The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-05-24

and to bid you welcome, in his name. to
this magnificent cathedral. in which
YOU, as an organization, have the signal
honor Of assisting at the holy sacrifice
of the mass.
Aud indeed it is gratifying to see that
you are beginning in a truly Catholic
manner this large and important con-
yention that calls you together from all
parts Of our fair and favored land. The
Church is pre- -eminently the great or.
ganization; and though her mission is
the spiritual regeneration of mankind,
she must of necessity. and because OF
that mission. labor for tbs elevation
and the betterment Of the human race.
If we study her history, If we examine
the lives of her illnstrious heroes (and
they are numbered bY thousands). it we
consult the writings of eminent Pro-
testant historians who have examined
her doctrine and policy, we shall find
that she has been the constant promoJer
OF true civilization, the staunch de-
fender Of good order and morality, the
faithful protector of the Christian COM
monWealth.
This is no idle boast. for we could
easily furnish abundant testimony from
nor Catholic sources to prove the truth
Of our assertions.
If such is the spirit of the Church,
such should be the spirit of her children
throughout the world, and nowhere
more than in this wondrous land of
ours.
It is the fashion nowadays in certain
quarters to question the loyalty Of Gath
olics to our government, to assert the
incompatib1lity of the Catholic Church
with American citizenship. But the
history OF our country is sufficient
proof, if such were needed, that Cath
olics have been among the best of our
loYal and devoted citizens; that they
T are more American than the Americans
themselves. and that their Church was
the mother Of civil and religious liberty
in America. She came to us bringing 8
the sweet message of peacesand good
will to men. Her motto has ever been:
Equal rights and justice to all, and the
race to tbs worthlest." : s.ssf.f.sS. q
Our holy father. Pope Leo Kill, now
gloriously reigning, has told us in his
recent encyclical that good Catholic Is
necessarily good citizen, and we may
add one of the finest types Of Christian
manhood.
It is our chief aim, then, as it should
be our greatest pride, to follow the
leadership of that church. 1t behooves
us to be loyal Catholics, to be like
shining lights in this generation. ever
"wearing the white flower OF a blame
less life" Let all the ends you aim at
be- your Gods, your couutry's, and
truths. Be, in word, the typical
Christian knight, who revered his
conscience as his king. whose glory was
redressing human wrong, who spoke no
slander. no, nor listened to it," Our
actions are closely watched by those
not of our faith. Foreigners las some
of us are unjustly called) are looked
upon with an unfriendly eye, and there
are public men who, by attacking our
religion and our race, seek to SOW the
seeds of civil discord. Men Of this
stamp are the real enemies of the repub-
liz and nnt fha Catholics
THE CONVENTION OPENED.
At the conclusion of the mass the
delegates proceeded to Allyn hall where
the convention was opened by National
Delegate Maurice F Wilhere of Phila-
delphia. National Secretary McNelis
of Indianapolis was present to record
the proceedings. Owing to the great
parade the opening session was short;
the appointment Of commlttee on
credentials being about the only busi-
ness transacted, after which an adjourn
ment was taken until Wednesday
morning. There were over two hun
dred delegates present, nearly all the
states and territories being represented
as we'll as Canada and Scotland, when
John P. Murphy, of Norwich, state de
legate of Connecticut, made an address
of welcome, saying that he had often
attended national conventions, but the
browning ambition was reached when
he heard the national delegate rap the
convention to order in the state Of
Connecticut. In behalf of the Hiber-
mans of Hartford. Mr.. John E.. Scanlan.
county delegate of Hartford, presented
National Delegate Wilhere with q
gavel made from piece Of the historic
Charter Oak. Mr.. Wilhere was much
QratiHed at this kindly remembrance Of
the local Hibernians. and will doubtless
cherish the gavel as one OF his most
precious possessions.
THE GREAT STATE PARADE.
,s.. &: While; the national convention was
TAX ing shape in these proceed edings, the
cohorts were rallying On the park. and
the various marshals and their aids