The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-12


of natives If Amrr. or wee the gr,a
r>t part If them Euplish, Scotch IN
Irishy uallOwty an wered: The nam,
and places Of their NATIVITY being trke
down, | can answer the question with pr,
cisipn Their were scarcely one fourt
natives Of America; about One-half Irish
the other fourthNere English aud Scotch
Again: "Thrrt.tourths uf the rebel arm
has been generally composed of English
scotch and Irish, while scarcely the small
portion Of One-fnurth are American, moi
withstanding The severe and arbitrary law
tn force them into the service. %. L
481.2, note)
Take up the history of the war of lSl.
and trace II from the naval victory of thu
Constitution To the victory of New Orleans
and see II the Catholics and the Irish faile.
In fidelity to the flag OF the nation, or wer,
sparing OF their blood and money whel
the liberties of their country were imper
lied. Follow the blood. stained course O
the Mexican war, a great Catholic country
and see If the Catholic soldiers of this ma
tion-foremost among them the Irish-hes
itated moment to fight Catholic power
When the bugle call to battle was souHdeC
by their native or adopted lands, Irish Cath
Ollie soldiers were among the first, and mos
probably the very first, according to his
tory, who entered the city Of Montezum'
and unfurled the stars and stripes in the
breeze of victory
When the war clouds of the rebellion
gathered thick and dark over the nation
who responded to their Country's call viii
greater enthusiasm than the Catholic sol
diers, and among them, In particular, the
Irish Examine the circle of battles from
Sumptcr to Richmond and see if YOU dom
find Catholic blood falling like summer
showers On the blttle fields of the nation
Some of them have won for rhemselvrs q
Mich in the temple OF military fam"
Thousands sleep beneath the llOwer.Deds Oi
natures offerings, and some still survive tC
sing the praises of their fallen companions
When the liberties and greatness of the M
ton were imperiled, did not the farmer
abandon his pillow, and the harvester cast
aside his sickle? Did not the nachnist
abandon his daily toll, and the mechanic
abandon his work shopy Did not the clerk
bid farewell to the counter, and the school
boy depart from the halls of learning Did
not the lawyer cast aside his brief, and the
doctor hasten with his healing skill Ia
ameliorate the ravages of war? Young and
old, from hill side and valley, from city and
village fastened at their country's call
to the defense of their endangered nation A;
and on the briny ocean, as along the rivers
of the land, as well as on plain and vale
and mountain Businesses, the Catholic sol
der stood side by side with his fellow men
and paid the debt of the brave on the
blood stained field of conflict. The Catho
JIG priest went forth to aid the courage of
the soldier with the hopes of religion and
nerve his arm in his country's cause with
the inspiring consultations of the sacra-
mentS. And the brave sisters OF religion
babe good bye to their peaceful converts
and hasteneu to the scenes of slaughter 10
bandage the gaping wounds and staunch
the flowing blood and moisten the parched
lips, and soOthe the torturing pain, and
breath the words of hope and consolation
into the ears of the dying heroes, and
gather up the lisping words of the dying,
to far distant dear ones; and with fidelity
due to the wishes of the dead, sent their
to wives and mothers, aud sisters
and orphaned children, Go through the
cemeteries OF the nation, enter the bury
ing grounds of the Catholics scattered over
the land, examine the squares and parks
of Your cities, read the list OF names carved
upon the monuments of stone and granite
pass along the aisles of our Catholic
churches throughout the country, and see,
even now, after twenty years and more,
the number of widowed ladies and Or
phaned children the civil war has left as an
inheritance to Catholics and ask your ora
tors in derision if Catholics are good and
loyal citizens. And, if permitted to de
gress for moment from a subject so
grand and instructive, would merely re
mark that when the flag of anarchy was un-
furled on the streets of our cities, and the
bombs of social revolution were hurled in
defiance Of law and order, ii was lrishmen
and Catholics that went forth to battle in
the cause of order and society, mot the
brunt of danger and Dravely gave up their
lives in defense of their cOuntry's liberties.
Who, then, should take more interest in
the welfare of the country than Catholics I?
Who should go forth more joyfully in
their holiday attire to sing their songs of
victory at the tombs of their fathers who
died for their country, and garland their
beds with flower wreaths of love-otferinge
And, when you are there remember their
souls, and whilst you strew the soldiers
grave with fragrant flowers, let your pray
ers ascend from fervent hearts to the
throne of merciful God, in their behalf,
that the souls of the fallen brave like those
of Judea, would be released from their
transgressions and received into the light
of glory