Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-13

Patrick's hall last night, under the
auspices of the Fourth division, A. o.
H., was attended by an audience large
in numbers and in complete sympathy
with the lecturer. The subject, Striking
Traits of the Irish Character had par
ticular interest for every one present and
the speaker enjoyed the rapt attention OF
the audience to the close of his able
address. Before the lecture the Choral
society finely rendered a chorue erich
and Rare" and 1.-The Meeting of the
Waters
The first trait considered was the
1rishman's pure undying love of home
attachment to the comforts of the fire.
side. "Humble though the home of the
Irishman may be, it is the center Of his
hopes and affections, sacred sanctuary
in which his wife and little ones are
sheltered from the rude assaults of the
world. Difficulties, indeed, may arise,
to cast momentary shadow athwart
the home. The peaceful surface of affec-
ton may for a time be disturbed by a
passing breath of anger, but whatever
the difficulties that enter the Irishman's
home, they are not such as strike at the
very foundation of society. The woman
whom he promised to love and cherish
and protect, is never turned adrift
branded with the ineffaceable mark of
criminal. The innocent little ones whom
God gave as pledge and bond of con-
jugal affection, are not condemned to
wander up and down the world the
hapless victims of divorce court. The
tie by which holy church, acting in the
name of God, united him to the woman
of his love and choice, he knows to be
sacred and indissoluble, beyond the
power and authority of man to sever.
He respects, it is needless to say, the
laws of the land in which the providence
of God has placed him, but his con-
science tells him that, if he must needs
render to Caesar the things that are
Caesars, he is none the less bound to
render to God the things that are Gods.
In consequence the divorce laws of the
world are revolving to his sense of law,
justice and propriety. He has no SYM
pathy with the perjured roue or faithless
wife. he condemns fearlesSly the tyrant
divorce, and were it in his power he
would Danish the filthy demon from the
world forever.
The Irishman's fidelity to the sacred
promises made at the alter, has it's
foundation partly in his unalterable
respect for the exalted positions of wife
and mother. He regards these condi-
lions of life as creations of the Almighty
Moreover, the Irish people are unques-
tionably loyal to their church, which
against the wanton disruption of the
christian home, and denounces the laws
that separate the husband from the wife
and the child from both.
THE day will never dawn that will
witness the Irish people in the clutches
of the dt mon divorce. If discord raise
its hideous head within the family
circle; If arrangements come to Danish
happiness from the home; if trials,
a.
tears to the eyes and sorrow to the heart;
If in word, the awful temptation
should flash across their minds to seek
surcease from sorrow in the divorce
court, the Divine command that what
God hath Joined together no man may
put asunder," will operate as prohibitory
agency. Moreover, as they look upon
their tender little ones they will shudder
at the thought of bequeathing to them a
legacy of infamy and dishonor."
"Resistance to tyranny Is implanted
in the heart of man by the hand of
nature; but divorce is a tyrant as foul,
memorable, remorseless and relentless
as ever brought sorrow upon the human
family, Between it and the Irish peo-
pie there will ever exist an irreconcila-
BILE opposition, for the laws violated by
the one are revered by the other, The
damaging effects of divorce laws to the
morals of society will give irresistible
force to their protest against the iniqui-
ty. The best intellects of Professionalism
are seeking the aid of the church in
order to stem the torrent that is hurry
ing society 20 the verge of destruction.
And should we ever witness the union
of the two forces, Catholicism and
Professionalism. for the purpose of sup.
pressing divorce, foremost in the fierce
tight will be found the children of the
Irish race, acting through their repre-
sentatives.
The second trait considered was the
Irishman's love for his native land
This love has it's foundation in the
natural beauties of the island, the sor-
rows, sufferings, to which he has beer
subjected; to the splendid conquests OF
her children in every field where genius
and talent could be manifested. Rev
Father O'Donneu then referred to DAME
O'Connell as a representative orator,
and incidentally to Grattan, Curran, anc
Shield, to Emmett, Sheridan and Others
who brought glory to the Irish race.
The third trait considered was the
Irishman's love for the church. The
labors of Irish missionaries were dwell
upon, who have been carrying the light
of faith to nearly all of the nations OF
Europe; the unparalleled sufferings Of
the Irish people on account OF theil
steadfast adherence to their faith, anC
to the manner in which the faith hac
been received from st Patrick by the
Irish people, cheerfully, generously anc
iptelligently and without the shedding
of drop Of blood. The lecturer theI
touched upon the invasion of the Dane.
in Ireland, the pillaging of churches
the Strengthening of monks and nuns
and finally the banishing of the Danes
from Ireland. In conclusion the lecture
sufferings was drawing to a close. Thu
nations of the earth are demanding TO
her the right to govern herself. This i
legitimate, God given right. Th
lecture closed with the hope that tn,
present constitutional agitation, un
der the leadership of Charles Stewar
Parnell, would soon restore to Irelan,
the right to take her place among tn
nations of the earth. And should it b
our blessed privilege to witness the do w