University of Virginia Library

Apostle of Temperance of Canada.

Dear Sir:—When I was in Canada, last fall, I intended to confer with
you on a very important subject. But you were then working in the diocese
of Boston, and my limited time prevented me from going so far to meet
you. You are aware that the lands of the State of Illinois and the whole
valley of the Mississippi are among the richest and most fertile of the
world. In a near future, those regions, which are now a comparative wilderness,
will be the granary, not only of the United States, but of the whole
world; and those who will possess them, will not only possess the very
heart and arteries of this young and already so great republic, but will become
its rulers.

It is our intention, without noise, to take possession of those vast and
magnificent regions of the west in the name and for the benefit of our holy
church. Our plan to attain that object is as sure as easy. There is, every
year, an increasing tide of emigration from the Roman Catholic regions of
Europe and Canada towards the United States. Unfortunately, till now,
our emigrants have blindly scattered themselves among the Protestant
populations, which too often absorb them and destroy their faith.

Why should we not direct their steps to the same spot? Why should
we not, for instance, induce them to come and take possession of these fertile
States of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, etc. They can get those lands
now at a nominal price. If we succeed, as I hope we will, our holy church

will soon count her children here by ten and twenty millions, and through
their numbers, their wealth and unity, they will have such a weight in the
balance of power that they will rule everything.

The Protestants, always divided among themselves, will never form
any strong party without the help of the united vote of our Catholic people;
and that party alone which will ask and get our help by yielding to our
just demands, will rule the country. Then, in reality, though not in appearance,
our holy church will rule the United States, as she is called by
our Saviour Himself to rule the whole world. There is, to-day, a wave of
emigration from Canada towards the United States which, if not stopped or
well directed, is threatening to throw the good French Canadian people into
the mire of Protestantism. Your countrymen, when once mixed with the
numberless sects which try to attract them, are soon shaken in their faith.
Their children sent to Protestant schools, will be unable to defend themselves
against the wily and united efforts made to pervert them.

But put yourself at the head of the emigrants from Canada, France
and Belgium; prevent them from settling any longer among the Protestants,
by inducing them to follow you to Illinois, and with them you will
soon see here a Roman Catholic people, whose number, wealth and influence
will amaze the world. God Almighty has wonderfully blessed your
labors in Canada, in that holy cause of temperance. But now the work is
done, the same Great God presents to your Christian ambition a not less
great and noble work for the rest of your life. Make use of your great
influence over your countrymen to prevent them from scattering any longer
among Protestants, by inducing them to come here, in Illinois. You will
then lay the foundation of a Roman Catholic French people whose piety,
unity, wealth and number will soon renew and revive, on this continent, the
past and fading glories of the Church of France.

We have already, at Bourbonnais, a fine colony of French Canadians.
They long to see and hear you. Come and help me to make that comparatively
small, though thriving people, grow with the emigrants from the
French-speaking countries of Europe and America, till it covers the whole
territory of Illinois with its sturdy sons and pious daughters. I will ask
the pope to make you my coadjutor, and you will soon become my successor,
for I already feel too weak and unhealthy to bear alone the burden
of my too large diocese.

Please consider what I propose to you before God, and answer me.
But be kind enough to consider this overture as strictly confidential between
you and me, till we have brought our plans into execution.