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79 RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA Roman Catholics

they were either neutral or friendly. When Colonel George Rogers Clark was engaged in the winning of the West, two Roman Catholic companies from the Illinois country joined his gallant battalion of Virginians; a priest, Pierre Gibault, acted as his recruiting officer at Kaskaskia and his treasury was strengthened by the loan of one Frangois Vigo. In case of disaster Clark knew that he could find a haven of refuge with the Spaniards beyond the Mississippi. The Spaniards of New Orleans, too, were friendly from the beginning of the war for independence. This friendship was confirmed when, in 1779, Spain declared an independent war on England. Though the policy of Spain seemed hesitant, she finally loaned a considerable sum to the young republic. In the United Provinces were elements friendly to America, but none more so than the Roman Catholics. The friendship of Spain and of the United Provinces, however, was completely overshadowed by the generous assistance of France. So much so, indeed, that their services are not popularly known. A very few Roman Catholics took sides with England, but there was probably no Christian church unrepresented in the ranks of the American loyalists. Roman Catholics were to be found in the army, in the navy, and in the halls of legislation. In all the later wars they have not been less loyal than in the struggle for independence. Those who were not qualified for military or naval service, the faithful and patient sisters, rendered services not less useful in a multitude of hospitals. In vain might one scan the pages of our history for any complete narrative of the nurses of the Civil War. The veterans of that conflict, however, cherish a vivid recollection of the fine services of those gentle heroines.

At an early date the Roman Catholic Church in the United States began to receive accessions from

immigration. These came chiefly from 6. Accession Europe and because of the operation

by Immi- of a variety of causes. Multitudes have gration. come from Germany, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Italy, Portugal, and Canada. In some instances they were driven hither by op pressive laws; in others they came to escape relig ious discrimination, and in many cases to avoid military service. The expectation of enjoying po litical liberty and industrial prosperity was not the least powerful of the causes that have attracted settlers to this favored nation. In shaping these multitudes for citizenship many forces have op erat-d. One of the most important agencies in making homogeneous this variety of ethnical ele ments has been the Roman Catholic Church. To this end the influence of priests and prelates has tended constantly. The services in this field of such leaders as Archbishops Carroll and Hughes, Bishop England and Father Hecker, Archbishop Ireland and Cardinal Gibbons (qq.v.), is a matter of com mon knowledge. The list of patriotic clergymen, from the Revolution to the Civil War, could be ex tended indefinitely. Only typical examples will be given.

To the political institutions that they assisted !n founding, Roman Catholics have been zealously attached. Indeed, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the

public representative of their faith whom they hold in highest esteem, was an honored signer of the Declaration of Independence. They also cherish the memory of Daniel Carroll, one of the framers of the Constitution. Of that instrument Chief Justice Taney was one of the ablest expounders. In a democracy an exponent of social authority is needed, and the Roman Catholic Church supplies that need. To regard Roman Catholicism as a sort of police power, however, is puerile. It is infinitely more than that.

It is greatly to be regretted that, as yet, no satisfactory narrative exists of the services rendered by the Roman Catholic Church to the

7. Services Indians of the United States. In its

to Indians nature that work is not spectacular and and many a noble deed has passed

Negroes. without observation. This is a phase of activity for which it will never be necessary to apologize and a theme that is likely some day to attract some competent historical scholar. Few achievements of the Roman Catholic Church or, for that matter, of any other church, are more praiseworthy than the services to the Indians. The Roman Catholic Church has been criti cized for alleged indifference to the negro. Doubt less more could have been done for him. Neverthe less, the negro had friends among Roman Catholics, and a scrutiny of the list of anti-slavery men would discover the name of an occasional priest. In the Nashville diocese, situated in the very heart of the slave states, Bishop Whalen and, except the poet, Father Ryan, all his priests were anti-slavery men. Notwithstanding the existence of the " black code," Roman Catholic masters very commonly taught their negroes to read the catechism and the prayer book. Macaulay affirms that in Roman Catholic countries slavery has always worn a milder aspect than elsewhere. It should be remembered that in the South, where slavery was established, Roman Catholics were and still are few in numbers. The utmost activity on their part could have accom plished little in the way of changing public opinion in communities where they were themselves only tolerated.

Toward the Roman Catholic Church the Federal government has always maintained a friendly attitude. In the beginning this was demanded both by the sentiments of gratitude and the

8. Attitude teachings of political science. How- of the ever, after the republic became great American and powerful, it continued and there- Govern- by proved the sincerity of its friend- ment and ship. It has not always been so with People. the American people. In the long in tervals of peace there have been a few anti-Roman Catholic outbreaks. In the early thirties the opposition to Roman Catholicism was marked; again, in 1844, and thereafter till the Civil War, the Know-Nothing party (see KNow-NOTH ING MOVEMENT) developed considerable strength. The latest of these agitations was that organized by those who were popularly known as A. P. A.'s. Not withstanding these symptoms of religious intoler ance, the American people are the most tolerant and the most fair-minded on the globe. The con-