The Irish standard., 1892-10-15
A GRAND RECORD.
Roman Catholics Have Been Fore
most in the Establishment OF
the American Republic.
THE BISHOP OF DENVER
Proves Historically that this Coun-
try is indebted to Catholicism
For it's Freedom.


In recent pastoral issued by Rt. Rev.
Bishop Matz, Of Denver, Col on the
Columbian celebration the learned pre-
late conclusively demonstrates that the
American Republic is largely indebted to
Roman Catholics for it's civil and re-
igious freedom and the existence Of it's
glorious institutions The following pas
sages are given for the especial benefit of
those misguide d persons who labor under
the erroneous impression that the Amerl-
can republic is in proximate or remote
danger from their Catholic fellow citizens:
Ignorant, or envious men say that the
Catholic Church is not friendly to our
American institutions. Now ifit be true
that Catholics we're amongst the most
ardent promoters of the young American
Republic; that at all. times Catholics
we're it's foremost champions, fighting in
the front rank against the enemies OF our
great Republic, and pouring out their
life's blood in it's defence; then, indeed,
history must convict these envious ones
of untruth and record the heroic genius
and the greatness of Catholic patriotism.
II we look over the early history of the
foundation of the Republic, we trd
among the signers Of the Declaration OF
Independence the celebrated Charles
Carroll of Carrollton. As he sethis hand
to the instrument the whisper went
around the hall Of Congress: "There 60
millions of property" But. as there we're
several of that name some one remarked
that he would pass unrecognized. mot
So" replied this brave man, and imme-
diately added ''of Carrollton'' SO there
could he no mistaking his identity.
This recalls to our mind another dis
tinguisbed patriot of that name, the Rev
John Carroll, who took very active part
IN the conflict and was sent by DR..
Franklin on very confidential mission
to Canada. He became later on the first
Archbishop of Baltimore.
If now we cast glance at the list OF
heroes who distinguished themselves In
the Revolutionary war, we find at their
head General Lafayette, who spurned the
comforts of home and the pleasures which
wealth can procure, and came over to
America in vessel fitted out at his own
expense in order to share in our struggle
for independence.
THE world,' says George Parsons
Lathrop, "atfords no nobler illustration
of disinterested heroism and gallant and
generous conduct than that exhibited by
Lafayette, Rochambeau, Fleury. Dupar-
tail. Lauzun, Count de Grasse, Pulaski,
DeKalb. Kosciusko and other Catholic
lovers of liberty, in their efforts in ald OF
the establishment of American inde-
pendence"
John Barry, the father of the American
navy, and many of his sailors, who rem
dered such excellent service to the land
forces in the contest for freedom, were,
like himself, Irish Catholics. Who has
not heard of General Anthony Wayne,
whose fighting qualities earned for him
the surname of Mad Anthony? His noble
corps was mainly composed of Irish and
German Catholics.
In 1870 when, on account of the depre-
citation of paper currency, the country
was bankrupt and Washihgton's little
army was on the point OF starvation,
there was none to answer Washington's g
appeal more generously than the Friendly
Sons of ST. Patrick, an Irish Catholic So
ciety, Of which twenty-seven members
contributed more than half million
dollars. This noble act drew from Wash
ington highly complimentary letter, IN
which he commended it's members Tor
their firm adherence to the cause ID
which we are embarked
But nothing could be more explicit on
this subject than Washington's words.
In answer to an address presented him
by the Catholics on the occasion OF his
election as first President of the Repub-
lie, he said: II hope ever to see America
the foremost nation in examples OF justice
and liberality. And 1 presume that your
tellow-citizens will not forget the patri-
otic part which you took in the accom-
plishment of their revolution and the es-
tablishment of their government, or the
important assistance they received from
q nation in which the Roman Catholic
faith is profeesed.'
sIt is fact not generally known
says Mr.. George Parsons Lathrop, the
well-known writer and recent convert to
the Chuch, sIt is not generally known @ 2
that one half Of the soldiers of the Reyo.