The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-21
SOUND AMERiCANISM.

In sermon delivered on st. Pat
rick's Day in st. Pauls cathedral Arch
bishop Ireland uttered soms sentiments
that will set every right-thiuking
American to applaudlng. Taking for
his theme Foreign Nationslism in
America" tho Archbishop reviewed at
length the career of Ireland's patron
saint, who, although not born in Ire
land, became most loyal and patri-
otic Irishmsn; contsnded that the Cath
olic church in America, as an ecclesi-
as;ical body, should be. above all,
American, and said finally: "One ma
tionalism is and must be supreme in
our civil and social matters, and thatis
American nationalism. On this condi-
tion mas America admitted foreigners
to citizenship. No political ssgrega-
tion of citizens on foreign lines can bs
allowed. 1t is wrong in private life TO
cultivate the spirit of . foreign nation
alism at the expense OF American ma
tionalsm."
We call particular attention to the
personality Of the man who said these
words. He 10 not fanatic. H. is not
a biEot Ho is not a membsr Of any such
silly and narrow-minded organization
as the A. p. A. He is not m enemy OF
the Catholic church. On the contrary,
ho is, next TO Cardinal Gibbons, who
shares his views, the foremost prelate
in American Catholicism; an intimate
friend Of Mgr. Satoili, tho papal repre-
sentative in the Unitei States, and the
clergyman who, at this moment, seems
destined to o greater and more iuAIsn-
tial career, ana one Involving the PROM
ise of higher ecclesiastical hoaors, than
any other member OF the Catholic hier
archy in America. Nor is he an ex-
lrsmist in matters Of political belief.
He is himsalf descendant OF Irish pa
rents, and proud of his ancestry and Of
The tathsrlaud; but he is prouler yet Of
lis adopted country, the country which
welcomes him and shelters him and
gives TO Kim freely the privileges of its
yrest heritage of civic liberty and in.
,,ustrisl opportunity. Aad he does not
desire, in this newer citizenship. under
this newer hig, with all these newer
and larger and better chances and
blessings surrounding him, 70 impede
the progress of the country OF his siop-
tion, or to reproduce in it the factionai
difficulties and the varied strife of .dif.
feriug rdce and class and creed which
make it necessary for him aud his to
get out of European quarters and to get
into the broad charity. ample liberty
and splendid opportunity Of free Amer.
lea
Itis truly significant of the dawning
Of better times when a foremost pre-
late of ths church which mum 5ers
among it's communicates nearly one
third OF American Christians, and he =
prelate famed for his aggressiTeness,
can thus honorabIy, bravsly aud fairly
Join hands with those numerous Prot
rstants who wish to see in ali direc
tions a more thorough divorcement Of
church and state; who wish to have
our American politics free from all i'm
proper iuf1ences OF ecclesilsticism,
whether Protestant, Catholic, Jewish
or otherwise; and who bslieve that in
the development Of this. the best coun.
try on Gods footstoo, the best ener.
gies of the best citiz,ns, irrespective Of
race, color, wealth or creed, are none
too good to be applied in harmony, en-.
thusiasm and uninterrupted brotherly
love.