Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-18
GR|GGS
LAUDS IRISH AND
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Scores Attacks on Religion.
Speaks at ST. Patrick's Day
Banquet in Paterson.

Especial to the Evening Star.1
PATERSON, March 1s.-Former
Governor and United States Attorney
General John w. Griggs was the prin-
cipal speaker at the banquet of the
United Irish Societies held last night
in the Manhattan Hotel under the
auspices of the John Mitchell Club.
In his address he paid glowing
tribute to the Catholic Church He
also vigorously denounced attacks
on that religion made at recent meet
ings held in this city and other parts
of New Jersey.
While. the former governor lauded
Ireland and prayed for the eountry's
welfare, he said he believed that ire
land perhaps. might be better off
with England to support her than she
would be standing alone as small
nation. lie felt that Ireland would be
the gamer under Joint government
providing that she received the recog-
milton which is now afforded her, par
ticularly so with the prospect of hav-
Ing the proposed home rule bills
passed.
The former governor was very COM
pllmentary to Ireland. asked God to
bless her and give her home rule:
commented on the fact that no longer
is the shamrock forbidden to grow on
her soil. and that no longer were they
! hanging men and women for the
wearin' o the green" hoped for more
of her nimble wits in this country. as
we'll as more of her geniuses for gov
ernmental affairs. and expressed the
wish that those who take up their
homes in this land may always cher
ish the ideals of Irish life.
Startled Highbrow Meeting.
Il once startled an East Orange
highbrow meeting when ] said that
| believed Tammany Hall had a
greater influence than any reform
movement that eXer existed" Mr.
Griggs said. Il had a philosophical
reason for saying that, because | had
in mind the great East Side, with
its seething masses of foreigners
which, If left without leaders, would
breed destructive agencies. As bar
rier against the assaults of social
ism, ! believe we have no stronger
force than thnt which comes from
the pulplts and pews of that particu.
Referring to several meetings that
have been held in this city recently
in which the Catholic Church was
roundly denounced, former Governor
Griggs said:
II am sorry--really sorry-that in
| this day, Wien the Old fires or per-
secution have been put out. that in
i my own town there are people wht
| think they should hold meetings Il
/ aataff. ft.4s3 L
Il want to say something for Which
people may oritieise me as being ots
of order. 1t Is n fact that most of
the Irishnlen assembled here belong
to one religious denomina ton. 1t has
not been sc in Irish history IT does
not seem To have made any difference
what religious denomination man
belongs to so long as he was broad
| minded to see the Justice of home
rule. But in this country, knowing
the conditions, want to testify to
the magnificent service that has been
done and is still being done by that
particular denomination in America.
! have no more fear of danger to this
| nation coming from that denomina-
tion than from any other denomina-
tion.
Home Rule Needed.
The former governor stated that
as one who was familiar with the
dual system of government which has
its head in Washington and self
government in it's many States, each
having It's own life, 1t seems mex
plicabe TO him that centuries ago
ireland should not have enjoyed this
same privilege. This is home rule
carried out to its perfection. While
Ireland has had oppressive. cruel,
tyrannous laws and has suffered
depreciation of lands, famine, penal
statutes which disseminated against
certain religious classes and has
abolished most of these she has still
to ask and to receive the boon of
local self government. But much
has been done. he said The land
question has been settled. thanks to
the sense of justice of the English
nation. Years before that was set
tied the Catholic emancipation was
achieved He said that all that stands
in the way now OF peace with Eng
land is the time which shall elapse
until the passing of the home rule
bill.
He said "If | were an Irishman
think ! would be about satisfied
with what the British premier is Of
fering now. ] have asked home
not single ground on which they
could criticise this measure. If I
were an Trishman | would be salts
fled with the same kind of home rule
that these States of our country have.
don't think / would want Ireland to
be a separate nation. As an Ameri-
can / recognize the magnificent force
that the English government has been
in the civilization of the world, and
it seems to me that such small
island as Ireland should be proud to
have behind ii the power OF the Eng
lish nation and it's fleet. 1t is TO the
glory of Great Britain that she al
ways stands behind her sons wher-
ever they are. They may always
confidently look to the government
for such power as they may need.
That is a glorious right. and every
IrishmaD should be proud OF II.
Other speakers were Senator Peter
j. McGinnis. Judge w. c. Cabell, Of
Passaic; Mayor Robert II. Fordyce
and Philip Chapman. The banquet
was presided over by Richard Nc
CHM, president of the Mitchell Club.
About $50 attended.
Marshall COnfers in Suit