The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-18

vanced rapidly in Ireland; a literature
was begun, and education made rapid
strides. Then Irish1nen began to go out
as missionaries to the wild tribes of
Europe, and to all parts of the then
known world. The work which they began
in Germany was afterwards continued by
Boniface, who was made the patron saint
of the country T.. r.
The speaker said that Patriek's work
which began in Ireland and spread to the
continent, yet found its highest exempli-
fcation in America. He held that Chris
tianity meant democratic government, and
said:
Religious belief is followed by political in
situations based UP the principles Of Chris
tianity. A people take their first step in the
| march to freedom the day they liste@ to
Christian missionaries. To this origin is
! traced the suppression of slavery which was
universal before the Christian era; the in
stitution of chivalry which raised women
from their previous unenviable condition; the
control of men over their own labor and their
right to enjoy its fruits; the invention Of
printing and finally democratic form Of gov
eminent, the result of education and thought
on the part of the people generally.
Some few men have claimed that the church
which Patrick founded and the faith he
preached are in some way hostile to demo-
cratic government. The Catholic church,
however, is not only the source of democracy,
but 1t constituted the model upon which this
nation was built. In our political system we
have as the unit the town, then the county,
next the state and lastly the federal govern
| ment. In the Catholic church we have the
parish as the unit, then the diocese, the prov
| ince and above the province the universal
church. The head of the church is selected by
an electoral college. 1t has been said that
! in recognizing the head of the Catholic church
we are giving allegiance to foreign power,
but that is not so, because the. law of
! morality, which is taught by the church, is
| universal -, e.,
I It is one of the tragedies of history that
the country which preserved civilization
should to-day have been deprived Of its bene-
| fits. Ireland was ravaged first by the Dane
| and then by the Northman. To-day we find
her people sunk in poverty, and oppression,
yet they have preserved that faith which
carries with it a promise of the regeneration
and emancipation of the fatherland. + ~
| The policy OF England has always been
against Individuality Shall Ireland alone be
| without benefit from that civilization and
| faith which she was instrumental in spread
ing. Justice forbids us to believe that, and
! history shows that the justice of God is in
| exorable Nations that violate it must make
amends, and the country that violated Ire
lands rights has started upon path at the
1 bottom Of which is ruin and dishonor.
| Let England throw out Chamberlain and his
policy of infamy and restore the policy OF
! Gladstone and Of justice to all mankind. The
| same voice that demands justice for the
| Transvaal demands it for Ireland and that
| voice will be heard. The independence of the
Beers and the emancipation of the Irish are
! as certain as any event that can be forecast
! Preceding Mr.. Cockran's address must
cal numbers We're contributed by Mrs.
Maud Ulmer Jones, Miss Frances Vim
cent, Miss Stella Scion and Mrs. Leard.