The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-17

loyalty to church? I challenge the most
Catholic lands to show me Catholics
more courageous in the profession Of
their faith, more consistent in bringing
its principles into their daily manner
Of life, and If. from its exterior mani
feStatlOns, you pass to an examination
Of their faith itself, it is, to the smallest
iota, the faith OF Peter, the supreme
shepherd of the whole flock, to whom
they are united in love and obedience
as never were more so Catholics of any
country of Christendon-
"Three-quarters of a century, a half
century ago antf-Catholic prejudice was
dominant in the land. Our non-CathoIic
fellow citizens were not to be blamed;
they had not known Catholics as Cath
olicS are, and they treated them accord
ing TO what they believed of them But
today in America the reign of ill-feeling
and animosity has passed away In
America Catholics and non-Catholics
differ from one another in creeds and
spiritual allegiance; but. as true Ameri<
cans they respect one another ana ac-
cord to one another their civil and
social freedom, all working together IN
peace and harmony for the greater veal
of society and of country
The problem before the Church of
America was. whether the Catholic re-
Hgion could prosper in an atmosphere of
absolute freedom, without aid or prop
from state organization, or even
from compact social or ma
tional traditions, where from its innate
vlgor, watered- by the dews of heaven
prosper.
who believes in the divine origin Of Cath
ole faith. or has read diligently its story
never have Ss beeR doubtful 9 YET. So 5'o ae
cl1stomed had Catholics been to see the
only in populations in whose souls it was
encrusted by the accretions of centuries,
europe were not wiling TO trust 70 rs
vitality when planted suddenly, as It were.
in the wilderness to battle. alone and un-
protected, with drouth and tempest The
problem was most interesting. for this
veal, the entire world IS seen rapidly
drifting towards the social and political
triaI in America is on triaI for the World
In America the Catholic faith was
: relations with religion And here IS the
cause Of SO many attacks made on the
are attacks on democracy II would nave
been most convenient for reactionary the
world over, Your church cannot thrive
in a democracy. in the full freedom
to such theorists both America and the.
Catholic church. and American democracy
IN my earnest desire that the Catholic
church in America be all that God intends
pei her to be. may I be allowed to say to
Catholics of America be you. in the trIlest
cans. loving America loving its in
stitutions. devoted to its interests,
defenydhg it. 0iaTH hers Is a a5nsn some ne
Of us, I am not afraid to say, a
QlSpQSltlD4 TO CRITICIZE at every moment 10
rejoice in criticizing. TO exaggerate faults,
to mlnirnize virtues. 70 pile up grievances,
to grumble perpetually- Such disposi-
ton IS nnpa tr1otic aud does most serious
harm to the Catholic faith in the eyes
Of intelligent and earnest Americans Let
ii disappear for good. Surely the time has
come to leave off the old spirit which DAYS
Of real persecution in olden times did
beget, to live of the present and the Tu-
ture, and to reach c0urageOuAly but hon.
Orably forward towards the elevation of
the condition of free men. Let US be
just to America and know and proclaim
that nowhere, all things duly considered.
IS the church fFeer than in America. that
nowhere, as in America Is she allowed to
live in untrammeled freedom and to pros
per as her forces and the zeal of her sons
permit.
From yonder pallium has come my in
spiration. In words that burn with the
deepest feeling and most earnest action.
the pallium that touches the shoulders of
John Joseph keane speaks to me, it
does to my hearers, of church and of
country, OF sacred love for one and the
other. of Intelligent devotion to the veal
of one and of the other.
Friend OF my pr1estiy and episcopal
years. my fellow soldier and my leader
in all causes that we believed to be serv-
iceable to church and to country. I win
this day speak In the name of the church
and of America. and say exceedingly one
and the other rejoice that you are seated
In the full panoply of archiepiScopal dig
nifty and authority upon Dubuque's cathe-
dral chair. The church of America and
America sure that from Dubuque viii
go forth henceforWard in sweetness and
power q mighty influence for good in aid
of religion and of patriotism.