The Irish standard., 1908-05-16


people of Ireland. the Irish of Ameri-
CT, and indeed the whole people of
America, there is one thing that has
been particularly prominently brought
to my notice here, which knew of
before, but did not realize fully. and
that is the magnificent faith and zeal
ard religious spirit of the Catholics
Of New York. We have the clearest
evidence of it in the way in which
we have our celebrations for the last
few days. but we have greater evil
dence still in the crowds that f1ocked
to take part in this great celebration
Ct the centenary of the foundation of
| the archdiocese of New York; and l
| think If we wanted complete proof
we could not have greater proof
| than to see the numbers who have as
ssmbled here this evening to do honor
! to your great Archbishop, to his
clergy, and to do honor to the occa-
sicn which has brought us together.
Hence, if had to cross the ocean,
1 am more than repaid for any little
trouble l had, or any little risk
| took more than repaid. First. as an
Irishmen, J. am repaid by the pleasure
of seeing so many of my countrymen
here and of my countrywomen, and
Of the descendants holding the posi-
ticn which they have. both socially
and relgiously, in this great diocese
Of New York. But much as 1 prize
the positions which they have
achieved for themselves here in social
and temporal matters, / prize still
more the living faith which has not
only been preserved, the faith of ST.
Patrick, as the eloquent gentleman
who addressed you last called it, not
only when preserving the faith of st.
Patrick, but 1 believe that when we
get cold in these old countries of
Europe, and some of them indeed are
very cold already, and when the faith
begins to grow dim there, it will only
!
to come over to America. as / have
come, in order to get their spirit re-
vived and to have their faith renewed.
| There is story, one of the old clas
sics-I have forgotten their names:
have forgotten most of my classical
acknowledgement they were making war
| &l,a
eG of the earth, and as often as they
touched their mother earth their
strength was renewed. I think in our
older countries, when our faith begins
to grow a little cold and our religion
a little tepid, we have only to come
to America to touch this country here,
in order to have it renewed again.
"And there is another thing, and,
ladies aud gentlemen. don't imagine
for a moment that 1 speak in any
spirit of criticism, I believe that this
country is very great in it's institu-
tions. We all see that; and it has
made glorious position for itself
among the nations OIL LHe edTtH, dIiu
it is overf1owing with wealth. and
you have the brightest talents to be
found in the whole world here in
America: but there is one danger.
that is the danger that prosperity
might in some way corrupt the people
CT America; and l believe if there is
any antidote to be found for that poi
son. any security against that danger.
it is to be found in the principles and
teachings and the practice Of the
Catholic religion. (Applause.)
There is no other country in the
world SO free-you all know that. and
you are proud Of it-no other country
where institutions so perfect have
been established to leave the people
complete freedom. There is no other
country where a man can step forward
and say, If ] am kept down In the
world it is my own fault. and if