The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-03

and recall Gettysburg's fearful, fearful
strife, the duel on Little Round Top,
the dash to death, the glorious victory.
1t was yours to march in the wilder
ness, to share with each other the
blanket and canteen at Spottsylvanla,
North Anna, Coal Harbor, Petersburg
and Winchester. Your bavonets were felt
at Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom,
Ream Station, White OAK Road, High
Bridge, Sailors Creek, Far.nville and
Appomattox when the S ar of the
rebellion let US hope, went down for
ever.
More than quarter of a century
nas gone by since then. -Four years
went bv, four long dreadful years of
agony and suffering unknown. But at
last from under the smoke and dust of
oattle field. from under the dread cloud
of tears and grief and agony, widows and
orphans homes, there was seen slowly
out radiantly, emerging the pure res
plendent form OF the goddess of liberty
and union baptized with blood. Aloft
she held in her outstretched hand the
olive branch of peace, while in clarion
tones she called to North and South to
East and West: "Liberty and Union
Now and Forever, Oae and Inseper-
able"
The idea of liberty could never be
fully reaized, while the foul blot of
human slavery disgraced our National
life 4; for here was race prescribed and
degraded who had no human rights as
recognized by law.
The battle was fought and won, the
chains were broken, and the black
man was told that American liberty
knew no race, or color or creed, but
that as Gods children they were free
and equal. The vested rights of cen
turles stood in the way, but the Ameri-
can idea brushed aside these so called
rights and proclaimed to the world
what Christianity, manhood and liberty
demanded, that the American Repub-
lie should know no slavery within its
borders but that which bows to right
and truth. 1t cost, to vindicate these
principles but the result was worth all
that it cost to attain them. The unity of
our Republic IN perfect freedom Of all
men, the blotting out of all social and
race distinctions, the making Of our
land the home of the Tree, the giving of
our starry banner to black and white
alike, and the floating of this standard
over all in unity, this is what the
Catholic American fought for, this IS
the reason you were called on to make
the sacrifices you did, this is why | am
here to speak your praises; for the
brave deeds of our Catholic soldiers,
the courage, daring and heroism of
men whom we love to call our own
form chapters of as glorious history as
anything, chrogicled in ancient or
medieval times.
You veterans may not be able TO
trace your line to venerable ancestry !;
you may show no mark OF noble birth,
but you point to the flags you carried,
the scars of wounds received, the
dangers encountered, the sacrifice
made, and these constitute your
nobility.
May We never forget our brave men,
and may the day never come when it
shall be said of our country, that she
will allow a veteran or his family to
reproach her with ingrabitude in allow
ing suffering or want to haunt the fire.
side he left to defend her.
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps
Or honor points the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps"
And now as Catholic priest and as
an American citizen, am pleased to
address you this evening; for there is
no truer friend to America and Ameri-
can liberty than the Catholic Church.
She herself is the mother of liberty. l
appeal to that flag to vindicate my
| religion that she is not a menace to
American liberty, appeal to it by
the names of leaders from Bishop Car
roll of Baltimore, to Bishop Hughes ol
| New York.
Some have said without blush, thai
we Catholics are not loyal Americans
The mothers that taught US to lisp the
name of God, taught US to love the
name of freedom. As long as we are
true to the one, we shall love the other
Here our fathers struggled, here they
toiled and here they died. Shall We
be dlsloyal to the land where thei
sacred ashes lie? o, hide that though
in shame. Others in their Ignorance
will say that if we Catholics are di
rected by the Pope to attempt the owe
throw of the American Republic, WI
are bound TO obey; be charitable ant
tell them that the Constitution OF th'
United States is not repugnant to tn
law OF God.
1t is one which the people of tn
United States under the law had righ
to establish, and therefore the Pop
never had, has not now and never wi
have a right to command its overthrow
Tell them, that the American Catholic
bow in humble, no not humble, bu
proud submission to our Holy Fathe
the Pope as the Head of the Catholi
Church. But tell them too, that il an
powers were to cross the sea, with tn
) hostile intention of disturbing one ST.
in our flag, or of substituting for thu
t flag any sign or standard of Catholicit.
S Catholic Americans, sword in han
would meet them on the shore an