The Irish standard., 1914-03-21
WASHINGTON ANOH|S
IRISH SUPPORTERS
Irish Catholic Were Close Friends of
Father of His Country"
Irish and Catholic Citizens Given
Special Recognition for
Services Il.

Special Recognition for
Services j..
Fitting Reply to Address Presented
Him by Catholics Upon
Election 4t
That George Washington was above
all the prejudices of his earliest edu-
cation no one doubts who is convers-
ant with the history of the country
and his relations with the Irish and
Catholic citizens of his time. He had
seen so many noble acts Of patriotic
Catholics in support of the cause Of
liberty, had observed them upon the
field of battle and become SO intimate
ly acquainted with their leaders, both
in civil and religious life, that he
learned to appreciate their loyalty and
devotion. From association with them
sprang a warm, personal and intimate
friendship. His Catholic spirit and
natural sense Of justice, coupled with
the absence of prejudice in his char
acter, made him easily susceptible to
the generous, self-sacrificing loyalty of
the Catholics.
Bohn, reared and educated in the
most bigoted section of the country,
where the traditional prejudices that
had refused shelter to the Catholic
Lord Baltimer century and half
previous still existed, it is indeed sur
prising that some of it's detestable lit
tleness was not found in his character.
Yet we have not recorded in history
one act Of his that has shown, even in
the slightest degree, a trace Of bigotry.
He never forgot the gallant bravery of
the Catholic soldiers of Maryland and
Pennsylvania, nor the generous aid of
Catholic France and Spain. While
Catholics were prescribed in every
state in the Union, and Professionalism
established in New Hampshire, Con-
gregationalism in Massachusetts,, and
Catholics of New York required to
abjure religious allegiance to the Pope,
and other similar actions taken by the
different states, Washington was i'm
mune to such bigotry and ever re-
mained superior to his narrow envir-
onment. Time only enhances the
grandeur of his liberality and the popu-
lar prejudices of his day. Throughout
the country it was custom to cele-
brate "Pope" day, which was an ex-
cuse for holding up to ridicule in song
and verse the Catholics and was the
occasion for drunken professions in
which the Pope was carried in gro
tesque efigy. No one did more to put
a stop to such insults to the Catholic
people than Washington.
While the patriotic army, COM
posed from Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, were drawn up in defense of
Boston, on November s, 1775, prep.
arations were being made to celebrate
Pope day with the usual disorderly
and obnoxious professions. Washing
ton being apprised Of this fact, and
justly indignant at this gratuitous in
suit to the Catholic soldiers Of the
patriotic army, issued the following
from headquarters:
CAS- the Commander-in-C Chief has
been apprised of a design formed for
the observance of that ridiculous and
childish custom of burning the ef1gy
of the Pope, he can not help express
ing his surprise that there should be
officers and soldiers in this army SO
void of common sense as not to see
the improperly of such step at this
juncture, at a time when we are so.
1iciting and have really obtained the
friendship and alliance of the people
of Canada, whom we ought to consider
as brethren embarked in the same
cause.-The defence Of the liberty Of
America. At this juncture and under
such circumstances to be insulting
their religion is so monstrous as not
to be suffered or excused; indeed in
stead of Offering the most remote in
suit, it is our duty to address public
thanks to these, our brethren, as to
them we are indebted for our late
happy success over the common enc.
my in Canada" Pope day was not
celebrated that year in Boston, and
Washington had given to it death
blow.
Washington was we'll qualified to
Judge Of the patriotism Of the Cath
olics, for had he not the distinguished
honor to be intimate with Archbishop
Carroll, Charles Carroll, Of Carrollton,
Daniel Carroll, James Fitzsimmpns,
and did he not surround himself with
such men as Gen. Moylan, Col. Fitz-
gerald. Lafayette and others. He
knew that the Mayhower brought over
the two 1rishmen, William Mullins
and Christopher Martin. He knew
52s