The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-08-10
WORK
Interesting Address at National
= Convention By Bishop
E McFaul
Delegates Aroused to High
Pitch By Eloquent Prelate.

bishop dOuIeSS t:lS
Catholic Federation convention held in
Indianapolis recently was a splendid
effort, arousing the great gathering to
= high pitch of enthusiasm. The
bishop said in part:
Il have spoken 80 often on fedora
ton that there are among my auditors
many who are we'll acquainted with
the arguments which 1 have brought
forward to demonstrate its usefulness.
Like many another movement des-
tined to assume Importance, it had at
its birth very few friends. and it has
been very difficult to bring it so
prominently and intimately before
American Catholics that they Nigh.
readily understand its principles and
objects. Much printers ink has been
used. and the voices of hundreds of
orators have been heard throughout
the country. yet there are many who
accuse federation of aims which il
abhors, and stigmatize it as a danger
out movement.
This shows the necessity of Catho-
lies taking hold of the secular and re-
ligious press of the country. We will
never exert our due influence in Amer
lea If we do not support and employ
the press in the work of spreading
the light of religion and the true So
buttons Of the great problems which,
are confronting our age. And the
forming of public opinion by the press
and by Catholic congresses, such as
this national convention of federation,
cannot be accomplished unless we
have the stalwart Catholics of every
nationality banded together in behalf
of the social. civil and religious in
terests of Catholics.
. Some say, we are doing very we'll,
and we had better not engage in any
movement which may antagonize the
rest of the American people, Well.
this is our sixth national convention
In which we have discussed the in
terests of Catholics in the United
States and our iusular possessions.
and we have stirred up no sectional
strife. On the other hand, we have
been instrumental in obtaining Justice
for Catholics in Cuba, Porto Rico and
In the Philippines. as we'll as at home.
= "The average American is broad
minded and just. He takes no offensa
1T a man demanding his rights under
the constitutions of the state and the
nation. Indeed. he rather despises
him who does not assert his manhood
THE motto of federation is, In
Union There is Strength If we con-
slider the history of Ireland, we will.
find that disunion brought upon her
many misfortunes. The object of the
English was to keep the inhabitants
of Erin always divided To
create disunion the Protestant colony
was established in the north of Ire
land. and it was successful.
Take France. What an example of
4 the destructive effects of disunion, %
the absence Of a strong Catholic press
/ to voice the public opinion of Catho-
4 lies! The Bishops and secular priests
1 stood by idly while the religious were
expelled: they raised not their voice:
i when religion was banished from thu.
1 schools. Little did they think the day
/ would soon arrive when a howlins
anfldel government. placed in powe.
/ by the votes Of Catholics would at
tack the $4,000 parish churches O!
/ France and conffscate millions worth
i Of Church property-schools. acade-
mes, colleges. Summaries, charitable
institutions and churches. In one vile
swoop they stole millions granted tbs
AZ Church by the generosity of their fore
fathers.
b Amid few weak Catholic protests
= handful of infides and Freemasons
dared to blaspheme God, to cry out
I'VE have banished Christ from the
AZ halls of justice. from the schools; now
we will cast Him out of France. "A
star shone above Bethlehem two thou
sand years ago: we have blotted out
that star
How different the position take,
Il up by the sturdy Germans They, ir
their combined strength. established
81 q press that made the fatherland rims
with the injustice of Bismarck. witt
the wrongs done liberty of conscience
by the Kulturkampf. And. behold al
though the Iron Chancellor had loud.
4 ~ proclaimed, I will never go to Ca.
nossa,' every one knows he was glaf
TO make peace with Catholics. Before
his death the lightning from HEAVIER
struck him. In his downfall he NIGH
have uttered words similar to those
}sof Cardinal Wolsey, %. Cromwell
Cromwell! Had served NV Go.