Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-11
AMERICA BEST, SAYS
REV. J. .C0NAELLY
Pastor Of St. Thomas Church
Talks Entcrtainingly Of His
Recent Trip to Europe.

Rev. John j. Connolly, pastor of st:
Thomas Church, who has just returned
from trip abroad. as heretofore reported,
talked enter,aininply Of his trip when
sren by an Every Evening man:
Father Connolly sailed from New York
on the steamship Adriatic the latter part
of April last, and arrived in Cherbourg,
France. the first week OF May. Twenty
five wears ago he had been ordained at
Rome and hc was now returning TO ceie-
brsfe IN the.vory Centre of Christendom
the silver Jubilee of his priesthood "ah
roads lead to Rome, Father Connolly
ssid "and on this particular occasion the
pilgrim aud traveller from every country
and cline was vending his way To the
Eternal City to take part IN and witness
the great functions oi canonization,
which was scheduled 20 take place during
the months of May and June.
The most notable of these celebra-
f,ons Father Connolly continued, was
the canonzatlon of Joan OF Arc. over
400 h,shops from every country IN the
world took part ia this most solemn cere-
monv The Maid of Orleans had been
burned NJ the stake and her IN emory
viifed in every conceivable manner, but
nou az least the stigma was 10 he removed
from her name and her vindication before
the ewes of the world was 10 be complete.
The injustice had survived the centuries,
and vet there ~ a power and Tribunal
outliying the centuries which will nulliiy
th, sentence of human courts and place
her before the world in the tone light of
history. This marvellous illustration
of most wonderful character in history;
wonderful pageant in the most wonder
ful temple raised by human hands
Another celebration of great interest
to English speaking people was the beatiti-
cation of Oliver Plunket, the famous
Irish martyr, who was hanged in London
m l6ss Irish and English ecclesisstlcs
t,sk a most prominent part Inthe ceremony
and the 'Ta> Deum at the end was an
inspiring spectacle \ unique feature
worthy of mention was the presence OF
living brother of ono og the canonlzed
saints. a venerable gentlemen 90 years Of
age who had the singular happiness OF
seeing one of his own family, ms very
brother. placed officially in the Calender Of
SAINTS This has but rarely occurred IN
Christian history.
CHARMS or ITALY.
Italy. inspite of recent misfortune, ls
still the same dear old country whose
beautiful scenery, music and art captl-
vate. the soul, and whose nevet-dymg
cnsrm~, shining out through her tears OF
sorrow, and her rsiment Of poverty, stu
proelsim her mistress Of the intellect and
~ the spiritual world.
Her sacrifices were enormous and gave
her every title To consideration IN the final
deliberations of the council-table at Ner-
>aille~. Notwithstanding her keen sense
of d,.appointmcnt, she is nobly adjusting
herself to the disillusionment, and those
Who know her best still maintain that
higher destiny and prospect full Of hope
swat her IN the years ahead.
"As for France-fair France, the en-
bcdimert OF chivslrv and Of heroic en-
d~avor whose definace Of Nerdun Is the
mv,tery and the miracle of offensive and
defensive startcgv, the mother OF toch
and the nur~e of Pctsin, what man with
a soldior's hear; can refuse TO pay her
homage for her prowess and her indoml-
table spirit. Unconquerable IN war. IN the
peaceful pursuit OF restoration and re-
habilitation she is today the admiration
of the world-even OF her enemies. Eng
land unscathed. practically entombed,
proudly proclains the triumph OF her
arms ON land, Of her great feet on the high
Seas while she modestly conceals her un-
naralleled triumph at the council table,
content 10 gather the splendid fruits OF
har victory and make the aAIed nations
and her conquered territory bear the
burden OF her incurred indebtedness hls
/. the so-called stupidity which muddies
through TO the highest plane OF intelligent
craftsmanship.
what about Ireland? The story is so
sed and dismal, 80 cruel and outrageous,
=, mons.rous and tyrannlcsl that cannot
shock the feelings of my friends with the
tragedy Of this postwar horror. For the
pre.ent LEI us draws veil, and hide 1t be
hind the conspiracy Of silence and the look
of secrecy which keeps her voice stuffed
and her hands fetterrd. You Insy butcher
the body. hut YOU cannot Kill the soul OF a
brave nation.
AMERICAN HEROES.
"Rather let me speak of our brave sol
dier bovs. whose bodies lie inferred III far
off Araonne and In the various sections
where the fighting wss heaviest. just
think of it, Tweuty-four thousand OF our
best and bravest lying side Ls side In one
single cemetery at Romaguel Let us not
mock the dead by callous Indifference to
the violation of the principles Tor which
thew fought and died. The United States
has acted generously In caring for the
graves. and grass that covers their mortal
remains but infinitely more acceptable TO
the spirit OF the departed and more sooth-
ing TO their sorrowing relatives and friends
would be a straightforward declaration
on the part of our government that the
night and justice for which they fell shall
not be strangled with the hangman's S rope
dangling from the crosses that mark their
graves, or buried ANONYMOUSLY beside
them TO harass their tortued spirits.
From out their graves they cry shame
10 the government that inveigled them
under false professions OF loud-sounding
principles to give their all and make the
supreme sacrifice on the field of honor,
and all this is matter Of honest policy
and decent dealing II is about time that
propaganda, false, lying, truculent, ruth
less as well a. the more insidious one of
concerted silence and murderous intrigue
should cease In our midst forever.
''He who loves America and America 3
future must necessarily think of the posi-
bilty of coming clashes and world con-
te.ts. Who will do the fighting in the
hour of struggle? The records at Wash
ington available from the recent war will
supply facts aud figures as TO patriotic
effort and prohteering enterprises The
governments of Europe are thinking of