The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-02-06
A TIMELY HINT,

Daniel Dougherty Asks for Catholic Co.
lumbar Celebration.
In letter to Dr. Mark T. Vallette,
corresponding secretary of the United
States Catholic Historical society, Dan
iel Dougherty of New York says: am
in receipt Of your esteemed lavor inform
ing me you have been instructed by the
executive council OF the United States
Catholic Historical society to invite me
to read paper before your organization
on Christopher Columbus, in March or
April next. r am deeply sensible of this
expression Of esteem. The preparation
of such paper for such a society re-
quirss rare ability, habits of study,
sources of knowledge and patient re-
search, all of which are beyond my
reach, even if T could spare the time for
so important an undertaking. These
qualities are eminently combined Ger
tainly in one, namely, DR.. John Culinary
Shea, and likely in others of the printed
names on your letter head.
While therefore, I, without affectation
deprecate your choice of a writer, |
heartily applaud your selection Of a
theme. The time is ripe for it [ will
not say + am amazed, bnt certainly re-
greet the indifference with which Ameri-
can Catholics treat the near approach OF
the fourth centennial anniversary OF the
sublime event in which they of all their
countrymen have the deepest interest
and most reason to be proud.
Descendants of the Pnritans celebrate
every December the landing Of the Pill
grim fathers. Their eighty-sixth testify
ity in this city took place within week
They aggressively-I was going to say
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it inasmuch as
they time and again boast that the Pill
grim fathers were the pioneers OF civil
and religious liberty. Cannot we Roman
Catholics once ia century celebrate the
landing of Columbus? This anniversary
belongs as much to Catholics as Ply
mouth Rock to Puritans The discov-
cry of America is the brightest jewel in
the earthly crown Of our venerated
mother, the Church. ....-
prophesy that unless Catholics, ii
need be progressively, display their his
| toric right to celebrate this annive sary
our sectariau fellow-countrymen will in
all their approaching demonstrations
slight the peerless Queen Of CASTLE; if
not disparage Columbus will surely ig-
more his identification with the Catholic
church and assert that the discovery OF
America was the heaven-directed fore
runner of the Reformation and Protes
tantism! To postpone the commemoratlon
to 1893 will be in itself surrender OF
the sentiment of the historic past to
glorify the materialistic present. 1t will
be to irreverently pass the shrine of Co
lumbus to join the thronged worshippers
in the temple Of Mammon.
). The Chicago exposition is destined to
be world-renowned event. Americans
Of every creed and condition, dropping
differences, will unite, not to commemo-
rate the discovery of continent, but to
unroll before assembled millions from
every cline, the transcendent triumphs
of the republic.
The contemplated celebration on Oct.
IL, 1892, should be distinctively Catholic.
It should be significant and imposing
one, confined to no locality. Submitting
the question to ecclesiastical authority,
Catholics all over the United States
might gather around their affairs and at
holy mass glorify God. At all events
mingling patriotic with Catholic Joy
exult il the unparalleled achievement Of
our Church and the ineetimable bless