St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-01
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
TIE SUBJECT or dN ABLE ADDRESS
By FATHER cLEA6Y,
In A PROTESTANT CHUR CHI.

The Eloquent Catholic Priest
Lectures for the Benefit of the
Poor at the Church of the Re-
deemer-A Large Attendance
-Rev. sample Prevents n Man
From Committing Suicide.
Fully thouS and people assembled at
the Church of the Redeemer last night
to listen to an address delivered by Rev.
Father James NJ. Cleary, the eloquent
Catholic priest, on the interesting sub
Ject, american Citizenship" The
proceeds of the lecture will be turned
over to the Associated Charities to use
in the benefit of the poor of the city.
The address was an entertain
ing one. and demonstrated that the
speaker had given the subject
considerable stndy, ana also that
tha question of citizenship and inaiena-
BILE rights is one of the deep-rooted
sentiments of his self. He maintained
that the simple title of American citizen
was worth more than all the hollow
titles of aristocracv, and he was in SYM
pathy with the gentleman who said he
would rather be true American citizen
than an Irish king. The prerogative of
being called citizen of America was III
itself an honor.
Never in the history of civilization.
said the speaker. were the sentiments of
honesty, manhood and equality so
thoroughly recognized as in this cOun-
try. The government itself was built
upon the bulwark of manhood, and no
other qualification than this was neces-
sary to obtain citizenship. 1t was but
necessary for one to be man and
brother, swear allegiance to the
flag, to obey the laws aud
break off all allegiance with for
eign power or pOtentate. In referring
to the foreign-born American citizens
Father Cleary could not keep tinge of
bitterness from creeping into his voice.
There were certain class of so-called
citizens, who were more cowardly than
loyal, who scotfed and snarled at those
but came here to live. They
called them hyphenated Amer
leans and aliens and endeayored
in every way to stir up strife and dis
content. AS matter of fact. some of
the bravest and most loyal of American
citizens were born in foreign lands
under tyranny and oppression. They
were men who when the time of need
came rushed to the front with sword
and bayonet, ready to die for their
adopted country.
The true and honest American citi-
GEN. said Father Cleary. lis the man
who is the firm and upright upholder of
freedom. the man who is willing to eX-
tend the same inalienable rights TO
every man, no matter what his origin
or what his country. American citizen
ship is an inalienabIe right to life, lib
erty and happiness, which every man,
as man, can enjoy. There is no such
thing as 'toleratlou' now. The colonial
days have gone by. Every man has the
right to demand these rights, no matter
what his race, religion or previous con-
dition of servitude. There is no race,
no class no distinction. No American
citizen has any privileged rights over
any other Citizen"
The speaker remarked that as Cath
Ollie he would be false to his religion and
his country if he did not stand ready to
defend the rights of Protestant citi-
zen as well as those of a Catholic.
Mans rights depended largely upon the
rights of his fellow citizens being pre-
served. When the rights of one are
invaded the rights of all are in danger.