The Irish standard., 1915-11-13

In certain quarters against those who
practice the Catholic faith is the old
ailment in new form, but the symp-
toms are the same. When the con-
sideration of the immigration bill was
under way the votes of those in favor
of the bill, in favor of the exclusion
of the people of southern Europe was
plainly and undeniably anti-Catholic.
In the recent elections Catholic and
liberal nom Catholic voters have in
many places achieved victory which
will have far-reaching influence on
all movements designed to turn back
the hands Of the clock and sow dis
trust and enmity in our communities,
writes John O'Dea, State Secretary of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians in
Pennsylvania.
There are times when it is well to
remember the faith of the fathers and
to heed the call of the blood that
warns the heart. A Catholic Irish
American would be cold indeed who
could forget his religion and ignore
his race when bigots challenge his
rights as a fellow-citizen and insult
his claim to heirship of all the privi-
leges of that freedom won on bloody
fields and on foreign seas against the
enemies of the land of his love and of
his loyalty.
1t is an old challenge-this challenge
to the Irish-American. It is made to-
day in two odious forms-one based
upon his religion and the other upon
his origin. The insult has never been
denounced in words of fiercer flame
than by the hero and orator, Thomas
Francis Meagher, on st. Patrick's
Day, in Virginia City, 1866, before a
regiment of Irish veterans of the Civil
war:
"Now comes the question, is this
festival of love, of pride, of sorrow,
celebrated here, incompatible with
Irish loyalty in America. The ques-
tion-an ignominious one-would not
surely emanate from me were it not
that there are some vicious bigots-
men of small brains and smaller
hearts-men of more gall than blood,
who, over here, assert that love of
ireland, devotion of her cause, active
sympathy with the protracted con.
test for her redemption, involve an
equivocal allegiance to the United
States. Out upon such bastard Ameri.
canism that spews the imputation on
the gallant race whose blood shed in
torrents for its inviolability and glory
has impaired a brighter crimson to
the Stripes and made the Stars of that
triumphant flag irradiate with keen
er radiance. I appeal not to the burn
ing sands, the cactus circled fort
resses, the volcanic heights, the gates
and towers of Mexico. Let the woods
and swamps of the deadly Chickahom
my, the slopes of Malvern Hill, the
waters of Antietam, the defiant heights
of Fredericksburg, the thickets of thu
Wilderness thousand fields, nov
billowed with Irish graves declare tina
love for Ireland blends in ecstacy will
loyalty to America, and that Americ.
has been served by none more trul.
than by those who carried in their i'm
petuous hearts the memories ant
hopes of Ireland. No true America
looks otherwise than with full trustful
ness and the heartiest fellowship upol
the manifestations of Irish heart
Irish piety and Irish remembrance Q
the Irish birthplace as today animal
this city. The true American knows
feels and with enthusiasm declare
that of all human emotions, of all h,
man passions, there is not one NOR
pure, more noble, more conducive
good and great and glorious deed
than that which bears us back to tn
spot that was the cradle of our chill,
hood, the playground of our boyhoo'
the theatre of our manhood"
These are magnificent words. Thes
are the sentiments of the Irish rae
in America. 1t is this sentifnel
which is fostered by the Ancient o
der of Hibernians, and it is upon tn
principle of true patriotism that o,
membership is prepared to act in g
public crises. Those who questie
our loyalty are ignorant of America
history. Those who deny our capaci
for every high form of citizenship a
unacquainted with our character al
blind to the sacrifices we have mad
the sufferings we have borne and Il
triumphs we have achieved.
When our religion is assailed ,
remember that, as Hibernians, we a
its Defenders" It has been SO
that no race is so quick to resent
attack upon the Church. The reas
is plain. No race has suffered so mu
for the Church. Through the da
years of the Penal Laws we bore p
secutions of war, famine and outlaw
Fire and sword were used against
because we were Catholics. All
fiat of proclamations and all the CT
ming artifces of law were exercis
against Catholics then.
The members of antiCatholic az
Citations are, in the mass, geners