The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-07-26
WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE.

EGEi5 $5s&
WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE.
The representatives of the Catholic
Truth Society, an organization which
recently sprang into existence with the
approval of Archbishop Ireland, is
doing valiant service in this city in
checking the assaults of a certain class
of editors and preachers who misrepre-
sent the attitude of Catholics as citizens
of the republic. For the past three
months continuous warfare has been
carried on in the columnes OF, the daily
press between the Catholic Truth mem.
bers and the editors and preachers re-
ferred to. The latter have been quot
ing Lafayette and Washington as being
suspicious OF Catholics and foreigners
and an interesting discussion has COM
menced between DIR. Josiah Strong and
Roger Vail as to the authenticity OF
the phrase ascribed to Lafayette. ''if
the liberties of the Amercon people are
ever destroyed they will fall by the
hands of the Romish clergy The
Catholic champion has offered to donate
500 to any Protestant institution in
Minneapolis it Dr., Strong succeeds in
tracing the words to an authentic
source. This the Protestant has yet
failed to do and there is not the re-
hottest probability that he can secure
the money. Last Sunday DR.. Burrell
of the Westminster church used in his
address in reply to Arch bishop ireland
the words attributed to Washington
PUT none but Americans on guard
and next day he was called upon to pro.
ouce his authority Or stand convicted Of
being falsiier of history. 1t is GER
tainly gross injustice to the memory
of Washington to add the sanction Of
his great name to the prescription Of
honorable citizens born IN foreign lands.
The pretended order of Washington is
used by fanatics and bigots for the pur-
pose of casting odium and distrust upon
their patriotism and loyalty to Ameri-
can institutions. and of justifying the
contemplate attacks made upon their
honor. The phrase ascribed to Wash
ington is a fiction without any real foun-
datlon. 1t originated in the days Of
Knownothingism, some fifty years ago,
and is said to have been contained in
an order issued by Washington from
Cambridge Headquarters on July Z,
1875. There was an order issued on
that date which read as follows: THE
General has great reason to be and is
highly displeased with the negligence
and inattention of those officers who
have placed as sentries at the outposts
men with whose character they are not
acquainted. He therefore orders that
for the future no man shall be appointed
to these important stations who is not
a native of this country, or has a wife
or family in it to whom he is known to
be attached. The order Is to be con-
sidered q standing one. aid the officers
are to pay obedience to tia their peril"
This is the genuine order which was
distorted and perverted by the fanatics
Of half century ago to make a point
against foreigners. It can be found IN
Forces American Archives, Vol Ii, p.
1884. The circumstances of the mo-
ment Obliged Washington to issue such
an order. He had arrived at the Cam.
bridge camp only three DAYS before and
finding want of proper care in the milf
tarY arrangements and fearing there
were traitors and spies in the camp who
would communicate information to the
British, who then occupied Boston, he
directed precautions to be taken in the
selection of sentinels. not against
foreigners as such but against Tory
rufians and spies OF American and
foreign birth alike. No sane man can
imagine that Washington would issue
such an order rejecting upon the
patriotism OF foreigners like Lafayette,
Baron Stenben. Montgomery. Lee and
Alexander Hamilton who were his off,
GERS and confidential advisers. The
French soldiery| and thousands Of Irish
men and Germans were fighting his
battles against the enemy and native
born traitors who soon afterward left
Boston with the British. Jared Sparks.
his biOgrapher. has said that the words
imputed to Washington were not to be
met with in any of his writings or
manuscripts The bigots OF the present
day are doing 4 gross Injustice to the
Father Of his Country when they at
tribute to him language which he never
used. III . ,&s5s IS
THE PUBLIC .8OHuOLs.
This was the topic selected last Sun
day BY several ofs our local Protestant
clergymen ~ way off reply to the adj
dress Of Archbishop Ireland before the
Educational acony entlon. Df. Burrell,
of Westminster church repeated his
address Of the preceding SUNDAY st the