The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-10-21


is why the Latin poet called it "ac-
cursed by mothers"
The erection of the monument to in
ternational peace gave rise to these
additional questions: What character
shall the monument have? Where
shall it be placed? What shall it rep
resent as symbol?
Thereupon, that it might have it's
real significance, it must be of official
character and raised by the Argentines
and Chileans. represented by their re-
spective governments. And thus be-
ing international, where should it be
placed if not on the boundary line Of
the two nations, and on the summit Of
that mountain range which had SEEM
ed destined to serve as theater for
the exploits of the heroes of war?
The object of the monument is to
glorify peace, Justice, human brother
hood; and who could better personify
| those virtues than He who preached
them in His life with divine words and
sanctified them with His death in the
Imartyrdom VI the cross? Who could
more rightfully occupy the highest
summit on earth than He who for
twenty centuries has occcpied in the
history of humanity that topmost sum-
init which touches the sky and is call
ed "Golgotha"?
In this way and from one deduction
to another succeeded in giving COM
plete form to the idea of the monu-
ment to peace represented in the Girls
to Redentor (Christ the Redeemer),
whose splendid statue was lying in
this city, having been ordered by the
illustrious bishop of Cuyo, Monsignor
Marcolino Benavente, to commemorate
the holy year (1902), and which, for
lack of means, 1t had not been possi-
BILE to place on the Inca bridge (bath-
ing place in the mountains).
But the idea is worth little or moth
ing unless it is transformed into a real
action.
For the rest, 1t may be said that 1
had to contend with obstacles which
seemed insurmountable for women
But have a moral quality which
may call Saxon; am persistent and
tenacious in all that I believe true,
good or just. I have always thought
that there is no force more powerful
than an energetic will which knows
how to desire with faith.
Is it not with that secret that the
great republic Of the north has dis
carded from its political and scientific
vocabulary the word Impossible?
I soon placed the idea under the
auspices of the religion represented
by the first dignitaries of the church,
and of the social benehcence repre-
sented in the society Of Christian
Mothers" Accompanied with such
prestige, we knocked and not in vain
at the doors Of the Argentine and
Chilean authorities, who adopted the
idea and took the responsibility Of
bringing it to fulfilment.
The fmage of Christ is now standing
on the summit of the Andes, as a SYM
Dol of brotherhood and peace among
men. But that is not enough. Peace
/ is the united expression Of divine
religion, of love and charity. Where
charity is lacking, the peace cannot
be true one, because it lacks that
sentiment Of human solidarity which
makes US feel the misfortunes of 9TH
ers as our own. There on that very
lofty summit numbers of travellers,
surprised by the snowstorms Of the
Andes, perish every year during the
winter for lack of timely and effec-
tual assistance. Christ the Redeemer,"
who immovable from His pedestal of
granite contemplates those dramas of
despair and death, asks Of all man.
kind the foundation in those solitary
deserts Of a humanitarian establish
ment similar to that Of the monks Of
Saint Bernard in the Alps.
This is the work in which 1 am