The Irish standard., 1894-08-11
WELCOME HOME.

lclo OF the 9th ln9C. Inc spacious lawn
| was crowded with people and many stood
about outside, while the boulevard was
lined with carriages. Between two end
three thousand persons were present.
The surroundings we're beautiful.
Around the grounds were strung row
of many colored electric lights ana row
also crossed the lawn directly in front of
the residence. The bishop, with a party
of reverend gentlemen sat on the front
portico Those with him were Very Rev.
Paul Geyer, ". G., of Chippewa Falls,
Revs: j. F. Voltz of Neilsvile, W. Hack
ner Of Fountain City, j. B. Wiedemann,
VIM. White, A. Knoll, K. q. Boyer, F. j.
Untraut Of this city. The bishops mother
occupied scat in the balcony above.
About eight o'clock the band played.
after which Mr.. James Kelvin made a
short but appropriate address,. MIR. JIG.
Hagemann followed in complimentary
vein, his remarks being in German. J.J.
Kavanaugh spoke as follows:
His Grace Bishop Schwebach, the Rev.
Fathers and Citizens-We meet tonight
to celebrate, not especially the membesr
of one system of faith, but as friends and
citizens to do respect to man eminent
among the people, inconspicuous and
unassuming, the representative of the
La Crosse diocese who is truly great in
the consciousness of his humble and UNI
yielding devotion to the philosophy OF
the church militant. S';:f "
When your grace took leave of Fla
Crosse for foreign lands, you perhaps felt
| that this city was the most hospitable
harbor yet known to you. Since your
departure this feeling has become mutual
for the reason that the solicitude mani
tested at home for your welfare abroad
attested most eloquently to that friend
ship, love and admiration which is felt
for you in La Crosse. Leo XIII has had
opportunity of meeting one most heartily
engaged in the interest of his admins
tration and one boundlessly qualified to
act as we'll as speak on salient Catholic
affairs. Not in your own church MEM
bership, your Grace, is this loyalty to you
developed; it is unconfned to sect or to
party, but finds it's most potent basis
under the broad mantle of charity and
humanity, elements which have always
especially characterized you.
No where on earth are Catholics 80 de-
voted to church and country as in Amer
lea. And on no spot on earth shall a
better citizen be found than in those
humble homes made pure by Christian
truth. A nations stability lies in its
homes. A nations resources in tire vir-
tue of it's people. Catholic truth purifies
society, guards the home and therein
implants the first germs of the vitality of
the republic.
The illuetrious Grant was not reputed
to parade his fealty to the glorious re-
public which he loved SO much. He
rather courted remote and humble soci-
ETY., and none would suspect that behind
that immobile exterior would there Turk
that uncompromising love of country.
It is not to political bombast that intel
lgent American citizens look for their
highest civic ideals, but rather do they
look to those oblivious surroundings
where morality and sturdy citizenship
abound.
La Crosse, Your Grace, opens wide her
gates tonight and welcomes once more
into her midst most exemplary citizen.
Professionals, Jews and Gentiles bid you
most earnest welcome and hope that
your renewed diocesan administration
oonsecrated by the benediction Of that
peerless Pontif shall invigorate your
mind and enliven your heart to the du-
ties Of your exalted Office.
| Let us hope that in the civic and polit-
ical conduct OF Catholics in America, that
we can assume unbounded charity to
all, and practice the broadcast scope in
secular affairs. Let US hope that our
politics will be that which will accrue to
the veal and perpetuation Of our I'M
matched republic; that our religion will
be that of the broadcast ,brot herhood lot
humanity, and that our hopes and high
est ambition will be bound up under
those happy environments under the
mantle Of which we are pleased to call
the g Home. 3