The Irish standard., 1902-02-22
.FATHER cLEARY IN IOWA.
The Popular Minneapolis Priest ito
Highly EaloTlzed.; :.


lar Catholic clergymen in the United
States, paid an eloquent tribute to
American Citizenship" at the Grand
opera house last Tuesday evening, ap-
pearing in the star course of entertain
ments under the auspices of the
Young Mems Christian association,
says the Northwestern Catholic of
Sioux City, Iowa. Rev. Father Cleary
dwelt upon the fundamental principles
of government and citizenship in a
very entertaining way for an hour
and quarter.
Rev. Father Cleary is most inter-
esting man in his personality. When
introduced by Rev. E. w. Fowler, pas
tor of st. Joseph's Catholic church, he
Strengthened out his great height and
stood before the audience a magnifi-
cent man. He is broad-shouldered,
deep-chested and strong-limbed. Per-
feet health and wholesome manliness
are stamped in every line of a splendid
face that is surmounted by a heavy
head of fine white hair. He has a
splendid voice and the impressive de-
livery of an orator.
In opening the discussion or his sub
ject Father Clcary paid the highest
tribute to the privileges of American
citizenship, declaring it to be the most
precious heritage. Nowhere else are
the rights of man so clearly defined, so
generously outlined and so impartially
protected as in America" he said.
s'Birth makes no differences; man
may be native of American soil or of
a foreign land, and yet his rights and
privileges are equal. Indeed, the con-
trasted lives of Benedict Arnold and
the Irisll7Amcrican General Shields
demonstrate that he Of foreign birth
may be better American than many
Il man of native birth. Our govern
ment is built on the man-not on the
mere accident of birth OF of wealth or
of aristocracy."
With this Introductory Father Cleary
began careful discussion OF the fun
tlamental principles Of American gov
eminent which make its citizenship 50
desirable. Three elements are essential
to good government, he said-author-
ity, liberty and religion. All must be
so united and harmonized that each
nav be free to operate in accord with
its own end and for the good of the
whole. His analysis Of authority and
liberty was excellent and interesting,
and he presented these principles i'll q
new light, defining their bounds ana
limitations in an unusually clear man.
ner.
During this portion OF his discussion
he took occasion to strike most severe
ly at anarchism and those special
forms of socialism which ignore law
"They can have no place here in Amer
ica,' he said ''rhcrc is no excuse for
them here, as authority has been used
only to promote the best interests OF
all classes Of people who are ana
should be irreconcilablc to anarchy i'll
any of it's forms. Anarchy can never
take root here; there is no spot where
it may mature itself and rear its ugly
head without molestation."
Father Clearly congratulated the
founders Of the American government
that they were wise enough to make
y complete separation of church and
state, and allowed complete freedom
of religious worship. ''There is no
state church in America" he said,
..and there can be no hope anywhere
for such Il union. a combination OF
church and state has always been dis
astrous to both, and where there has
been n union Of the two the church
has always been brought into COIL
tempt and scorn. am willing as
Catholic to admit that in Catholic
countries as well as in Protestant
countries this is true, and that this
union has been harmful to both church
and state. Churchmen spoil good pol
itics, and politics too frequently spoil
good churchmen. But church and
state must not be entirely separated.
Religion is essential to life and the
best national welfare. Under all gov
ernments there must be religion-it is
the refining influence that sustains au-
thority and restraints the people. Re
ligion renders untold service by teach
ing respect for authority and rever-
ence for law"
In concluding his discourse Father
Cleary pointed out some of the dan
gers that citizenship needs to think
about, the present insatiate greed for
wealth and political corruption in the
cities of America being named as the
two great dangers. He implored that
there be no worship Of the golden
calf in America because it leads to
inner decay and serious menaces to
good government. He declared that
one of the greatest breeders of polit-
ical corruption was the saloon and its
wicked influences and connections, and
he made strong appeal against them.
In spite of these dangers, however, he
expressed firm confidence in Amer
lean citizenship to deal successfully
with its serious problems.
Father Clearv ia one Of fine eminent