Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-28

ian congregation in the western hemi-
sphere.
The blighting spirit of intolerance,
to which have alluded. found expires.
sion in oppressive and humiliating laws.
such as those requiring Irish immi
grants To pay tax on landing here,
and those which exacted poll tax in
order to support the parochial schools,
to which of course, the Catholic parents
would not send their children. nor were
the Irish permitted to vote. or even to
walk in front of the State House: but
they have survived those hardshlps
now
Our forefathers could not understand
that the love of freedom and equality
which animates and gives an indomita-
bic quality to the purpose of the Irish
nature. could not be fettered or long
controlled by unjust laws, nor the
energy of that purpose destroyed by APP
parent defeats. but which in reality only
gained added vigor for fresh efforts.
Nor could they understand that its
yearning should not, and would not. be
satisfied with any measure short of
equal recognition.
The gentleman who toiled over the
rough and almost impas sable roads in
numbering stage coaches or on horse
back. who forded streams. or who came
by sailing vessels. and picked their way
through the crooked streets of the then
struggling town of Baltimore. in order
to be present and form this Society, who
had To pay their bills in debased aud
fiuctuating currency. and who discussed
the policy of President jefferson. and
the prospects of the country and State.
who in the absence of free public schools
sent their children to private schools,
if they could afford it. saw vast changes
and improvements accomplished here
They saw the Incorporation of the
city of Baltimore. aud the election of
James Calhoun. an Irishmau, its first
mayor. They saw the first house
built of bricks and two stories high. ever
erected in Baltimore. and which was
owned by Edward Fottrel, who was an
Irishman. and whose house has another
element of interest, because we are told
it was the first building used as Catho-
lie Church in Baltimore They saw the
warehouses and wharves built by John
Stevenson. the Irish grain exporter, who
was the first to perceive Baltimores ad
vantages over other cities for carryin Z
on a successful foreign trade
They saw the restrictions imposed up
on the elective franchise because of re-
ligious belief removed except in single
instance; and they saw the fight for
independence and for the establishment
of Il constitutional government without
an established church successfully con-
cluded.
But Notwithstanding much had been
accomplished. much remained that was
revolving. crude and inconvenient
The whipping post and the stocks
were considered respectable and well
established institutions
The most optimistic citizens of that
time would scarcely have conceived
that from the miserably inefficient pro-
vision for public education, which was
then considered a luxury only within
the reach of the well Ito do, would. even
i'll hundred years, be evolved the elab-
crate. efficient, and practical system of
public schools, which today affords to
every child everywhere in the state an
opportunity to acquire fair education,
absolutely free; and which is supple
mented by system of scholarships dis
tributed throughout the State to help
and encourage others to pursue more ad :
vanced studies at some one of the acad-
emies or colleges of the State.
When the charter members of this
Society first met, Maryland had a
scattered population of less than $780,
600 people. Malarial and epidemic dis
eases swept over the country from time
to time, unchecked by science. Those
unfortunates who became insane were
| treated more as outcaSts and criminals
than as people deserving the profound
est sympathy, and the tenderest and
most humane treatment