The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-16
ENTITLED TO CREDIT
FOR INDEPENDENCE
OF UNITED STATES

The great majority Of the people of
this country are educated I'm the public
schools and study the history of the
United States from the text book pre-
scribed by the state boards of educa-
ton. We have often demonstrate
ed that these histories do not give
credit to Catholics for the important
part they played in the war of the
revolution.
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 d colony of Great Britain.
ruled by 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 g.
carefully and studiously kept out Of
view that it was the Catholic Louis
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 1T1s and 1880 the
sufferings of the American armies in
the field, in the northern parts of the
country. were said to have been worse
even imam the udfuSuiDS EllQuIeu lll
the memorable winter spent at Valley
Forge. for the weather was so cold that
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 clothing
was of the scantiest.
In this contingency an appeal was
made to the Catholic king Of France.
with such success that gift of six
millions Of lvres were sent to the
American treasury. In July Of the
year 1850 the French and Catholic
Rochambeau arrived at Newpyrt with
q squadron Of 5000 men. This gave
the Americans fresh courage. and
nerved them to continue the war.
As a powerful French feet under
DECREASE entered the Chesapeake.
Washington determined 10 strike a
final blow at the British occupation OF
Virginia. Accordingly the Americans
with troops under R0chambeau and
Lafayette COrnwai.s was compelled
to surrender his whole army at York
town, his retreat by sea having been
cut off by the naval armament Of
Count de Grasse. This grand and glo-
riOus victory was the prelude to the
termination Of the war Of the revolu-
ton.
Had the Catholic soldiers Of the
French king under the command Of
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
erase had not been stationed in the
L. J. Al
Of-war. manned by Catholic sailors.
there would have been no victory OF
Yorktown with all that resulted there
from. in the way Of a treaty of peacl.
by which Great Britain acknowledged
the independence Of the colonies that
had revOlted against her rule.
Were We not right. therefore. i'm
claiming that Catholic men and means
were the most important factor i'm
freeing our country from the yoke Of
the oppreSsOr2 Bigotry alone is respon-
sible for the fact that the children who
attend the public schools DO not know
the very important. nay, necessary.
part played by Catholics in the direst
crisis ~ our history as . nation. II is
time that Catholics should be given the
credit 10 which they are entitled. in or
der 10 put to shame the anti-CathoIic
unfair and unjust accusations often
made by our enemies. 10 the effect that
a Catholic cannot be a good American
citizen
Catholic children. when studying the
history OF their country. should b.
made aware that when the news Of the
fall of Yorktown became known tbe
people went wild with delight and that
alongside Of the name OF the JIustrfous
Washington the Catholic heroes. -
fayette and Roehambeau were ac-
claimed as equally worthy Of praise
and that congress voted the greatest
honors on these grand leaders If tine
patriot forces IN the eliminating and
decisive battle of the war. It should
De known also that when the generals
Just mentioned reached PHILADELPHIA
they attended solemn mass Of
Thanksgiving at ST. Joseph.s church
this fact indicating that the Catholic
church truly and sincerely rejoiced over
the success Of the American cause and
also that the father Of his country was
not ashamed 10 appear in a Catholic
mouse OF worship 20 participate i'm a
service mat was celebrated for the
express purpose of glorifyine God for
the magnificent VICTORY that bsd
perched upon the American arros
That Washington appreciated the na-
trIotlsh OF MS Catholic fellow citizens
may De inferred from the fact that his
NE guard was composed largely ~
catholics, and that his dearest friend