The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-10
HIS VIEWS ARE CATHOLIC.
EXCELLENT .4DDRESS BEFORE THE
 CATHOLIC UNION or BOSTON.


 It Was Delivered by ex-Governor Rice and
 Was Loudly Applauded-CharlesJ J, Bona
 parte of Baltimore Gave an Interesting
 Address to the People.
 Boston, Jan. 9.-The Catholic union
 of Boston held dinner at the Hotel
 Brunswick this evening in honor of Charles J. Bonaparte of Baltimore, Md. Addresses upon the topic Religion, the Safeguard of American Liberty" were made by MT. Bonaparte, Hon. Aelexan- der H. Rice, General F. A. Walker and Hon. Thomas J. Gargan. An informal reception to MT. Bonaparte was held from 6;30 to 7:3O, and shortly before o'clock J. F. Leahey, president of the union, with Mir Bonaparte headed the procession ito the dining hall. Covers were laid for about 150 and prominent at the head table, besides the speakers, were Vicar General William Byrnes of the arch diocese of Boston, Rev. Timo- thy Breed. S. J., General M. S. Dona- hue, Patrick Donahue, James Jeffreys Roche, Samuel J. Kitson, Judge Joseph D. Fallon, Major Edward Jones, Sheriff John B. O'Brien, W. I. Pelletier, Henry | O'Meara and pr. J. B. Moran
 | Two hours were spent in the discus | sion of an elaborate menu, and then l President Leahey opened the speaking with few introductory remarks. MT. Bonaparte, the guest of the even | ing, was then introduced and warmly greeted He said in substances: What | do we Americans mean by liberty? Here as elsewhere 1t is easy and com mon to talk of the beauties of freedom, | but difficult to define 1t. We differ as widely from the nihilist as from Clar- endon when he called the king of Eng land as free as any one in Europe. The most characteristic idea of freedom Is that which shall set an example to oth CT nations in a limitation of the sphere of government. Prima facie, the states interference is an evil and the onus pro- bandi is on It's supporters. We are es- sentially a religious people, but do not deem the government competent to de- termine between different faiths. As we forbid the states being a church, we forbid its undertaking any business which individuals can and will under take. Advocates of communism are for the most part not American. The state is only a multitude of people, many foolish, most weak and in a majority influenced by self-interest. As to these things we have known the truth, and the truth hath made us free. We, how ever, are confronted by new danger Power must be entrusted to somebody, and power in the hands of human be- ings is a source of corruption. In a popular government a corrupt elector- ate means a degraded people A free people, voluntarily subjected to the rule of it's worst classes, will not long be free. We are confronted with the ques- ton whether we shall purify the gov ernment or be debased by it. We find, our succor in the clergy, who have been becoming interested in quasi political agitation. They have been dragged into politics. The Catholic church no more tells her people which ticket they shall vote than what food they shall eat, but she tells them to vote in clear judgment.
 "Can any clergy stand mute and helpless before the shameful spectacle of law breakers in power? The rule of a scandalously corrupt party or fac tion is acted blasphemy as truly as the deed of blood by medieval sovereigns. No clergyman can limit his responsi- bility by any bounds of his own mak- ing. When moral pestilence threat ems to eat out the sould of our body polite, no professed guardian of morals can stand idly by."
 The next speaker was Hon. Alexander H. Rice, ex-governor of Massachusetts, who was loudly applauded, He said:
 "I am not a Catholic, but hold my views in a Catholic spirit. There are many religions and many degrees of liberty, but the liberty by which we are made free in Christ Is itself religion and has God Almighty for its safe guard. We might say that education is | the safeguard of American liberty. We | seek liberty protected by law, and | hope we may have courts for the set | clement of international difficulties. | But in war the issue Is lifted out of the | sphere of arms into that of education, | as in the case of rebellion and in the | present war between China and Japan. | But religion, too, may be called safe- guard of liberty Sonship of God indi- cates to man a marvellous destiny. By contemplation of Christ we become as far as possible transformed into His likeness. Education, sanctif1ed by re- ligion or religion permeated by intel ligence shall be the safeguard of Amer ican liberty, and then indeed the repub- lie will stand upon lasting foupdations."
 General Walker, who was received with cheers, then spoke. The last speaker was Hon. T. J. Gargan of Boston.