The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-26
VIZ cArHo11cs sHouLp be eRArEFuL.

W. NlolL W hlON Nndg L billuh EAIlGIl-
can Catholics have to be thankful for in
this year of our Lord 1893. No doubt in
this general question you do not include
the graces and blessings given by God to
the individual soul through His spiritual
channels, the holy sacrifice or the mass
and the sacraments instituted by our
Lord. These blessings are being showered
upon us all at all times and are constant
cause for thanksgiving to God, our com
mon Father, and of love and gratitude to
Jesus Christ, our brother aud redeemer.
10 be more specific, l presume you mean
by your question what cause we have for
Thanksgiving as regards temporal ad-
vantages and blessings.
l think we have many.
First: the Columbian Exhibition at
Chicago. What a recognition by this
great republic of a scientific and humane
achievement which has brought the hap
piness of home and the glories of liberty
to millions Of oppressed. This achieve
ment, the discovery of America, was un-
dertaken in the name of God and science.
1t was inaugurated by a Catholic sOver-
eign and the navigator who assumed to
carry out the intention of Isabella was
devout Catholic and a persevering Chris
tian scholar. This great republic, not
Catholic, has recognized the act of
Catholic nation and by this wisely com
memorated its memory. The general
conduct of the United States has done
much to break down religious prejudice
and force all citizens of the republic to see
the advantages of religious liberty. This
certainly is a reason for all thanksgiving.
We have special reasons to be thankful
to heaven in this Columbian year. Leo
XIII, a year ago determined to send
representative to this country. When
that representative arrived on these
shores he was thought to be only tenn
porary ALLOCATE and the representative of
the holy father at the Columbian exhibit
ton. On every side insinuation and
sometimes attack were made upon this
representative. Some people went so far
as to talk of driving him out of the COun-
try. This was the way they showed their
loyalty and devotion to the holy father,
and these good people were Catholics.
and, | regret to say, ecclesiastics in good
standing. The American government and
the American people quietly accepted
the right of the holy father to send
here a spiritual representative to
his church. They felt it would be
fere with religious prerogatives of their
fellow citizens. Mgr. Satolli, from being,
as was thought a temporary ablegate, is
now securely established in the country
as permanent apostolic delegate, and
when he is recalled by his spiritual au-
thorltles the delegation remains fixture,
so that the plot has failed. The wisdom
of Mgr Satolli has prevailed. The enc
mics of his mission and his person have
been obliged to recognize the right of the
holy father to exercise his supremacy in
the government of the universal church
The winds and the waves seemed to have
threatened the bark of the church in this
country during the past year, but the
vicar of Christ, Leo XIII, has heard the
words of his master. He has spoken them
with the voice and authority of our Lord.
He has commanded the winds and the
waves to be still, and they have obeved
him, and peace reigns in the church of the
United States, and the apostolic delegate,
representing Leo XIII, is master of
the situation. Let us hope that this
peace is real and that the men who talked
of having an American pope of their own
selection will not think of cherishing
feelings of resentment and revenge. We
certainly have many reasons to be thank
full to God for the wisdom aud fatherly
spirit shown to the American Catholic
church through the heart of Leo XIII.
IN the honest personality of Archbishop
Satolli. l might give you a great many
other points why we should be thankful.
but you must pardon me if I stop.
THOMAS l. DUCFY