The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-16

shouted a greeting TO the Roman pOn-
tiff. Mr.. Onahan' s suggestion that he
hoped at q day not far distant to see an
international CONGRESS- Of lay Catholics
also met with hearty APPRECIATION. Elk
Gov. Carroll, ON taking the chair, was
warmly applaudsd.
Daniel DouRherty. of New York, was
invited by the chairman to address the
congress, pending the appointment of
committees. The famous orator was in
his best form and voice He was given
a perfect ovation By the congress. Mr..
DOughertY said:
I 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, a 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 snail give
utterance to and then resume my seat.
We Catholics, Roman Catholics, Amer
lean Roman Catholics, proud, high
spirited and sensitive as any Of our
countrYmen, have silently submitted to
wrongs and iDjustices in manifold
shapes from time immemorlal- Away
back in colonial years Catholics suffered
the di1est crueltles. 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. 1t is the damned
spot that will not out The only
religious martyrs who ever stained our
fair land with life blood we're Roman
Catholics. Spurned with suspicion,
DISTINGUISHED, prosecuted FOR opinion
sake. hunted as criminals and punished
with death by infamous laws. We
have from time to time been slandered;
! villified and maligned in newspapers.
pamphlets and books, in speech and
sermon, sectarian assembly, political
convention and even in the congress Of
the United States. We have been pro-
scribed at the ballot box. The highest
honors Of the republic are denied US DY
a prejudice that has all the force Of a
constitut nal enactment. In integrity,
intellect and accomplishments the equal
Of our fellows, vet the instances are
rare when Catholics are rendered exalted
distinctions. The exercises of our holy
religion, as a right, are denied The suffer
ing, the sick and unfortunate In mans
institutions Of charity, and to criminals
in prisons and penitentiaries. @ Though
the rank aud lille OF the army and navy
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, converts have been p1llagea
and liberties destroyed. Aye, political
parties in the past have sought to de-
prive us Of our political rights and We
are branded as tools Of foreign poten
tate. and unworthy to enjoy che name
of Americans. The time has come,
not Of our seeking, but in the course Of
events, when we, the Romaa Catholic
laity of the United States, can with Fro
priety speak, can vindlcate ourselves
not by harsh words, heated retorts, nor
defiant threats; but calmly, yet firmly-
char1tably, yet proudly, conscious OF
the integrity Of our motives aud the
impregnabllity Of our position. We
assert that we are pre- eminently Ameri-
cans-that there would be no America
that tho continent would be to-day
unknown had it not been for Roman
Catholics and the Roman Catholic
Church. That the liberty, which issthe
essence of all liberty, freedom to Wor:-
ship God, was 1rst established in Anne
RIGA by Roman Catholics, and Roman
Catholics alone It. was priests, aye,
Jesuit missio naries, who first sought
and explored onrI land, penetrated into
the wilderness, tracked tue streams and
gave sainted names to localities, bays
lakes and rivers: The first. worship
here Of the true God was the holy sacri-.
Zee Of the mass. Catholic nations were
the first "a come 10 the rescue Of dur.
revolu tlonary fathers ii the war against
the greatest Of Protestant powers. VA
Roman Catholic VAS among the signers1
of the Declaration of Independenee
The name Sc ArchbIsho Carroll is Tor
ever linked with Ben amin franklin
the mission to Canada Ca Catholics have
given. heroes to the Rep blic in eyerY
war; and, ID every battle a Held 4 IS
flood, Catholi lies have sealed their deTo:
tion their llIye ND nov the
Roman CatholIc lalty q the UnItad
States, for the first time il cone ress IS.
sembled. no here So spr claima u th1e:ll
world that their country ls tied ~ eyerY4
fiber 81 theirS !. and Iao moftaI
pow q. am their l,Ying lsglancel
u IL. 'eo1s ai,ill
& wv tl,e leed
81 81 III tt,s y u & ls a 1