The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

14 INTRODUCTION.It is not of their hostility that I complain, butbecause the judgment theyhave formed of her isbased upon the reckless assertions of her enemies,and not upon those of impartial witnesses.Suppose that I wanted to obtain a correct estimateof the Southern people, would it be fair in me toselect, as my only sources of information, certainNorthern and Eastern periodicals which, during ourcivil war, were bitterly opposed to the race andinstitutions of the South? Those papers haverepresented you as men who always appealto thesword and pistol, instead of the law, to vindicateyour private grievances. They heaped accusationsagainst you which I will not here repeat.Instead of taking these publications as the basisof my information, it was my duty to come amongyou to live with you to read your lives by study; ;ing your public and private character. This I havedone, and I here cheerfully bear witness to yourmany excellent traits of mind and heart.Now I ask you to give to the Catholic Churchthe same measure of fairness which you reasonablydemand of me when judging of Southern character.Ask not her enemies what she is, for tfeey are blindedby passion ask not her; ungrateful, renegade children for ;you never heard a son speaking well ofthe mother whom he had abandoned and despised.