Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-15
DAN'L DOUCHERTY'S SPEECH
Address at the Catholic Congress Held
at Baltimore. Md.
In Beautiful Words He Eulo.izes the
Work of the Church.
Grand Reception in the Evening-En-
thusiasm Never Equalled.

BALTIMORE. Nov. 1.-THE twelve
hundred delegates to the first congress of
the Catholic layneR of the United States
was called to order shortly before noon to-
day by W. j. Onahan, of Chicago. Every
scat in Concordia hall was filled and the
galleries crowded with spectators.
The first applause of the assembly was
elected by the entrance of Ex-Gov. Jonn
Lee Carroll with Archbishop Ireland, of
st. Paul and Mr. Onahan
Archbishop Ireland briefly invoked
the Divine blessing. In a few
spirited remarks introducing Mr..
Carroll as temporary chairman, Mr..
Onahan mentioned the name of Pope Leo.
Instantly there was hand-capping ana
cheers all over the hail, soon
growing into tumult of enthusiasm.
The scene was a notable one as the dele
gates swung their hats and shouted
greeting to the roman pOntItf. Mr.. Ona
ham, suggestion that he hoped at a time
not far distant to see an international
congress of lay Catholics also met with
hearty appreciation.
Ex-Gov Carroll, on taking the chair
was warmly applauded. He said: 1t
may be that the question will be asked.
bN NIdl dulliOIltN IL ILLS tOISSltSS IiGiNl
and under what law does it assemble?
and in reply to this we would suggest. by
the sanction of his eminence the Cardinal
Archbishop of Baltimore, and the dis
tinguished preateS who now surround us.
and by virtue of the authority of the
constitution of the United States
be it said that this congress so
auspiciouSly begun will be but the fore
runner of others yet to come, and that the
Catholics of the United States will look
to these congresses with pride and salts
faction The congress has but two great
purposes at heart-the glory and progress
of the Catholic church and the continued
prosperity of the American people. APP
plause, long continued
The following cablegram from Rome
was read:
Having made known TO the Holy
Father the expressions of devotion con
veyed to him ON the part of the Catholic
congress to be held in Baltimore, his
Holiness graciously bids me say that he
most atfectionately imparts his blessing to
all the members.
NJ. CARD. RAMPOLLA.
Daniel Dougherty, of New York. was
invited by the chairman to address the
congress pending the Appointment OF COM
mittees The famous orator was today In
his best form and voice. He was given a
perfect ovation by the congress. Mr.
Dougherty said:
Il 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 hui
manlty. 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 shall give utterance to and then
| resume my seat.
We Catholics. Roman Catholics, Ameri-
can Roman Catholics, proud, high spirited
and sensitive as any of our cOuntrymen,
have silently submitted to wrongs and in
| justices in manifold shapes and from time
immemorial Away back in colonial
years Catholics suffered the direst cruelties.
| Talk of the slaves of the South in
antewar times, why they were treated like
| higb-bred guests when compared with
| Catholics in colonial days. 1t is the
| damned spot that will not out The
only religious martyrs who ever stained
our fair land with life blood were Roman
Catholics Spurned with suspicion, dis
| franchised, prosecuted for opinions sake,
llullltu d> GIllliildiS anu pjIllSIltt W lJil
! death by infamous laws We have from
| time to time been slandered. villifed and
maligned III newspapers, pamphlets and
| books in speech and sermon. sectarian
/ assembly. local political convention and
! even in the congress of the United States.
| We have been prescribed at the ballot box.
| The highest honors of the republic are de-
| MED us by a prejudice that has all the
| force of a constitutional enactment. In
integrity. intellect and accomplishments
| the equal of our fellows. yet the instances
are rare when Catholics are rendered ex-
| alted distinctions
The exercises of our holy religion as a
! right are denied the suffering, the sick and
unfortunate in many institutions OF
charity, and to criminals in prisons and
! penitentiaries. Though the rank and file
of the army and navy are largely of our
! creed. the chaplains are fewer that the
! fingers of one hand. 1t is said that Cath
| olic Indians have Protestant teachers.
churches have been burned. converts have
| been pillaged and libraries destroyed. Aye
political parties in the past have sought tC
! deprive us of our political rights and we
| are branded as tools of foreign pOtentate
and unworthy to enjoy the name of Amer
leans.
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-can vindicate
| ourselyes-not by harsh words. heated re-
rOrts, nor defiant threats; but calmly. yet
! firmly-charitabl yet proudly-conscious
of the integrity of our motives and the i'm
pregnability of our position.
I'VE assert we are pre-eminently Ameri-
cans-that there would be no America
that the continent would today be un-
known had it not been for Roman Catho-
lies and the Roman Catholic church; that
that liberty which is the essence of all
Iiberty-freedom to worship God-was
! first established in America by Roman
Catholics alone 1t was priests, aye,
Jesuit missionaries, who first sought and
explored our land, penetrated into the
| wilderness. tracked the streams and gave
sainted names to localities, bays, lakes
and rivers. The first worship here of the
true God was the holy sacrifice
of the mss. Catholic nations were
the first to come to the rescue Of
our revolutionary father. In the
! war against the greatest of Protestant
| powers A Roman Catholic was among
| the signers of the Declaration of Indepen.
| dence. The name Of Archbishop Carroll
| Is forever linked with Benjamin Franklin
! In tie mission to Canada Catholics have
sealed their devotion with their lives. And
now the Roman Catholic laity of the
| United States for the first time In congTes.
assembled, are here to proclaim to all the
| woI d that their country is tied to every
fiber Of their hearts and no mortal power
can shake their loving allegiance to it
c0nsi tuition and Its laws
~ by, truly. the blood of the martyrs /;
the seed Of the church. Marvellous as has
been tie growth of population, Catholics
have outstripped all. From 10000 they
have become 10000. 900. From a despiseC
people they are mighty power In every
I avenue Of industry and intellect they are
tie peers Of their fellow men. Thei,
schools and colleges. libraries. asylums and
] hospitals are scattered rear and far u
every village. steeple or tower. tipped
with the cross. tell where Catholics pray.
In every town splendid churches gather
e1ci morning thousands of woEshippers
In every metropolis a cathedral lifts it
massive walls high above surrounding
1.les. OF with It's stately dome crOwns the
city's brow.
Our grand old church is the protector oi
learning. She it was who rescued the
iIlestimabie jewels Of classic lore from the
ruins Of the Roman Empire. previously
preserving them through the commissions
Of a thousand years. and gave them 10 the
printer art to enrich the learning. elevate
the StyIe and adern the literature Of ever