Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-12
Premier Mercier Charms the Con-
gress With His Speech.
SENATOR ALLISON,s SLIM MAJORITY
A Woman Who Heard DR..
Cronin's Death Cry.
THE BASE BALL CONFERENCE TODAY.
A PREMIER'S SPEECH.
Ooings Today in the Catholic Congress
at Baltimore.

Bishop LaFleche of Canada said the prayer.
NJ. DeFansler Of Indiana moved to appoint
committee to consider the expediency OF hold
ing secret conventions of Catholics annually.
Referred.
Hon. Honore Mercier, prime minister of Que
bee, was introduced and received with great ap-
plause He said: We have assembled to honor
a great prelate. He regarded the honor paid
him in being invited to say few words an
honor intended for the country from which he
came. and especially to the province of Quebec,
which he represented. 1t would not therefore
seem strange that appearing as he did for
great province in Canada, he should regard the
career Of Archbishop Carroll in his relations
to the state rather than the church. Carroll
was great statesman. The fathers OF this
country had no greater ally than Carroll. Had
Washington and Franklin and Carroll failed in
their work it would have been calamity to
America and humanity. In the glorious work
Carroll had no small share. He was broad
and expansive. The Declaration of Independ-
ence was q revelation to mankind, acknowledge
ing the rights it proclaimed came from God.
1t laid down the principles on which the great
est amount Of liberty could be guaranteed.
Perhaps no man did more for America than
Franklin and he was Carroll's friend, and who
can tell how much Of Carrolrs spirit Franklin
imbibed. To members of the Roman church it
was dispensation of Providence that Carroll
did such good service for his country and that
his influence was commensurate with his
services, because they were days of religious
persecution.
LIBERTY OF WORSHIP.
The statutes of every country yet contained
laws directed against the liberty of worship.
America was not yet free from these preju-
dices, and before CarrolIs influence had been
felt the Congress of Philadelphia protested
against the Quebec act passed in England
granting freedom of worship to Catholics of
Canada. This imprudent protest was not with
out Its effect upon the struggle for American
Independence. But the mistake nobly re-
paired; when the time came to affirm true
principles the largest liberty was proclaimed,
and today we see in your republic the magnif-
cent spectacle OF sincere men, differing in re-
ligious belief, united as brethren in their love
OF country, in their devotion to the principles
OF civil and religious liberty. Speaking of
education, he said that under no form of gov
ernment are moral and intellectual training
more necessary than in republic No grander
service could be rendered, therefore, to your
country than the establishing of grand Cath
olc university; no greater monument could be
erected to the memory of Carroll.
In the city hallowed be the name of Wash
ington, the capital of the freest people on
earth, the Roman Catholic church makes to
your country the gift Of a great university
where your people will learn the grand lesson
that loyalty to God means loyalty to the state
we IN Quebec are determined to be guided in
public matters by justice. Thus, when the
Protestant minority of lower Canada demanded
tho right of educating their children in their
own schools the French Canadians and Roman
Catholics hesitated not one moment to
grant to the Protestant minority their
separate schools. In the same spirit. with
no intention of any undue advantage
but for Justices sake, we gave back to the
Roman church, through the Jesuits the prop
erty OF which they had been despoiled by the
same George iii who would have despoiled
your fathers Of their liberties and rights He
hoped that the university at Washington would
welcome Canadian students to it, and that the
two peoples may find a still closer bond of
union in seeing their children studying the
same sciences, III the same halls, under the same
masters, for the love of God and country.
MIR. Mercier closed with quoting Longfellow's
poem as applicable to your country as well as
to your university, and their union:
Sal on, o Union strong and great" &C.
Mr.. Mercier was applauded and cheered to
the echo.
CORDIAL TO CANADA
Edward F. Pagan of New York offered the
following, which was adopted by a rising vote
Resolved, That the representatives of the
American Catholic congress tender their cor
dial greetings to the people of Canada and
offer their grateful Acknowledgements and con-
gratulations to her for the warm sentiments OF
love entertained for this country and people.
as expressed by her noble son, Premier
Mercier."
Monsignor Gadd of England being called for,
expressed cordial feelings of Cardinal Man
| ming and OF Bishop Vaughen, whom he repre-
sented, and desired to convey their feelings Of
deep respect and heartfelt congratulations to
this noble congress.
Peter l.. Foy OF st. Louis then read paper
on the social question. James H. Campbell of
Philadelphia read one on temperance; Herman
Allen OF Chicago on church music" and
Richard L. Clarke LID, OF New York, on
what Catholics have done in the last 100 years. :"