The Irish standard., 1900-07-14
HON. JOHN F. FITZGERALD
A Great Speech in the House by the
Boston Congressman.


Boston Congressman.
The Hon. John F. Fitzgerald OF Bos-
ton made memorable fight in congress
recently for the St. Joseph's Orphan
Asylum of Washington. This institu-
ton is conducted by the Sisters and has
done remarkable work in the taking
care of the orphan children OF the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The city of Washington maintains no
institution of its own for the care OF
orphans, with the result that the help
less little ones are provided for by pri-
vate institutions. The past two years
the bigots in congress have taken away
the appropriation from this institution,
on the ground that it was sectarian,
while at the same time, as Mr.. Fitz-
gerald points out in his speech, thou
sands of dollars are given to the Young
Women's Christian Association and the
Young Wonaen's Christian Home.
Catholics will never get their just due
i'll congress or anywhere else, unless
more men of the stamp of Mr.. Fitzger-
aid who are willing to stand up for their
faith, are sent to the halls of legislation.
We extract the following passage
from his speech:
II think have said sufficient to show
that all our modern charities have their
impulse, their origin, their models and
their traditions in Catholicity.
"There is no training for the young
like religion and moral training. 1 shall
never object to any appropriation which
provides for the orphan and destitute, no
matter what form Of religious teaching
may go with it.
Christianity is the basis OF all civil
zation, and if our institutions are to be
preserved we must foster in the minds
and hearts of the youth of today the
teaching and precepts of religion.
president Eliot in speech delivered
in Chicago a short while ago said ex-
ccpt in the Catholic churches the attend
ance Of church goers was becoming
smaller every day. This is to be ac
counted for by reason OF the absence OF
religious teachings nowadays to the
young, and the consequent growing up
of the youth of the present generation
in an atmosphere of materialism and in
fidelity
"The divine origin OF civil power has
always been upheld by the Catholic
church, and she has always condemned
disobedience, disloya1ty and revolution
against legitimate authority. Love OF
order, respect for rightful authority and
obedience to just laws is the battle cry
Of the ministry of the Catholic church.
Blessed with these weapons the priest
has moved from one section of this
broad land to the other, cvangclizing
and ministering to the wants OF man
kind until the adhcrents of the Catholic |
church number millions, where a few
short years ago they were counted by
the thousands.
"On every hillside, in every village
square and on every street you can find
her churches, her schools, her asylums,
her academies and her hospitals open
and ready to do Gods work in the up
lifting OF humanity and in the progress
of the human race.
"Why, then, does this intense opposi-
ton to her interests spring up? This ma
ton grew out OF communities nurtured |
in prejudice and bigotry, and it has not
gotten entirely away from these influ-
ences. 1t seems to obtain such a hold
on otherwise sound-reasoning and we'll
balanced minds as to completely oblit-
crate all sense OF justice and fair play.
ut is hard for a great many men who
arc members OF this house at the pres
cnt time to admit a truth which they
have always been taught to deny, but
every man here must realize that no in
auence is so potent in advancing civili-
zation and preserving law and order in
this country today as is the Catholic
church.
"In the great fight that is coming on
between faith and agnostcism, the boy
and girl of the present generation must
bear the brunt of the battle, and how
poorly will they be equipped to meet
the deadly enemy of civilization and
Christianity if the policy persisted upon
by this house prevails!