nobly on her way, and the Repub-
lie learned at last that she had no
truer friend.
When the civil war had burst in fury
on the land. when brothers hands were
raised in bloody strife against each
other, her children showed that their
religion did not prevent them from do
ing their duty for their country in the
hour of peril. and on every battlefield
from the Potomac to the Gulf they
sealed their devotion with their hearts
best blood. Her ministers whispered
words of comfort to the dying soldier
and with religious consultations they
smootned his pathway down the valley.
Her sisters of charity fitted like minis
tering angels through the hospital
wards, or sought the wounded soldier
on the field of battle and soothed his
closing hours of anguish, then wiped the
death dew from his pallid brow and
penned his last sad message home to
loved ones he would see no more. 1t
mattered not what his religion was,
whence he came or what his past career
had been, he was soldier dying for his
country. We have little cause to blush
for the part that Catholics took in that
great struggle when we point to names
like Corcoran, Mulligan, Meagher,
Rosecrans, Shields, Sheridan, Meade
and the host of others that might be
mentioned. The Catholic soldier showed
by his heroism and devotion that love
of religion is never incompatible with
love of country. The war closed for
ever the era of religious prejudice. 1t
showed conclusively that the Catholic
church is not an enemy of Republics
and that she believed she could exist
under Republican form of government
Just as we'll as under despotism. In
fact, her unprecedented growth in
America has proved that when relieved
from the incubus of monarchy. she dis
plays her grandest efforts. Her arms
arc here untrammeled and she can de-
vote every energy to the elevation of
the race. When peace had smiled
again upon the land there were many
who believed that our society had re-
ceived crushing blow from which it
could not rally. To these the church
made answer that one at least of the
conservative forces of society still re-
NAMED. She set herself to the task of
reconciliation. Her bishops assembled
from the whole country and in solemn
council proceeded to legislate for the
welfare of their people, without consid-
Grafton of locality or party. She closed
behind her the gloomy chamber of the
past and boldly faced the problems of
the future. 1t was her mission to assist
in repairing the ruin, in allaying the
bitter feelings that remained, in re.
building what had been destroyed. not
in perpetuating the spirit of bitterness
and revenge. Ever watchful for the
welfare of her children, she sought to
bury the past from recollection and
turn their gaze upon the future. True
to every tradition of her past, she exert
ed every energy for the prosperity of
the nation.
America has not forgotten-she
would be uugratetul did she ever for
get, what Catholiclty has done for her.
1t was Catholic Columbus who first
made known to Europe the presence of
this treasure lying in the western sea.
1t was the Catholic missionary spirit
seeking to carry the light of Faith to
the inhabitants of this unknown land
that led to the exploration of each lake
and river 1t was Catholic who first
explored the Land of Gold, who civil
lied its Indian races and taught them
| the arts of agriculture hundred years
ago. 1t was the Catholic De Soto who
| first discovered that mighty river, by
whose shores we stand to-day. 1t was
a Catholic who explored the st. Law
renee and the lakes. 1t was a Catholic,
Father De Smet, who carried the light
of the Gospel to the warlike Sioux and
Blackfeet, who learned from them aud
first revealed to civilization the secret of
the gold fields of the Black Hills. IL
was a Catholic. Father Marquette. who
! first sailed down the Wisconsin and two
| hundred and thirteen wears ago to-day
discovered the upper Mississippi.
almost fancy can see him now floating
down the river in his birch canoe, gaz-
ing in silent rapture at the magnificent