The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-14
BISHOP COTTER RETURNS.
He Speaks Interestingly of His Eu-
rOpean Trip.

He Speaks Interestingly of His Eu-
rOrean Trip.
Bishop j. B. Cottcr, OF Winona, ar
rived at his home, on Saturday, Sept.
80, from lengthy visit in Europe. The
Father Mathews temperance society
called i'll a body to welcome him. He
addressed them in an informal, but very
interesting talk, speaking, i'll part, as
| follows:
at does really seem good to be in
this old familiar spot again. 1t does
seem good to look into the faces OF
friends with whom have been so
closely and for some considerable time
associated. Since | stood here last, to
address you as a society, l have seen
much oil the glory OF past ages, and
much OF what we caAthe glory OF the
present age. But through all from day
to day, week to week and month to
month, the conviction that dawned
upon ME and grew stronger and
stronger day by day, and finally took
possession OF my whole lie and being,
was that total abstinence means saliva
ton, means salvation both temporal
and spiritual.
In France | saw no drunkenness.
1t seemed to be eliminated from their
lives. | scarcely know just where the
salvation OF the French people lies
They seem to need scourging OF some
kind to make the people OF today what
they were in days OF old when the ban
ners OF the clurch-banncrs that spoke
OF perfected manhood, and OF every
virtue that was inspired by love OF
God and His works-wavcd over sun
my France, and when the rule OF love
was triumphant within her domains.
III she would escape the wrath OF
God she must walk bareiooted upon
penitcntial stone like Robert OF Sicily"
In speaking OF Italy the bishop said:
Italy does not satisfy the Catholic
church. We feel that it ought to be
great country numbered among the
foremost OF the world, and that it
ought to be under the dominion OF all
that is good and great in this world
under the powerful arm OF Christianity.
Drunkenness did not rob Italy of her
glory and her grandeur 1t was some
thing else. Just what this is l fail to
know The people there seem to need
revival OF faith and renewal OF viz
tue before the greatness OF their ancient
and glorious manhood and womanhood
returns.
ireland? Well, my friends, I must
confess that | went to ireland to find
happiness, and you know very we'll in
your own hearts that l was foolish to
expect such 4 condition to prevail in
that island. The traces OF despotism
that hung men and women, the tyranny
that crushed the heroic and the brave
Tor the wearing OF the green still mani
lest themselves in misrepresentation
and taxation and in what some people
choose 10 term vices, but which call
weakness Oh the part OF the people
But my dear friends, what will give
them the freedom and happiness they
seek? Not the government that has so
long dcspised and abused them Alas,
| am afraid that this happiness will
never come from this source Their
freedom and their happiness lies in their
own hands. This freedom is within the
grasp OF their own will; their happiness
within the domain OF their ow1 deter1n-
nation.
Il saw very little drunkenness in Ire
lard and compared with other countries
ireland is free from this terrible curse.
Although my visit to ireland was in
many respects sorrbwful one, yet I
Left that beloved country i'll good spirits,
Tor | have great hopes for ireland and
great and grand possibilities for the
Irish people,
Bishop Cottcr was present at the SER
vices at St. Thomas cathedral on Sum
day morning and delivered the sermon.
An unusually large congregation was
Out to greet him. A summary OF his
address follows:
81 have looked upon the monuments
OF the old civilizations, I have looked
upon the monuments OF the new civili
cations. I have seen the countries that
poets have raved about, but find that
Winona is more beautiful than them all.
Noble as may be the people OF other
lands, and l would not rob them OF that
nobility, nowhere is there that nobility,
piety or devotion to the interests of
God and country that is in our own
land.
Other countries may boast OF their
great shrines, of their immortal dead,
and let them boast, for better than the
old monuments of devotion and sacr-
tlcc are the monuments you are build
ing in your own homes by your every
act OF faith, hope and charity.
"My welcome has been manifest. I
thank you for your loyalty and devo-
|