The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-05-08
ENTITLED TO CREDIT
FOR INDEPENDENCE
OF UNITED STATES

1
tion. We have often demonstrated
that these histories do not give credit
TO Catholics for the important part
| they played in the war of the revOlu-
! ton.
We now assert. without the fear OF
successful contradiction, that without
| Catholic money and Catholic soldiers
| there would have been no United
States and we would still most prob
| ably be a colony of Great Britain
ruled by a governor general like the
Dominion of Canada.
| Children in the public schools are
taught that France gave great assist
ance to the patriotic cause, but it is
carefully and studiously kept out OF
| view that it was the Catholic Lou
XVI OF France that sent his troops and
his powerful fleets and abundance of
treasure to aid Washington in achiev
ing the independence of the United
| States.
In the winter of 1919 and 1850 the
| sufferings of the American armies in
the field in the northern parts of the
country, were said to have been worse
even than the haTdships endured in
the memorable winter spent at Valley
Forge. for the weather was so cold thT
the British troops crossed over New
York bay on the ice of Staten Island.
American money was so much depre-
ciated in value that forty dollars were
worth only one in coin. The troops
were sometimes five or six days with
out tasting bread, and their clothins
was of the scantiest.
In this contingency an appeal was
made to the Catholic king of France
with such success that a gift of six
millions of livres was sent to the
American treasury. In July of the year
1880 the French and Catholic Rocham-
beau arrived at Newport with a squad
ron of 5000 men. This gave the Amer
leans fresh courage, and nerved them 10
continue the war.
AS a powerful French fleet under
Decrease entered the Chesapeake.
Washington determined to strike
final blow at the British occupation of
Virginia Accordingly the Americans
with troops under Rochambeau and
Lafayette. CORVALLIS was compelled
to surrender his whole army at York
town, his retreat by sea having been
cut off by the naval armament of
Count DECREASE This grand and glo-
rious victory was the prelude 20 the
termination of the war of the Tevolu-
ton.
Had the Catholic sold 'ers of the
Lafayette and Rochambeau not been
present, assisting the patriots under
Washington, and had the escape by sea
been left open to CORVALLIS, as would
have been the case if the Catholic De-
Grasse had not been stationed in the
Chesapeake with his formula BILE men,
of-war, manned by Catholic sailors.
there would have been no victory Of
Yorktown with all that resulted there
from in tho way of treaty of peace
by which Great Britain acknowledged
the independence of the colonies that
had revolted against her rule.
We're we not right, therefore in claim
ing that Catholic men and means were
the most important factor in freeing
our country from the yoke of the OPP
pressor,? Bigotry alone is responsible
for the fact that the children who at
tend the pulic schools do not know the
very important, nay, necessary, part
played by Catholics in the direst crisis
of our history as a nation. 1t is time
taht Catholics should be given the cred
it to which they are entitled, in order
to put to shame the anti-Catholic, un-
fair and unjust accusations often made
by our enemies, to the effect that
Catholic cannot be a good American
citizen.
Catholic children, when studying the
of their country, should be
made aware that when the news of the
fall of Yorktown became known, the
people went wild with delight and that
alongside of the name of the illustrous
the Catholic heroes, La
fayette and Rochambeau were ac-
claimed as equally worthy of praise,
and that congress voted the greatest
of
patriot forces in the eliminating and
decisive battle of the war. It should
be known also that when the generals
Just mentioned reached Philadelphia
hey attended solemn mass of thanks
giving at st. Joseph's church. this fact
that the Catholic church
.ruly and sincerely rejoiced over the |
success of the American cause, and also
hat the father of his country was not
ashamed to appear in a Catholic house
IF worship to participate in service
that was celebrated for the express pur-
pose of clarifying God, for the magnifi
cent victory that had perched upon the
American arms.
That Washington appreciated the pa
.riotism of his Catholic fellow citizens
nay be inferred from the fact that his
ife guard was composed largely OF
Catholics, and that his dearest friend |
and companion was the Catholic La
'ayette. The address that he delivered
% the Catholics after the revolution is
worthy Of being reproduced for the in
ormation of Catholics and the enlight-
,nment of our fellow citizens who are
50 blinded by religious prejudice that
hey cannot concede that we are SIM
,ere in protesting to be attached to-,
'ur republican form of government.
After reading the following words of
he great Washington, such bigots
should hold their heads down with
name that they have slandered their
elbow citizens of the Catholic faith. if |
indeed they have a sense of shame.
Il hope said Washington, ever to |
zee America among the foremost ma
ions in examples of justice and liber-
Llity; and 1 presume that your fellow |
itiZens will not forget the patriotic |
art which you took in the accomplish
nent of their revolution and the estab-
shment of their government, or the
important assistance they receive from
nation in which the Roman Catholic
aith is professed. May the members
f your society in America, animated
lone by the pure spirit of Christian
ty, and still conducting themselves as
he faithful subjects of a free govern
1ent, enjoy every temporal and spirit
al felicity."-T. A. B. in Morning Star.
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