The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-26


Christian, inasmuch as he will grasp
more thoroughly the force Of Christian
truth and 'wield with greater SUCCESS
a holy warfare in its defense. And
with all his assured triumphs along
the lines OF his special vocation. tho
moro highly educated man will live a.
higher and sweeter existence. having
the enjoyments of refined mental culr
ture to soften the wear and tear OF
daily bread winning. having the up
lifting Inspirations of the nobler li{eS
of the mind to hold him aloof and freS
from the debasing pressure OF n1ere
material to toll. ,sSs Il
! mentioned the farmer as, one ofg
those to whom would in1part a Ms
eral education. L am speaking in a
state. the chief: occupation OF whcss1
! citizens is to plant in the springtlms
4 the seeds that will bring forth4.ths
rich harvest Of the e.1autun1n; and, fur-Ss
thern1ore, It Is my unceastngss issSg
bind the people to. the'farm, WHERE, aif
things said. Independence and Esaocialss
Happiness reign the.u more securely,
Yes, let the sons of. the farmers IS I
'ed,fcated. Will thay not, because they
are educated men, turn more, sks!l-si
fully the furrow, .Wrest ,froni:s the, soil !.
richer fruit and market to better profit
their corn and their cattle?~ And afes
MT 1,,<}4 A% Il
to nation. to fellow men. devolving up-T
on the farmer. which will be far bet
ter carried out, because he is an edu-,
Gated man?
Each farmer should in his own eom+
munity be ever to the front IN social
charity. In clean. intelligent poiitics,
In civic betterment, in religious and
moral aggrandizement,. besides. being
ready from time to time to depart for
a. while from his home to lend a helps
ing hand to the government of the
land in the state or national parlia-
ment, or In the chair Of the country,s
high executives and the preparation
to such tasks is education. Why; II
there is a class upon whom should
wish to scatter with a more profuse
hand the graces of a. higher education,
that class is our farming population.
J And We're those graces theirs mora
plentifully, there would be less tirins
of the farm, less rushing to the empty
glare and the deep pitfalls of city life, ].
| 7 put this question to my hearers
Are Catholics in the United States
eminent In power and influence, Lead
ers in good and great causes, propor-
tionately to their numbers? For my
part. I answer deliberately in the neg-s
alive. Call the roll of writer's, 81:
leaders of industry and finance, Of \
chieftans in legislative halls, in exc u.
tive chairs. or leaders of men in orb 4
capacity or another--and my conteii- ~
tion is. proven. And why this? Be-
cause liberal education is not suf.
f1ciently frequent in the makeup Of
our people. knowledge gives powef. sS
and gives ambition to seek It and rs H
use 1t well; and knowledge has. too
often been wanting to Catholics N ID
America. " gS III
give scant attention to the reply
that opportunities are wrested from
J. Catholics because Of their religiop,
America is the land Of opportunities
|. and she unfolds her opportunittee)
equally to- all her citizens. There was,
a time when religious prejudices darksa
ened, now and then, the skies over the
heads of Catholics; but that time has
!; gone by. and If a few scattered clouds
still remain the way to dissolve therSsss
is to take no notice of them, to move
. onward and upward. Frightening every
obscure spot by our own light, over
coming every barrier by our own
swift motion. thank America Is
! thank the public opinion Of America
v. for Its fair-mindedness Its ,1enerositYs