The Irish standard., 1912-08-31
FIR. CLEARY IN IOWA
Noted Minneapolis Priest as a chau,
tauqua Lecturer.

III ldSl weeks issue OF the Catnol1C
Messenger. of Davenport, Ia, appear
ed the following dispatch from Iowa
City, dated Aug. %, in reference to
Rev. ]. NJ. Cleary of this city:
The Chautauqua association for
several years has been trying to Sc
cure Rev. Father ]. NJ. Cleary of Min
neapolis, as one of it's attractions, but
not until this year were they SUCCESS
full All who heard the eloquent man
last Friday appreciated the reason
| why he had been wanted and why it
is so hard to- get him. Everybody
wants him, for he is man of broad
patriotism, steadfast Christianity,
with conception of American citi-
zenship that is not only ideal, but of
that practical kind which makes the
realization.
Last Friday evening he was enthus-
iastically received. Rev. Father
Schultz presented him to the audi
ence. The fine recommendations of
others had raised expectations to the
highest point, but there was no dis
appointment. He met all expectations
and even more The address was one
Of earnestness, conviction and force.
He has a fine personality, meeting the
descriptions We read of Henry Clay.
He has the fine distinctions of Theo-
dore Tilton, the we'll rounded SEN
fences of Roscoe Conklin, and some-
thing Of the fire and earnestness of
the old anti-slavery advocates. He
has message, the highest concep-
ton of the practical duties of Amer
ican citizenship. He defined the high
est evidence Of civilization to be
obedience to law, and declared the
most dangerous citizen is the one who
defies the law.
What Is Liberty?
Father Cleary said that the most
abused word in our patriotic vocabu-
larry Is liberty. He traced the origin
and development of political liberty,
including religious and political free
dom. Many, confuse license with lib
erty. So-called personal liberty, as
the term is used. came in for denunci-
alton, for in. personal liberty often Is
coupled the idea of action without re-
straint and without regard for the
rights of others. A man is only act.
Ing within his rights as to personal
liberty when he Is mindful of the
rights and interests of the people in
general. The manner in which this
country has assimilated people of
other countries and made them. good
citizens, was discussed, and while the
speaker spoke with pride of his Mas
sachusetts birthright he took some
satisfaction in the thought that some
OF the cities with large numbers of
citizens born abroad, are among our
best governed communities, and he
turned the tables upon the critics Of
foreign-b born people, by referring to
Philadelphia, the most strictly Amer.
lean city. and its rotten city govern.
ment.
Question Of Equality.
Taking up the declaration of Thorn
as Jefferson that all men are created
equal. the speaker took the ground
that 1t is qualified proposition. in
volving ability, earnestness, efficiency.
and no man who excels should be
kept down to the level Of the ineffl-
c1ent. This brought him to a. con-
sideration of Socialism. and that cult
received severe criticisms. He said
there are as many: kinds of Socialists
as there are individuals embracing
Socialism. and it is hard to find out
what is meant by Socialism, Men
should be rewarded, the speaker said.
according ito the value of services
rendered.
Father Cleary named two Of the
greatest evils of the present day. The
first is the unquenchable thirst for
wealth. Greed for gold Is the mean
est and vilest impulse of the human
heart" The second evil is involved
In the sudden and wonderful growth
OF our industries, but this will be re-
moved In the course Of time. Another
great detrtment to our advance in the
highest form of civilization, is the
farce enacted in municipal govern
ment. The country also has to face
the danger involved in the organized
and powerful liquor interests, which
know no rule for greed.
Grandmothsrs Birthday.