The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23

| whom he considers best for the place. The
man who will not vote according to reason
| and conscience should not be allowed to vote
| at all. The man who will sell his vote should
| be forever disfranchised The organization
| which makes a business of selling votes should
be handed over to the tender mercies of Father
Iorke, and the man who never votes or never
! intends to vote is the man who cares nothing
about the country in which he lives and de-
| serves the name OF migrate.
| My rights as an American citizen are many.
| have the right to education, and the State
! does not claim to take it from me, as 1t has
| done elsewhere. AS parent have the right
| to educate my children and the State claims
no other right than to punish me II do not
exercise this right: In this country the rights
OF parents over their children are carefully
guarded in matters of education.
The State in this grand Republic offers me a
system OF free schools almost as remarkable as
those which covered the countries OF Europe
during the ages known as dark" Education
is easily acquired here and the State supplies
the very best at its command at very moder-
ate tax per head.
l have also the right to pursue my lawful
business without molestation, and 1t would be
q crime for me to turn any man out of the
means OF getting his livelihood because of his
religious opinions, or to force him to join
trust at the expense OF being forced to sell out
at ruinous figure. The monopoly on the
one hand and the fraudulent business on the
other are equally bad. The State reserves the
right to dictate 10 me what my business shall
be and to punish me if L engage In that which
is contrary to good morals and the social order.
AS we have lately seen one of those who prate
about good citizenship was arrested ana, let
US hope, will be severely punished for ulstrlD-
uting immoral literature.
My right 10 worship God according TO the
dictates of myrown conscience is assured 70 me
by the constitution of the United States and no
man has any business to interfere with my rel1g-
ion unless, forsooth. like the pagan religions
OF old, it teaches immortality. therefore those
who go about to compass the liberty OF con-
science which is enjoyed by the citizens OF this
country in the practice of their religion, are
false to the principles OF the constitution, De
how mfr bad n1nrer -T1a an n
nation, be they editors OF obscure red-lettered
journals, be. they editors of metropolitan
journals. Those who go about under the cover
of secret society to diSse inmate such pr1ncl-
pies would arouse a religious warfare III the
community are traitors TO the country ana
worthy descendants of the hounds that burned
the convent at Charleston.
So that they DO not interfere with the good
order of society, or with the code OF morals
which reason teaches, mans religious opln-
ions are sacred, and the laws OF this land guar
antee him the right not only to hold them, but
the right to practice the worship OF God in the
manner which his religion teaches. And over
and above all this, the laws OF the land and
the sentiment of the American people are OPP
posed 10 all religious persecution, even to the
puollc attacking OF those who differ with us IN
the pubic press. The aggressorS in this coun-
Try nave Tor this reason always found them
selves put down by public opinion, which was
against them, and the mastery defenders who
have had truth on their side, have earned the
respect and finally the love of all fair-Ininded
people. 1t is a principle OF Americanism to
ally to take the part OF him who is the de-
fendant.
L stand here to-day on the broad platform of
the American constitution, which declares that
this is the truth. And l would emphasize, if IL
were possible for Inc to do so, what has been
written in the lives OF Catholic patriots who
have shown their loyalty and devotion to the
principles of freedom as written in that great
pronouncement of the American common
wealth.
Rise up, ye glorious sons of Carroll of Carroll
ton and the little band OF brave signers of the
Declaration; crowd around us, ye followers of
Barry, of Sheridan, Hancock and Rosecrans
Tell US OF your deeds OF velor, how with your
necks in the halter ye did yonr work. Give
again the tale OF your naval conquests YOUR
wondrous ride to Winchester. Faithful you
were in wer, faithful also in peace as in the
army so in the halls of justice or the assembly
rooms OF Congress. Come forth. great prince of
the church, John Joseph Hughes, patriot Arch
bishop, go over for US again your journey to
Paris for your country's good in the hour of
her peril.
You also who are before me to-day, you are
the sons OF these faithful Americans, tell me
are you not loyal 10 the American constitu-
ton? Amid the clash of arms and the busy
hum of the stirring wheels of industry hear
q woman's voice. 1t says, Remember US for
we, too, are loyal" 1t is the modest voice of
the Sister OF Charity who nursed the wounded
on the field of battle.
l seem to see the heavens open, and there
stands at the gate tall civilian. soldier and
statesman. The crown of Immortality sur
mounts his brow. And he has word of greet
ing for each American as he comes from the
banks of the river of death which he has lately
passed. Hear him: "Hail, brother Catholic;
you have done well in the cause OF liberty on
earth. Hail, Sister of Charity, who have nursed
the sick and taught the young. Hail, ye
Catholic soldiers and sailors"
II is the voice of the man whose day we cele-
brate, the faithful witness and true to Ameri-
can freedom-George Washington.
The orators address was applauded en-
Enthusiastically, after which the audience
joined in singing 1.-The Red, White and
Blue" Miss A. Roney sang the Star
spangled Banner" the audience joining in
the refrain and in the singing of Amer
ica," with which the celebration termi-
mated.
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