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

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gods of his country was cast forth iron
his Fellow mems society, lest his irreveI
ence should bring curse upon his coun
try, and his valor only call down upon hi
work the blasting shafts of an angry god
revenge, Read of the Jews of old and Sc,
what courage was created by the presence
of the ark OF the covenant the sure sign u
Gods presence IN their midst; and how
they went forth TO battle, confident In thei
strength. The confidence Of GideOn's sol
diers rested upon their acceptance of God
and the faith of David overthrow the
strength of Goliath.
Read the history Of ancient Greece, al
depicted by the master hand of Homer
and see with what pious reverence the as
sembled warriors poured forth libatlOns Il
the gods, and slew their victims In theiI
honor on the plains of Troy and theI
buckled on their armors for battle, conf
dent that the gods would fight with them
and crown their labOrs with victory Pass
on to Carthage, the great, and see the costly
sacrifices that were made to win the pro
lection Of the gods in the dark hours OF
their country's danger Go to Rome, the
proud mistress of nations, aud see with
oracles before undertaking war; and wha,
sacrihces they made to win the appreciation
of the gods before they entrusted their for
tunes u the valOr of their logions, how
the greatest Of the Greeks and the Romans
made their pilgrimages TO the tOmbs OF
their heroic ancestors, as we'll as 10 the
groves OF the OraCular gods 10 win their as.
si,tAnCe when they went forth 10 defend
their country or conquer their enemies.
The nation that told lis soldier "dulce Il dc.
ryrVW ct prO pgiyjd m0ri,' told them e.
lignt 'yrD og1S q .tarty, cet0mcH." Read
the history Of the Nortnmen and see with
what reverence they offered sacrifices 20
be gods before going on their plllagng
excursions, and when they returned their
best prizes were dedicated to the gods
And when they became Catholics, instead
Ot being etfeminated by the doctrines of
peace, they bore the banners of victory 10
the city Of Jerusalem, and saved Europe
from the slavery Of Saracenic barbarisra.
You will find the same influence prevail
ing among all savage nations; the medi-
cine man of the Indian world has his place
as well as the chief or king.
What history tells US of the pagan world
A''' - NV l'dN u NiAil ElttlCl lOiNt vi TIC
Christian world? Was not the valor of
spain tested for two hundred years by the
bravery of the Saracen? Was not the out.
pouring of Europe in the crusades in de
Tense of the cross one of the grandest events
presented by history. Was it not Christian
teaching that called into existence the DAYS
of C. ivalry and made honor and fidelity
the watchword Of the soldier? And as YOU
pass in review the history of Christian M.
tions, you will find religion and patriotism
going hand in hand religion strengthening
and purifying love of country--encourag
aging the soldier to deeds of herOism and
charging him with works Of honor, mercy
and justice. OF all men the soldier stands
most in need of religious encouragement
He receives its blessings upon his sword
and banner, and by II his requiem Is sung,
soliciting for him everlasting peace.
We Catholics are often told by pulpit
orators and other learned men that we are
neither Christians nor patriots, nor trust.
worthy citizens, that We owe allegiance to "A
foreign power, and, as a consequence, We
cannot owe allegiance to a native power
This false and fanatical charge has often
stirred up bad blood, caused the enactment
of pesecuting penal statutes against Catho-
lies in almost every one of the thirteen old
colonies as Bancroft tells us; set the ncen-
diary torch to the Charleston convent and
drove the sisters and children in terror and
into the wild night darkness; pelted tie
Irish soldiers on the streets of Boston
created wild animosities against Catholics
in general, and Irish in particular, and
originated the No-Nothing campaign,
which expended its energies In sacking
aud burning churches and converts and
numbering innocent people. There Is no
necessity for simplifying these facts or add
Ing more to them. This was liberty of
conscience and freedom of conduct in a
free county. The lessons OF history are
lost to demagogues, and there is no dema-
gogue so INSCRIPTIONS as the clerical dem
agogue when it suits his purpose. 1t is
not necessary to go over the pages of his.
tory to refute such absurdities. Every ma
ton in Europe has abundant testimony
to the valor and fidelity of the irish sol.
der. The great generals of history have
placed their tribute of praise at the feet of
lreland's martial sons-'the ancient war
like race" as Count de Paris calls them,
when tracing their heroic conduct In the
civil war The history of our own country
supplies abundant facts to prove that Cath.
olics, and especially Irish Catholics, have
taken n large and an active part as builders
of this great and free nation, and their
children should not forget IT, Bigotry and
persecution were repaid by the life blood
of the brave. The country was discovered
by Catholics; the gospel of peace was first
preached by Catholics TO the aborigines ;
the tree of political and religious liberty
was first planted here by Catholics, and
that is the most glorious fact credited to
anv denomination In this nation. The
wealthiest signer of the Declaration Of IT.
dependence was Catholic. Among the
bravest, most faithful and devoted soldiers,
officers and men of Washington's army
we're Catholics, and Irish, on land and sea-
no necessity fog mentioning names Like
stars set In the armament, their names are
immortallzed In the pages of history and
set in the galaxy of the heroes of the revn.
luton and more than once complimented
by the Father of his country. When the
military chest of Washington was ex.
hausted, the money of Catholics poured
in to replenish it, The nations who selpeG
to establish American independence were
Catholic nations,-Spain and France, who
gave men and money and ammunition and
| provisions for establishing our national
autonomy. And among the brave French
soldiers who helped us by land and ses
many of them were Irish and the sons OF
| i. pL.. had hnI Fnr hnt