The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-22

the same results for these various nationalities as the church has done and is still doing for the Irish people. Consider what this means in the great work which this Republic has under taken, of assimilating. into our citi- zenship this multitude of people from foreign shores. When we say that the Catholic church is looked upon by thoughtful minds as the greatest fac tor in working out the salvation of American Society, are we speaking
 with exaggeration?
 While the Catholic church has grown strong and powerful in the land. the Irish must be given the honor
 and credit of sustaining it while 1t gathered it's power and strength They
 bore the brunt. of the battle and with stood the fire of bigotry and religious
 prejudice.
 Tt is with pardonabIe pride that we contrast the difference between the
 position of those of Irish blood in which they were forced, after the great
 Irish immigration into this land six
 ty Or seventy years ago. And what a
 vast difference in the popular attitude
 toward the Catholic church Tn those days the Catholic church was assail-
 ed by the most virulent bigotry.
 Through ignorant religious prejudice,
 that church was believed to. embody
 all that was wicked and dangerous,
 and that it was honeycombed with in
 trigue and conspiracy against the in stitutfons of this government. Through that same benighted prejudice the Irish were ,despised and scorned. But with the progress of time, and the awakening of popular intelligence.
 what a wonderful difference! Today with it's vast influx of foreigners and the disturbing problems that must find solution, the Catholic church is hailed as a saving influence and DOW loyalty of the Irish to the Catholic faith have diffused it's religion throughout the land. They have SUD- ported and sustained the church and have given, it strength. For it's inn
 mense power and salutary influence in American life the Irish are to be credited. This is their most valuable contribution to this adopted country, and as time goes on this fact will be more fully appreciated.'
 State President Sullivan was then introduced He said in part:
 'I was greatly relieved, a moment ago when the Toast-master whispered to me a strict injunction that I was not to talk over five minutes I was relieved not alone on my. own account but more particularly for the Dele gates to- this Convention who are here in0y nave OS6u COuuQ01l6Q 10 ISC6n to me all day today and will perhaps have to listen to me all day tomor- row. And that they should be fore ed to listen to me. at any great length tonight would be hardship for them almost past human endurance So l am glad of this time limit lest some ot my Brothers in just wrath arise Hold we have had enough
 There is still another reason why
 I am glad of this time limit It would
 be presumptuous indeed for me to at- tempt to tell this gathering anything about the principles and purposes oi the A. O. H. For it is a gathering
 of men and women among whom ] have labered for many years and whom T-know to be thoroughly versed in the motives and ideals of this grand old order. They know this or der as we'll as do. they believe in l this order as well as I do, and they 1 love this order as we'll as I do.
 But coming as I do from the great
 E g