Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-04-23
iCoMMUSIcATED
TIE INJUDICIOUsNE OF FOREIGN
CATHOLICS.

Aessrs. Editors This seems TO be a very OPP
perfume time to recall some Historical Incl
deuts which appear to have been forgotten.
Apart from the fact that this Continent was
discovered and first settled by Foreign Cath
olics. we have indubitablc proof that Foreign
Catholics contributed largely to the success of
the Revolution. We have noble washiugton's
generous admission of this-"As mankind be-
comes more liberal, they will be more apt to
allow that all those who conduct themselves rs
worthy members of the community are equally
entitled To the protection of civil government
nope ever to see America among the fore
most nations In examples OF justice and hber-
". Ana presume that your fellow citizens
VIII not forget the patriotic part which you
TOOK In their Revolution and the esia blishmcnt
Oh their govcrnment-or the important assist
ahce which they received from a nation in
which the Roman Catholic faith is professed
thank you, gentlemen, for your kind CON-
Germ for me. While my life and health shall
continue, In whatever situation I NAV he. n
shall be my constant cndeavor TO Justify the
favorable sentiments which you are pleased to
express OF my conduct. And may the men,
oers OF your society i'm America. animated
alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and
sun conducting themselves us the faithful SUD-
Jects OF our free government, enjoy every tenn
porai and spiritual felicity"
ms manly tribute was given March p 1870
we all know that the nation alluded to was
france. Louis LNl alone of all the crowned
heads dared to help and acknowledge the ius
tice OF the struggle for freedom. Had he
stopped to consider whether il was "a matter
OF precedence. u question of expediency, a
question of law what would have been the
result? When Congress solicited the Diplomat
ic services of Bishop Carroll. a Foreigner and
Catholic, he did not stop to consider whether
It was "a matter of precedence, a question of
expediency, question of law" but generous
ly exposed himself to severe hardships even
TO risk his life in behalf of those who had per-
secuted his flock. denied them the rights of cit
izenship, aye. had even put to death priest
Tor obeying the command of his Divine Master
This judicial murder occurred in l1il in New
ork state. At that time any Catholic priest
found the first time within the territory of New
York and Connecticut was conducted to the
frontier-ou his return death awaited him.
That was Religious Freedom"
The brave DeKalb, Kosciusko. the gallaut
Pole. who held Beemi's Height so nobly; P.i-
laski, who fell in leading the forlorn hone
against the works at Savannah; Rochambeau.
Marquis MacMahon, Count Dillon, all Foreign
Catholics, and all failed to consider before Of
fering their life, fortune and services whether
1t was "a matter of precedence, question of
expediency, question of law"
When Marquis de In Fayette's services
were declined by Franklin because he had no
means of procuring a vessel he declared, II will
provide my own" and as Everett says, at is a
literal fact. that when our beloved country
was too poor To offer him a passage to her
shores, he left in his tender youth, the bosom
of home, of happiness, of wealth and of youth,
to plunge i'm the dust and blood of our inaus-
pcious struggle" He certainly failed (as all
the other Foreign Catholics whose assistance
were gladly accepted to consider whether IL
was IA matter OF precedence, question of OK
pediency, u question of law" Ireland in ITS
failed to do this when she refused to vote 1000
men against the Colonists, but out of her own
needs sent a ship load of provisions to the army
at Valley Forge and gave to the cause some of
her nOblest sons-Commodore Barry, Captains
o'Brien and Manly, Conroy, Moyland. Hand,
Sullivan, McDougall and Roche of Fermoy all
Foreign Catholics, and all derelict on this point
Delaney, Shea, John Mease and James Mcase,
who collectively contributed eleven thous-
and pounds to the cause. were Foreign Catholics
and equally unwise. Burke, Grattan, Flood
and Sheridan certainly did not consider wheth-
er not IL was a matter OF precedence, Ques-
ton OF expediency, a question of law" else
they would not have been such open friends to
the ColonIsts.
Ireland must have been injadicious to war
rant Lord Mountjoy's assertion, Irish Cath
Olics lost you America" Charles Carroll and
William Paca, two signers of the Declaration
of Independence, prescribed on account OF
their religion, like all other Foreign Catholics,
neglected to consider whether IL was "a mat
ter of precedence, question of expediency,
q uestion of law But that seems To be the
popularity with good Catholics whether native
or foreign. They are not up to date
Many other names could be added to this
Roll of Honor, but these already mentioned
should be sufficient to prove that In Americas
need Foreign Catholics gave all to her service
most injudiciously according TO the wisdom of
this century. For those who wish to know who
as:a what Pere Marquette was I would suggest
a little while to he spent with Bancroft
In conclusion I would remark. that 1t seems
taste to deny place to the statue
of Foreign Priest-a great Explorer-in n
building erected on ground donated by a For
eign Catholic-Mr. Carroll.
MSEMosYNE.