The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-12-13
BISHOP DURIER'S
LETTER

Anthony, Bishop of Natchitoches, t.
my Catholic Children and non-Catnolic
Friends all over North Louisiana, greet.
ing and benediction.
Dearly Beloved: The Lord. prince
Of Peace" has once more raised His
hand over the stormy sea and said:
Peace be still" and all is oyer; peace
co America and peace to Spain.
In the first place, the thanks of the
American people to God Almighty,
Our Good Friend" as Benjamin
Franklin used 10 call Him in his great
republican simplicity.
Next, before congratulating our
selves, American courtesy requires that
We should congratulate the sons OF Spain
on their bravery, They fought; Dewey
said they did; Sampson said they did;
Shafter sald they did, and those, men
are soldiers who know what bravery is
and fearlessly can and do speak the
eruth, regardless OF what friend or TOE
can or will say. Bravely did Spanish
cavalleros hight like their ancestors,
and tot Spain, "AlI is lost-but honor!'
mere is no dlsnonor in being worstea
oy the mignCy young nation that dies
che ever-victorlous American song
There is but one flag in the word,
And that flag is the bed, White ana
Biue."
All is not true in that song; yet there
is some truth in it. The nation of the
world will please think on it-think on
it to begin with-nat act first and think
afterwards. as did poor, poor Spain.
What gave to Americans a sweeping
and mstter-of-course victory? Seine vii.
say: superior valor. No, my frienls,
10. Spanish vaior Is second co mona il |
the world. The Spanish is born fight |
er. 1t is said that the Spanish infant |
boy, at his birth, looks. at once for an
other boy to fight him, and, tinding |
none, anead ne goes fighting his mother,
anEil the mother smiles at nlm. Then.
u course, the lighting cavallerito give.
~ before inoEaer's Smile. Vino would |
lot! anu, when grown up, ne Will
saiianIiy ngnt any man, wnen hoael
'e4dlres it, ana valor superior to
spanish valor the world does not know.
Again, what gave 10 Americans a
weeping and maIter-of-course victory
some wil say: Oar superior navy. NO,
ny Lrlsnds, no. Oar Superior navy can
IccounG Tor the destruction of the
'panIsn navy; Dut cannot account for
ne destruction or the spanish navy
Vim the loss OF one Single american
re, anu not even one single American
All the navies OF the worlo
ompIned together, could not have been
70 destroy the Spanish navy Il.
1ltn loss on their side OF one single
IAN ana or not one single warsnlp.
again, what gave TO Americans a
weeping anu maGter-of-ceurse victory?
ONE viii say: Our superior guns ana /.
annons. No, my friends, no. The
parish Mauser rifle works well; the
paniards mad a good supply Of the
anous rrusslan cannons hrupp ana an
rne worlds renowned arms
{ a oleoo, AID a most deadly weapon Is .
ae stsel q loieuo, In the hands of the )
.eeineartei WARRIORS OF spain.
again. what gave to Americans 4 t
"csptlls ana nlaeter-oi-course vlcsoryt | 4
..lIsmel. sapefivr educasion. Inc .5paIl- !,
Aus lialssSa wl.a. nel.lvE me plauser /
iie, nor TIE cannan AIupp, nor the
ssel u Ioledo can give; lney missed )
.meiican general euucauun. 1t is q ]
taoDofn 4act snae america RANKS lar
ae..a q spain N general education, in Is
. suucasioii VI Iiis masses. Ine Amer !