The Irish standard., 1905-11-04
No Record of One in the Cabinet for the First
~ Years After the Formation of the
Government.
During a Period of More Than a Century
Not Over Half Dozen of That
Faith Chosen to u. S. Senate.

teen in the Senate. Chief Justice
Taney's great abilities soon reversed
the opinion OF his political enemies.
and they became his warmest admire.
ers. Tho generous and noble-hearted
Henry Clay made public apology for
opposing his confirmation, and Daniel
Webster showed his appreciation Of
his great ability by frequently asking
his advice on important matters Of
State, when he Mr.. Webster, was the
Premier of President Tyler's admins.
tration.
Chief Justice Taney was a model
Catholic as we'll as great Judge
he went to Mass every morning even
to tho last days of his life, and he was
e1ghty-eight years old at the time of
his death; he married the sister OF
Francis Scott Key. the author of the
Star Spangled Banner" and his
home-life was as sweet and happy an
his public life was OF Maryland. Dur
Ing the 1So years that Maryland has
been one of the sovereign states of the
American union, there have been only
two Catholic Governors. The first was
=. Louis Lowe; the second and last
was John Lee Carroll, the great grand
son Of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.
Governor Carroll was very appropri-
ately chosen during the Centennial
year Of American independence, to the
| securing Of which his ancestors con-
tributed in money, in labor, and in
wisdom.
While In New York, Chicago, Phil
! adelphia and other large cities. Catho-
ilcs have taken prominent part In
local politics. 1t is a remarkable fact
that, in the distribution Of the highest
! offices Of the government and in the
selection Of Senators and Represent
atives, the Catholics have not had
their share Of places. I have no wish
to claim that a place, whether high or
low, Is the most desirable object in
life, believing that in most cases the
place Of honor is the private station
still as matter of Justice and right,
American Catholics are entitled to a
larger representation in the high and
noble. Even his bitterest political en-
emies-he had no others-were forced
to admit that he acted always from
conscientious motives. Chief Justice
Taney was truly an exemplary model
Of the upright Judge. and Christian,
gentleman.
Under President McKinley's first ad-
ministration, Joseph McKenna, of Cal
ifornia. was appointed Attorney Gen.
eral, but he soon resigned to become
one Of the Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court, a position which he
still holds.
AS an evidence Of the bigotry which
prevailed within the recollection Of
men still living. even in Catholic
Maryland-Maryland. the Land Of the
sanctuary-Maryland, where the glo-
rious doctrine Of civil and religious
liberty was nrst proclaimed TO the
world shall mention that, on one
occasion, when Q most estimable Cath
ole gentleman was . candidate for
Governor Of Maryland. An ignorant
Methodist preacher, in casting his vote
against him. exclaimed: Here goes .
vote against Popery!" In spite Of such
un-American intolerance tho Catholic
candidate was elected Governor. II "
not because they want talent, capacity,
or ambition. that Catholics have. not
received their just share Of TIE public
omces for there are American Catho-
lie lawyers. physicians, bankers. mer-
chants, etc, who have won Q distinct
success in their pursuits.
W. Bourke Cochran 10 the greatest
public speaker now in Congress. His
fame az an orator has gone abroad In
all this land. He was the leading pub
lie speaker in the last three presi-
Dental campaigns; wherever he spoke,
crowds came to listen to him. attract
ed. not always by the doctrine + III
preached. but by his wonderful q