The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-13

IL is certain, however, tNaC, dQpOlIlC7Q
, by the administration, he entirely satis-
fled it.; and his last public utterance
was in the interests of the Union, and
for the quelling of the draft riots.
The Archbishop's health was then
failing. President Lincoln was most
anxious to confer some honor on his
powerful helper; but there was nothing
in his gift which a Catholic Archbish-
or could accept. The President then
managed to make known, in his direct
and simple way. that it would be most
pleasing to him if the Pope would con-
fer some honor on the Metropolitan Of
New York. Meantime, a few months
before the war ended, Archbishop
Hughes passed to his everlasting ro-
ward. It may have been merely a
coincidence, but certainly the Presi-
dents request was not forgotten in
home; and the first American Arch
bishop to receive the Cardinals hat was
Archbishop Hughes's successor. the
Most. Rev. DR.. M'Closkey, in 1875.
Lincoln himself was religious man
according to his lights, and his email
cipation proclamation was the fulfil
n'ent of vow to God for signal vic
tory for the Unions arms. He issued
circular letter to the army urging
the observance Of the Sunday and re-
verence for the name of God.
He held very Catholic ideas as to
the duty Of men to the government.
AS he said to the relative of a captured
Confederate officer who pleaded tile
latter's piety:
"In my opinion, the religion that
sets men to rebel and fight against
their government, because, as they
think, that government does not suf
fciently help some men to eat their
bread in the sweat Of other mems
faces, is not the sort of religion upon
which men can get to Heaven"
The trials of his country and his
trials in private life drove him to u
closer and closer dependence upon
Divine Providence. He declared:
IT have been driven many times to
MY knees by the overwhelming con-
viction that I had nowhere else to go.
My own wisdom and that of all about
me seemed insufficient for that day.
] should be the most presumptu ous
cne day thought that could discharge
the duties that have come upon me
since came into this place without The
aid and enlightenment of One Who IS
wiser and stronger than all others.''
1t may seem strange to the Catholic
that a man who had this real faith,
humility and dependence on the Di-
vine help should not have gone fur
tfer and embraced the religion which
includes all of Christianity. But Gods
mysteries must be left with God. Lin
coin probably never had an adequate
view of the Church that has been al
ways the supreme friend of the slave,
the one consistent preacher Of human
brotherhood, and that has so often in
her long history raised the poor man
to her highest place.
Doubtless Lincoln was a mature man
before he ever saw Catholic layman,
much less a Catholic priest. There
were some old Catholic settlements in
his native Kentucky, for a goodly group
of Catholics: including both sides of
Eishop Spalding's family, had migrated
thither, from Maryland before Lincoln
was born. So strong and resourceful
were these. that Bardstown, KY, was
erected into an episcopal See in 1893,
and was thought to have the best pros
poets Of any Catholic settlement in
the West The event belied that early
hope; for the See City Of the diocese
was subsequently transferred to LOUIS
vile, and it has not yet attained Arcni-
episcopal rank. Lincoln was very
young when he left his native State,
and there Is no evidence that he had
much to do with Catholics before he
became President. But the natur II
Justice Of the man, made him vigorous
opponent Of Knownothingism, which
was at its high tide from the middle
'2c's to the middle sos Of the ninc-
tcenth century, and he courageousIy
and publicly put himself on record in
favor of equal rights for Catholics and
/ Protestants. Indeed, so good an AM
crican as he was could not understand
the raising Of the question under con-
ctitution which provided for absolute
freedom Of religion; and he could not
forget the powerful aid of the Catholics
III the gaining Of our national inde-
pendence.
He was opposed to the further .x-
tension Of slavery before the time
seemed ripe for the abolition OF this