The Irish standard., 1908-11-28
THE GREAT ORATOR ENTHUSIASTICALLY CHEEREl
His Mastery Arguments Show That the Church Has Been
the Preserver Of Political Liberty in
European Nations

Hon. William Bourke Cochran, WHO
delivered the magnificent address Ill
defense of the Catholic church from the
attacks of the Lutheran ministers. at
the closing session of the Missionary
Congress in the First Regiment arm
ory, Chicago, on Wednesday evening.
Nov. 18, was born in Ireland in 1851,
came to the United States in 1871, and
has achieved national reputation as
I, lawyer, orator and statesman. lie
entered politics early in his career and
gained renown by his eloquence at the
national Democratic convention Of 1854
when he opposed the nomination of
Grover Cleveland. He served two
terms in Congress and was a member
of the Congressional committee, which
visited the Philippines. His debate on
the .ariff with the late Thomas B.
Reed, Speaker Of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, b said to be the ablest ever
heard in Congress, either before or
since, The two debaters were INTEL
lcctual giants who highly respected
each other, and after the discussion
they locked arms and walked down
Pennsylvania avenue laughing and
joking to the astonislment Of those
who heard them a few minutes before
in a hot debate on the tariff. -.
The Chicago Record Herald gives
1ut brief report of Mr.. Cockran's
speech which occupied two hours II:
the delivery. It says:
I'm a flood. of. oratory by distin-
suished church dignitaries and promi-
,,ent members Of the laity the first
American Catholic missionary con-
gress, in session for the past three
days. was brought last night to a bril-
liant finale. Eight thousand people
crowded the First Regiment arnnory,
Sixteenth street and Michigan avenue,
and applauded the speeches Of W.
Bourke Cochran of New York, Most
kev. James Edward Quigley, archbis:-
on of Chicago, and Right Rev. p. J..
Donahue, bishop Of Wheeling, West
Virginia.
Reply was made by Mr.. Cochran to
critics Of President Roosevelt's recent
declaration that a mans fidelity to the
Catholic church was no barrier to his
election as President Of the United
States, and Archbishop Quigley del'v-
cred to the assemblage a message from
Pope Plus x.
Half an hour before the meeting was
called to order by Rev. DR.. Francis G..
Kelley, the doors of the armory were
closed upon a crowd Of 5000 people
who battled with the police for admit
tance to the hall.
Inside the building was literally
packed with humanity. Those WHO
could not find seats perched themselves
in places Of vantage upon stairways
and in the balconies. The appearance
OF Archbishop Quigley, delayed because
OF the dense crowd about the doors,
was the signal for prolonged cheers.
and with all the jostling and pushing,
good fellowship was the dominant
spirit Of the meeting.
Several Of the thirty bishops for
whom seats on the platform had been
provided found admittance to the hall
through the alley door.
Mr.. Cochran declared the congress
had two aspects-religious and civic
and that the clergy had dwelt upon the
former while it devolved upon mer1-
Der OF the laity to expound the latter.
Therefore, he said, 1T might not be
amiss for me to explain, as I see it..
the Catholic layman's duty to his
country. The subject becomes patent
and particularly pertinent at this tirae
because Of criticism directed against
President Roosevelt because Of his re-
cent declaration that Roman Cath
clic is not because Of his faith barred
from occupancy of the White House.
eThe criticism emAnated in New