The Irish standard., 1900-11-10
THE REPUBLIC SAFE in ANY EVENT
4 MINI $50
Society
No Reason for Anxiety on Part
Of Sane Citizens.
AN ABIDING FAITH IN The PEOPLE
Chief Rulers are Actuated by
Patriotic Motives.

Cardinal Gibbons took occasion last
Sunday to say a few words on the sub
ject of the national election in his reg
ular monthly sermon to his congre-
cation at the cathedral. The cardinal
never takes any active part in politics.
rarely, if ever casting his ballot but
to those who are fortunate enough to
be in his confidence, he does not hes
itate to express himself freely upon the
issues involved in the compaign.
He takes the position that there need
be no alarm upon the part of anyone
over the result of the election, and
asserts that there is nothing in the
situation to warrant the belief that the
election of either candidate will in any
wise, seriously affect the future well
fare and prosperity of the American
republic. His sermon was as follow:
God has planted in the human heart
an imperishable love of country. Next
to religion, patriotism has inspired the
most heroic deeds>of courage and self
sacrifice. History, both sacred and
-FsafIne, abounds with examples of
sublime fortitude shown by men and
women, too, for their country's sake.
Gideon, with 300 picked men, attacks
and routs the numerous army Of the
Madianites and frees his country from
foreign yoke. might mention Deb
orah, the prophecies and judge of
Israel, who conquered the king of Ca
naan and his army. I might also men
consigned to a shameful captivity,
when her people were oppressed, goes
alone into the enemy's lines, enters the
tent of Holofernes and strikes off his
head. The Assyrians are put to fight
and Israel is rescued from q powerful
enemy. When Judith returns home
the people sing canticles of praise to
her honor, and the high priest and
elders extol her, saying: "Thou art
the glory of Jerusalem thou are the
joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our
people,"
Next to God our country should hold
the strongest place in our affection.
When we reflect on the inesti-
mable blessing we enjoy under
our system Of government, when
we consider the civil freedom which
is shared by every citizen and
the liberty we possess of worshipping
the God of our fathers without let or
hindrance, when we consider the pro-
lection without espionage which sur
rounds our person and property, when
we reflect on our unparalleled material
prosperity and the facilities which are
accorded to every industrious man to
earn a competence, and that no citi-
zen Is debarred by the constitution
from competing for positions of the
highest. rank, when we reflect on all
this it should be our delight as well as
our duty to do all in our power to per-
petuate our political institutions and
to avert any danger that may threaten
to assail them.
In contemplating these blessings, we
are not surprised to find that every
American citizen is proud Of his coun.
try, her history and the record Of her
o%v3o &c tel 1oc,
hement and demonstrative than it used
to be, but, after all that, it is none the
less deep and earnest. Perhaps it is
!, only when an American travels abroad
that he fully realizes how deep-rooted
is his love for his native land. The
sentiment of patriotism which may be
dormant at home is aroused and quick.
ened on foreign shores, The sight of
the American flag flying from the mast
of q ship in midocean or in some for.
eign port awakes an unwonted emotion
and enthusiasm.
Let citizen from Maine meet cit
izen from California on the banks of
the Tiber or on the shores of the Bos-
phorus; they will at once forget that
at home they live 1900 miles apart, all
state lines are obliterated; party diff,
ferences are laid aside, religious ami
mosities if any had-existed) are ex-
tinguished. They will warmly clasl3
hands and will remember only that
they are American citizens and chill
{ dren of the same mother.
The interest which an American
feels in presidential election or any