The Portland daily press., 1889-11-12
- ~.rno,,cs
a PLEA FOR CATnoLtCS.
Daniel pougherty's Address to the
convention.

0aL1lMOhEs Unuss u6
twelve hundred delegates TO the first Con-
gress of the Catholic Laymen OF the United
States were called to order shortly before
noon today by Hon. W. ]. 0nahan of Chica-
go. Every seat in Concordia Hall was filed
and the galleries crowded with spectators.
Archbishop Ireland briefly invoked the
divine blessing. In few spirited remarks.
introducing ex-Gov. Carroll as temporary
chairman. Mr.. Onahan mentioned the name
of Pope Leo. Instantly there was hand
clapping and cheering all over the hall, soon
growing into tumult of enMusi asm. Mr..
Onaban's suggestion that he hoped not far
distant to see an international congress of
lay Catholics also met with hearty approba-
tion. Ex-Gov. Carroll on taking the chair
was warmly applauded. He said: ut may
be that the question will be asked by what
authority is the congress held and under
what laws does it assemble. In reply to
Eminence, the Cardinal Archbishop of Bal
timore and the distinguished prelates who
now surround us, and by virtue of the au-
thority OF the constitution OF the United
States" He said that this congress, auspic-
i0usly begun will be but the fOrerunner of
of the United States will look to these con-
crosses with pride and satisfaction.
The following cablegram from Rome was
read:
HIS Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore:
expressions Of devotion Conveyed to Rm oe oe
the part OF the Catholic Congress to be held In
Baltimore, His Holiness gracionsly bids me to
sing 10 all the members.
M. CARD RAMPoLLLA.
Daniel Dougherty of New York was in
ylted by the.chairman to address to Con-
gress, pending the appointment of commit
tees. The famous orator was in his best
form and voice. He was enthusiastically
applauded when he stood up to speak. Mr..
D0ugherty said:
81 am. profoundly touched by this, the
honor Of my life: This congress is an event
IN the history Of the republic, an era in
American progress, an advance in humanity,
move OF earth toward heaven. Called to
your presence, theme after theme comes
flashing through my brain and swelling in
my bosom. A single exultant thought l
shall sh give utterance to, and then resume my
proud. high spirited and sensitive as any of
our countrymen, have silently submitted to
wrongs and injustices In manifold shapes
and from time immemorial Away
fered the direst cr1elties. Talk Of the
slaves of the South in ante-war times,
why, they were treated like high-bred
guests when compared with Catholics in
colonial days. It is the damned spot" that
VIII not out. The only religious martyrs
blood were Roman Catholics. Spurned with
suspicion, disfranchised, prosecuted for opin-
IONS sake, hunted as criminals and punished
WITH death by Infamous laws, we have from
time to time been slandered, vilifed and ma
iigned In newspapers. pamphlets and books,
In speech and sermon, sectariam assembly,
political conventions and even in the Cong
ress of the United States.
I'VE have been prescribed at the ballot
box: The highest honors of the republic are
denied us by prejudice that has all the
force OF a constitutional amendment. In in
tegrity, intellect and accomplishments the
equal OF our fellows, yet the instances are
rare when Catholics are rendered exalted
ligion as right are denied the suffering, the
sick and unfortunate in many insti-
tutions of charity, and to criminals in
prisons and .penitentiaries. Though the
are largely Of our creed, the Chaplains are
fewer than the fingers of one hand. 1t is
said that Catholic Indians have Protestant
teachers. Churches have been burnt, con-
vents PLACED and libraries destroyed. Aye,
political parties in the past. have sought to
deprive us of our political rights, and we are
branded as tools of foreign potentate and
unworthy to enjoy the name of Ameri-
cans.
"The time has come, not of our seeking,
but in the course Of events, when we. the
Roman Catholic laity of the United States,
can with propriety speak and vindicate our
selves. not by harsh words, heated retorts,
nor defiant threats. but calmly, yet firmly;
charltably, yet proudly conscious of the in
tegrity OF our motives and the impregnabili-
pre-eminently Americans-that there would
be no America, that the continent would be
today unknown had it not been for the Rom
an Catholics and the Roman Catholic
church. That that liberty which is
the orsSis essence Sos Of all liberty freedom to
America by Roman Catholics, and by them
alone. 1t was priests, aye, Jesuit missiona-
ries, who filst sought and explored our land,
penetrated into the wilderness, tracded the
streams and gave sainted names to locali-
ties, bays, lakes and rivers. The first wor-
ship here of the true God was the holy sac
rlhce OF the mass. Catholic nations were
the hrst to come to the rescue of our revolu-
tionary fathers in the war against the great
est OF Protestant powers. A Roman Cath
tion Of Independence. The name of Arch
bishop Carroll Is forever linked with Benja-
min Franklin in the mission to Canada.
Catholics have given heroes to the republic
in every war; and now the Roman Catholic
laity of thel United:States for the first time in
Congress assembled are here to proclaim to
all the world that their country is tied to
every fibre OF their hearts an no mortal DOW
er can shake their loving allegiance to its
Constitution and its laws"
The regular work of the congress began
by the reading of paper on Catholic Cong
resses" by historian John Culinary Shea,
New York. Shea's inirmities prevented his
reading being heard by the delegates and no
discussion of his paper was possible. The
next paper was by Major Henry F. Brown
son Of Detroit on Lay action of the
discussed "The Independence of the Holy
See," the necessity for which he enthusiastic
cally upheld. The Congress then adjourned
until tomorrow.