The times., 1897-05-31

sacred to the memories of patriotism,
brings to us as people most important
lessons, for on this day the Nation goes
as a pilgrim TO the burial place OF its sol
der dead, to strew upon their graves
flowers, fragrant with country's love.
Thus is expressed admiration for their
heroism, by which our liberties have been
preserved. Thus is taught to us the
lesson of what our country means, and
thus we are led to do oar duty as patriots
in the preservation of the covenants Of
our fathers. God has implanted ia the
human heart two loves, the love Of God
and the love OF neighboc patriotism being
but thelove of neighbOr, publicly express ID
The word country has tcen at all times
the talIsinan for deeds of valor: patriotism
has ever been the spur to the best en-
deavor, TO the noblest heroisil. and patriots
have been the worlds best beloved heroes.
Where in the world should the word '.coun-
try make the blood rush faster, or heroism
TO sacrifice more than in this free land OF
ours, where country stands for home. for
liberty, for humanity, for the inalienable
rights of man, and to which, among all
nations, the nollest heritage has teen
their mission Rome had its mission in
conquest and a certain civilization, Greece
had mission OF art and culture: the
Middle Age republics had mission for
some form of popular government, but to
America has been given the mission of
teaching the world politically the true
dignity OF man, investing him with a cit
izenship, sprnging not from a class nor
trade, nor the law OF man, but from God.
He gave to America the political mission
to luake all men free and equal before the
law. Our nations strength is in the in
dividual himself who is at once a citizen
obliged to obey and citizen privileged
to rule. Other nations find their authority
through the right of kings, but all find their
source OF authority in God
America asks no mai TO give up his
race, to change his color, to deny lis
creed and whatever tends TO ennoble, en-
ricn or strengthen such citizenship is 'oy-
atty. Whatever disgraces, pauperizes or
weakens citizenship is disloyalty We need
intelligence in our citizenship, but 1t rs
the intelligence which springs not so much
from intellectually as from a keen knowl-
edge of the precepts of the Gospel. We
need morality, without which citizenship
is unable to reach its ideals, for what IS
morally wrong can never be politically
right AS long rs God guides our citizen
ship the country need fear no danger; yet
there has been fear expressed as 10 the
stability of the Government We know
that nations as strong as ours have passed
away; dynasties have risen only to fall,
and so the carefal citizen must question
the foundations and the supports of the
government in order TO be certain that
the fabric OF the fathers may remain We
may be certain that this Government will
endure If men are true TO their citizenship.
We must have unlimited confidence in
mankind and undving trust in the prov-
dence of God, who has made us a nation
with "A mission TO humanity. There is no
danger to America from any man who he
lieves in Christ. Never mind what the
higots may say. We know what these altars
teach: we know that they made our fathers
realize that this was country worth liv
ing for-worth dying for-and a nations
gratitude Will tomorrow wreathe the
graves Of many noble soldiers whose hearts
were true to the Catholic religion. They
were true Americans because they wore
true Catholics. Christ came to teach the
liberty of the individual 1t was He VINO
gave TO the world the true dsctrine Of man,
and the church, which, on Pentecost day,
He established, and which, by Peter and
James and John, presented Christianity TO
the Jew and the pagan, can never De a
menace to liberty.
Speaking of the Catholic Church. past
and present, he said: ''In our universities
and schools of the middle ages She held
aloft the torch of learning, while her prin-
ciples yfvifIed the middle age republics.
She sent forth with her blessing the dis
coverer who was to open this country to
civilization and liberty, and in the track
less forests, by the rivers and in tine val
leys her missionaries broke the bread If
civilization with the harbarians, and
whether in the rude hut of the savage or
In the grand cathedral of the mighty city,
her bishops have been the teachers of The
liberty W hich first was preached from Beth
lehem.
Bear, then, to the dead tomorrow your
tribute of gratitude. They died for the
covenants of our fathers that we might
have one nation, and thus fulfill our mis-
SIGN. May God bless our country and
preserve it a nation, the home of liberty,
the refuge OF he oppressed, the land # the
free, the hope of humanity