The Irish standard., 1893-05-13
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY NAY -:

LIZ IRISH ST N.DAR ]
these men were Catholics as we'll as Co
lumbus, and that no benefit had resulted
to the world from the voyage Of Erickson
in the early part Of the tenth century, or
that Cabot would have been likely to sail
westward in 1897 unless he had known
that Columbus had, made his discovery
five years previously.
Go Lightly does not wish the worlds
fair at Chicago to be known "a the Co
lumbar exposition on the ground that
the United States is not indebted to the
Genoese; but Gen Greeley, when re-
Gently presenting the Duke of Veragua
with an honorary membership in the Ma
tional Geographical Society at Washing.
ton, assured the distinguished Spaniard
that the learned body he represented ire
cognized that to the genius, courage and
ability of Christopher Columbus is indi-
rectly due the presence of this nation"
meaning the United States Of America.
Go-Lightly commits another historical
inaccuracy when he says that "God gave
our country to English Professionalism"
God gave it to English Catholicism, for
England was Catholic when she employed
Cabot, the Venetian, a countryman of
Columbus, to start on western voyage
as Columbus had done before him. That
was century and more before the Pill
grims fad from Protestant persecution
in England. The discoveries and ex-
plorers of this country were all Catholics,
much as Go-Lightly Morrill, and men of
his i]k would like to give the honor to
Professionals. It is gall and worm wood
to Puritan bigots to see Columbus and
the Catholics take such large share of
the worlds attention this present year OF
our Lord. It was Catholic England that
sent out the Cabots, but it was Protest.
ant England that caused the Pilgrims to
seek refuge from religious persecution
on the bleak New England shore.
And what a contrast between the
Puritans of Protestant England and the
Catholics of Spain in their treatment of
the aborigines in North and South Amer
lea. While those of Puritan descent
have almost exterminated the Indians of
North America, the Spaniards have
Ohristianized and civilized, as far as it is
possible. the aborigines of the South
American continent. Protestant Eng
land introduced African slavery into her
American co onies the same year the Pill
grims arrived, and for two hundred years
the black man was kept in serfdom by
the children of the Puritans. The lndi-
ans of the southern continent Jared we'll
at the hands OF Catholic monarchs, and
it is related of Queen Isabella that when
she learned of shipment of natives be.
ing brou ,hr to Seville for sale by Colum-
bus, she set them at liberty, saying the
Indians we're freemen equally with the
Spaniards. ...
Go-Lightly Morrill, must know, if he
has read American history, that Catholics
never prosecuted any oneSin this country
on account of religion. He must also
know that all the persecution was done
by Professionals Does he remember that
Roger Williams, the first Baptist minister
in this country, had to fly for his life
from the fury of the Puritans of Massa-
chusetts, and ia the midst Of winter made
his way through the trackless forests to
Rhode Island. Is the little bigot aware
of the historical fact that the Catholics of
this country were the first to grant re-
ligious liberation to all men processing
Christianity Or does he know another
fact,-that after the Professionals of New
England sought refuge from persecuti n
in Catholic Maryland, they disfranchised
the Catholics as soon as they outnum-
bored them? 1t is we'll for men like Go
Lightly to remember that Catholics have
CONT ::outed their share to make this ma
zion what it is. Its grandeur and great
ness are not entirely due to men of Puri-
tan ancestry. Men who talk about Puri-
tanism and Anglo axonism are anxious
to celebrate the discovery of North
America by Cabot five years hence.
so that they can indulge in
the glorifcation of Protestaatism and
British civilization. They can celebrate
the event if they want to. But this year
we are honoring Columbus, and his lineal
descendant, the Duke of Veragua, is the
nations guest.
None but sectarian bigot seeking
cheap notoriety would cast an aspersion
upon the Spanish nobleman who is new
at Chicago. He Processes the same faith
as his intrepid ancestor, and he is not
ashamed to show that he is good
practical Catholic. ~