Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-01-26
The Presidents Gift Of a Copy OF
the Constitution Delivered
by
Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, to
the POpe-FelicitatiOns on the
Event.
The Pope Mindful of the especial Love
He Bears Toward the United
States.

room Of the Vatican by the American dele
cation. Archbishop Ryan, Of Philadel-
phia. in presenting the bound copy OF the
! Constitution of tho United States, said:
"HoLY FATHER: We feel most honored
and happy in being selected to present to
your Holiness this gift, expressive Of the
veneration and felicltation Of his Excel
lency, the President Of the United States
OF America, upon the occasion Of the
suspicious jubilee OF your Holiness en-
trance into the sacred priesthood. 1t is q
tribute paid your Holiness by the ruler Of
| GJ,000, 90 Of freemen; ruler selected by
them who feels deeply the supreme
responsibility OF his exalted station, his
dependence upon Gods providence, and
who has had the wisdom and fortitude to
discharge faithfully and conscientiousiy all
the important duties devolving upon him.
He is a ruler respected by the people, and
one who has publicly declared his solemn
conviction that Christianity furnishes the
true, permanent basis Of real civilization
and perfect social order, representing at
once a moral Conquest over the greatest
nations of the earth. This conquest, your
Holiness, which received respectful recog
milton from the kings of the world receives
through the most worthy President the
d
the frcest, largest and most progressive
people. They are naturally Christian,
brave, just and generous, and will be in
the future as in the past history Of the
Nation. In the American republic, the
Catholic Church is free to act and to carry
out its sacred and beneficial mission for the
human race by the fundamental right Of
constitutional guarantee, as demonstrated
IN this volume, The appropriate gift Of the
President. In the United States the
Catholic Church is entirely free from State
domination. This liberty is all it requires.
In her history the United States has clearly
proved that ignorance Of the real doctrines
OF the Church and hereditary prejudice,
that great obstacle to progress, are gradu-
ally disappearing. and that Catholics and
non-C athOlics' are coming to understand
each other. We beg OF you, then, Holy
Father, bless the young republic that has
achieved SD much in a single century: bless
the land discovered by your sanity COM
patriot, Christopher Columbus; bless the
wise and manly President Of the United
States.'
The members OF the delegation kneeling
before the Pope, received the Apostolic
beneliction for themselves and for their
people. DR.. O'COnnell. rector Of the Amer
lean College, presented the album to the
Pope and translated the Presidents dicta-
ton The Pope listened with the utmost
satisfaction, examined the gift carefully,
and expressed his admiration for the ex-
1uisite taste and nea ness Of its execution.
it was an especial pleasure, he said, to re-
ceive a copy OF the Constitution Of the
United States.
DR.. O'Conneil then read to the Pope the
following letter, written in French:
HOLY FATHER: experience peculiar salts
faction in transmitting to your Holiness the per-
sonal congratuation which his Excellency,
Grover Cleveland President of the United
States by his letter Of November II, spec
tally requested me to present to you on the Oc-
casion Of your golden jubilee.
had the honor to see the President shortly
after my return from Rome, when I COM
municated to him the kind sentiments your
Holiness was pleased to express to me
in his regard. Highly approaching the
friendly message OF your Holiness h. de-
sired me to convey to you his respectful no.
images and his sincere wishes for your welfare.
The President subsequently wrote me a second
letter desiring me to transmit to your Holiness
with the least possible delay this specially pre-
pared copy Of the Constitution OF the United
States, testimonial of the veneration for
your august person, and as an expression Of
Deign. Holy Father, once more to bless with
all the affection OF your parental heart, our be-
loved country. in whose prosperity you manifest
so lively an interest. Invoking your beEedic-
ton on myself, am your devoted son, James
Cardinal Gibbons. Archbishop OF Baltimore,
Baltimore, December ], 1887.
The Pope then read his reply to Arch
bishop Ryan in Latin expressing the pleas
ure he felt in receiving jutiiee gift from
= ho fhn cod Sfnf,
continued:
II have received offerings from all parts
Of the world-from Italy, France, Ger
many, Hungary, Spain, England. and one
from the President OF the United S,ates-a
most pleasing one. AS Archbishop he
added 'you enjoy their perfect freedom.
That freedom, we admit, Is highly bene-
fetal TO the spread OF religion. AS the
head OF the Church, owe my duty, love
aud solicitude t. every part OF tho
Church, but toward America l bear
au especial love. The care of your
Nation IS great. Your Government is free,
your future full Of hope. Your President
commands my highest admiration. Hence
this Offering which have received to-day
has truly touched my heart. 1t affords mo
pleasure TO pour forth through you to your
President aud to your great country my
most profound sense of appreciation and
gratitude. In conclusion, grant you my
blessing, and ask that Of yourself AMI Of
the President OF your country"
Turning to DR.. O'Connell, the Pope said:
II desire you to make this known TO your
people. Describe the solemn manner in
which have received the gift OF the Pres
ident-"
Afterwards tho Pope received the dele
CATION privately. He was delighted with
President Cicveland's gift, and engaged in
CONVEX atiou with the delegates for nearly
an hour. The prelates present brought
jubilee offerings amounting to SSc,-
OO1