The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-09
THE CATHOLIC CONGRESS,
The Principal objects to Be Attained
by the Centennial Celebration.

The delegates to the Catholic Congress in
Baltimore started on the noon train yester-
day. The party consisted Of Chas. McCar-
thy. Jr., Thos. f. Donahue, ID. orc. 0'Don-
oghue, w. II. Looney, Dennis A. Meaher Of
Portland; j. B. Donovan and Daniel Cote
of Biddeford, j. A. Donavan. M. d., and j..
j. Martel. M. D.. of Lewiston, j. +. Fortier,
NJ. d., of Waterville, Jas. Grady, NJ. d., OF
Eastport and Thos. j. Lynch OF Augusta.
The delegates go by way of the Boston &
Maine, Fall River line and Pennsylvania
railroad. They will arrive in Baltimore this
afternoon and return Saturday next
The principal object of the Congress is TO
demon strate not only to the citizens of this
country of all creeds, but to the world at
large, that the Catholics Of the United States
are second to none in their love for America
and American Institutions and in their allie
glance, loyalty and devotion to the consttu-
tion and the laws OF the land. They do not
mean by this to admit that there has been
anything in the conduct Of Catholics in con-
necton with the affairs Of this country that
needs to be defended; on the contrary, the
pages of their American history. they claim,
are written all over with deeds Of patriot
ism, and they have always exercised a vigi-
liant and jealous care in preserving the in
strment whereby every man is made his own
sovereign. But they will emphasize the fact
that no people have keener appreciation
thau they Of the manifold blessings derived
from and attainable only under republican
form OF government, enjoyed alike by jew
and Gentle, Catholic and Protestant.
Another, and one OF the most important
matters upon which the Congress Is TO take
action, and it will probably express its Opin-
ion in language that cannot admit of either
misconstruction or misunderstanding, Is the
political environment of the Pope. 1t will
be the aim of the Congress and particular
pains will be taken to show that the Catho-
lies OF the United States are in hearty ac-
cord with their brethren in faith all over the
world in supporting the position so firmly
taken by their spiritual head. believing that
the time has come for public expression Of
disapproval Of the course pursued by the
italian government toward the Holy See.
There is one other topic, and most i'm
portant one it is, too, that may be taken up
and discussed; that is the question OF the
education of the Young and the public
schools and other school systems. The posi-
tion of the Congress upon this question will
be that of strong, vigorous advocacy of edu-
cation for the masses. But. while recOgniZ-
ing the Importance of secular education, the
need Of religious training at the same time
Will pc INSISTED upon. Inc Two must go
hand in hand. They are auxiiaries and
safeguards of one another With reference
to Catholic parOchial schools, it Is not i'm
probable that public expression may be Civ
eH to the very general opinion among CathO-
lies that they ought to be made public schools
Another object, or rather result of the
Congress will be to demonstrate the unity Of
the entire Catholic body 1t will, after all,
be more natural result than set purpose,
for there will hardly be any extIaneous et-
fort made TO do this. 1t Is held to be unnee-
essary, for tine proceedings OF the Congress
are anticipated to be so entirely harmonious
that the unity will demonstrate itself.