Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-15
OUR COUNTRY'S GREATNESS
Archbishop John Ireland Lectures on the
Broadcast of Earthly Topics.
GLoRltS OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
Proud Privileges OF n People where
All Are Equal Before the
Lnw-snfety of the
Republic. a.

ate hdu peen anticipated with pleasure by
those who have had the pleasure of hearing
him on previous occasions and others who
gladly embraced the opportunity to listen to
an orator of more than national reputation.
The subject of the lecture was "Our Coun-
try" and the fact that 1t was for the benefit
OF the st. James Orphanage was greeted
as a privilege to simultaneously confer a
charity on ones self and on a worthy insti-
tuition. The lower floor was well filled be-
fore o'clock and even in the upper gallery
nearly every seat was taken. The audience
was representative of the best citizenship Of
Omaha and number of the leading mem
bers Of the local Grand Army OF the Re-
public posts occupied seats in the parquet.
Among those who sat beside the speaker
on the stage were: Bishop Scannell OF
Omaha, Bishop Bonacum of Lincoln. Count
w. J. Onahan Of Chicago, Mgr. Nugent, Ed
A. Cudahy, Count John A. Creighton.
General Coppinger Herman Kountze,
Cram OF South Omaha, Rev. John Williams
and DR.. Kinsler.
Preliminary to the speaking, the Boyd
Opera House orchestra, directed by Mr..
Hans Ademann, rendered several selections,
the first Of which was medley of national
melodies, which was received with marked
favor. Bishop Scannell introduced Arch
bishop Ireland. who received an enthusiastic
greeting. When the applause had subSided
the speaker said in substances
COUNTRY. NEXT TO GOD.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Patriotism is
love Of country and loyalty to it's life and
veal, love tender and strong; tender as tho
love of son for mother strong as the pillars
of death; loyalty generous and dsinterested,
shrinking from sacrifice and seeking no
reward save country's triumph. Patriotism!
There is magic in the word! 1t is bliss to
speak 1t, and bliss to see It, The human
race in all ages burned at the shrine of
patriotism and incense Of admiration and
reverence. The sweetest pages of history
are those which count deeds which it in
spired; freside stories, the outpourings Of
the memories of place, draw from 1t their
warmest glow; orators are most potent
when re-echoing its whsperngs, and cho-
ruses are sweetest when they trill its chords
of music. Pagan nations were wrong when
they made gods of their noblest patriots,
but the error was only the excess of
great truth-that heaven united with
earth in blessing patriotism that pa
trotism Is one of earth's noblest virtues,
worthy to have come down from the atmos-
phere of the skies. The exalted patriotism
of the exiled Hebrew exhaed itself in a
hymn written beneath the breathings OF
Jehovah, and which has been translated to
the Christian church as the inheritance OF
the peopls of God: oh, Jerusalem, If for
get thee, let my right hand be forgotten;
let my tongue cleave to my jaws If l do
not make of Jerusalem the beginning of
my joy
''Patriotism goes out to what is among
earth's possessions the most precious, the
first, the best-country-and its effusion in
the fragrant flower of the purest and no
blest sentiments OF the heart. II is innate
in all men, Its absence denotes psrversion
of human nature, but it grows to its full
growth only where peoples are elevated and
are generous. Next to God
is country, and next to religion is patriot
ism. tApplause) oh. glorious is he ex-
claims in Homer the Trojan warrior, 'glorl-
Gus is he who for his country fallsr OF air
human things writes Cicero, none is more
honorable and more estimable than to merit
well of the commonwealth
America, born in these latter times into
the family Of nations is the highest pillar
In humanity's evolution, the crowning effort
Of ages in the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of man. (Ap-
pause). America is the country Of human
dignity and human liberty. Gives sum
am Roman citizen-a proud
title this The nations knew no prouder in
Olden days. 1t clothed its possessor with
the majesty of Rome, and made him a par
taker of all her rights and glories. We
bear no envy to the sons Of Romuus. We
have title, Gives sum Americanus-I am
an American citizen-and never was there
another title equalng 1t IN sublime
meaning and in copious wealth Of rights
and privileges. Applause) The Roman
was subject The American is a mon
he world-the manhood Of man. Roman
was not built on manhood, neither
lid it enrich or elevate it; and for this loss
o the citizen of Rome the might and vic-
ories of her army and the wealth gathered
n from nations by her proconsuls could
lot make compensation. American cltzen-
hip is American manhood.
abraham Lincoln defines the govern-
nent of America as government OF the
people by the people and for the people.
rip is highest
democracy. (Applause) When the founda-
ions OF this nation were being laid q
democratic government was bold and ex-
experiment. There were abso-
ute monarchies, in which the king was tho
tate; there were limited monarches; there
we're even so-called republics, but always a
lass Of men ruled. Nowhere did the entire
people reign, and 1t happened very gener-
lily as the natural consequence Of uncon-
rolled authority that kings and classes
Governed for their own benefit. To be just,
however, to other ages and other countries.
We ought to say that form of government
Ike ours was practically impossible, because
he masses were not possessed OF the in
diligence and self-contro which are the
onditions of a government by the whole
,eople. Manhood nevertheless, was with
low steps but ceaseessly coming forward,
aiming, age by age, consciousness OF its
gnity and Of its rights, its advance being
ided by the teachings of the Christian re-
igIon on the fatherhood Of God and the
OF man.
ACT OF SUPREME CONFIDENCE.
"The republic was an act Of supreme conf-
ence in man, a confession such as never be-
ore had been made OF human dignity and
uman ability. Even at this day Mr.. Bryce
,rItes: The Americans are trying the most
important experiment In government the
,orld has yet witnessed The French phil
sopher, Jean Jacques Rosseau. wrote that
democracy is a government of the gods but
nht for men,. As our patriot sires unified
he starry flag perfumed with the new spirit
manhood. the nations declared them fool
sh and foretold for the republic brief exist
nee. Joseph de Maistre said: The American
epubic is only in its cradle; let a century
ass over It, and we shall see century has
one by and Washington's republic remains.
Applause) 1t has grown 1t has become a
liant II thrills with potent strength and
xalted hopes which sanguine dreams Of its
,unders had never foreseen The terrible O. deal
,hich alone seems to have alarmed one OF
merica's truest friends, Alexander de
ocquevle is thus spoken Of by him: The
vil war, the strife between the civil govern
lent and state authorities, was the one tese
eeded to give to America the consciousness
her power OF endurance, and never was the
apublic so strong In all the elements Of life,
} enhancing in beauty. so menacing to the
res Of democracy, as when the sun OF Ap-
1mattox shone upon her banner and revealed
pom its azure ground the presence OF the full
alaXy Of the stars Applause)
There Is no other country where equal
pportunities are open TO men, where ef-
'rt is so well rewarded. II Is a country or