The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-12

We have received a marked copy OF
the Michigan Cdthoiic, in which Is
printed the speech of Senator Jones, of
this State, delivered at the celebration of
st. Patrick's day at Grand Rapids, Mich
igan, on the 18th of March last. We
copy one or two of the extracts to show
that our eloquent and able Senator has,
not lost his fire and patriotism as an or
ator and citizen. His theme Is one that
would inspire any heart. but there are
few men IN public who have the courage
and strength of mind to speak out SO
manfully as Senator Jones.
Speaking of the Catholic Church, IN
its efforts To aid and comfort the OPP
pressed in Ireland. the Senator says:
Have not the priesthood of Ireland and
theii Catholic followers been the most
persistent and resolute advocates of the
rights of the people that the world has
known for centuries? And where have
they stood i'll this county since the re
public was est abIished: Go back To- the
beginning of &c century and contem-
place the pc sition of political pa~ti ut
this time. There WAS then party oil
liberty and party of power. Ham
ilton and Adams headed one and JEFF
ferson the other. In this grand contest
for the rights of the people against the
aristocracy, where did the Irish Cath
Ollie go: lie went with the party of
freedom. don't speak of this for po-
htical effect, but to put my foot upon,
and to manifest my contempt for the
mean, contemplate argument which is
whispered evely day that the catholic
people IF this country and of every coun-
try are not as devoted To liberty as the
men of other creeds.
OF religious freedom, i'll this country,
the Senator says:
We have great fundamental law
which governs this grand country. 1t
declares in specific terms the qualitica-
tions for office under the government,
and in pursuance of the teachings of
Jefferson it declares that no relig ious
test shall ever be required of any man
who aspires to pubic station. This Is
noble provision. 1t reflects credit upon
the wise and patriotic men who put it
into our constitution, and it was in
tended as n barrier against the influence
of European prejudice and especially de-
signed to put all religious sectS in this
country upon footing of absolute equal
ity. This is the principle L wish to see
carried out in PRACTICE could go be-
fore my God tomorrow and say that,
| never harbored an unkind feeling for
any man who differed from me honestly,
either in political or religious opinion.
Still we know that there exists a great
deal of religious prejudice in the world.
And why should there be: No honest
Christian ought ever To apologize for his
faith or think hard of those who differ
from him. This has been the curse of
ireland. Well might Richard Lalor
Shiel exclaim, in Germany where
Luther translated the scriptures. In
France where Calvin wrote the Insti-
tutes. In the land of Dragonados and
ST. Bartholomew, the mutual wrongs
done 10y religious sectaries are forgiven
and forgotten, while We madmen that
we are. animated by the vile spirit of
religious luminosity which being driven
from every country in Europe has found
a refuge in Ireland, precipitate ourselves
upon each other in those contests of re-
ligious bigotry in which our country
bleeding and crucified is trampled under
foot"