The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-09
Tho Political Position of Catholics in England.

At numerously attended meeting held
towards the end Of December in Manches-
ter, for the purpose Of forming Catholic
Registration Association, the Bishop of
Stafford, who il the we'll known editor of the
London Tablet, delivered the following ad-
dress which has been the occasion Of much
comment'by the English press:
He might be asked-what was the politi-
cal duty of Catholics In the first place, an
excellent Catholic must be good citizen
good in the fullest acceptation of the
word-not citizen who merely did no evil,
cientious use of his political rights.
For many years past the Catholics of
THE country, owing to the state of persecu-
ton in which they had lived for centuries,
had allowed their political rights to remain
in abey ance. Many whom no had met had
been ignorant of the fact that they possessed
the franchise. They ought, however, to
recognize their obligation to contribute to
the advancement Of all that was good in the
country. Catholics ought te have their life
in the midst of the country's life. Sharing
its fate they ought, after serving God to the
best Of their power, to serve their country
also. That meeting was'' an expression of
their determination to take their place in.
public life, which by the mind and spirit of
the country they had been invited to do,
and he hoped they would do it conscien-
tiOusly. The people were divided into two
great parties-Liberal and Conservative
each of which organized it's forces for polit
ical strife. In that they only exercised
their right. Catholics also had a right to
combine and say in what direction their
political power should be exercised. With
regard to the existing factions it seemed to
him that, as Catholics, they could not bind
themselves to either-for o simple reason.
hn hnot rtta A,;n
totle downwards, had rightly asserted that
politics ought to be based upon reason and
religion. That religion was founded upon
revelation therefore their politics mupt be
founded upon reason and upon revelation.
Without that basis, it was impossible to
eay where they might drift to. and to no
political party that did not stand upon that
6asis could they give their countenance.
II they did they might fpd themselves in O
snort time standing on quagmire. The
political parties of this country, both Lib.
oral and Conservative, having rejected the
Catholic doctrine Of revelation aud it's OBJ
hgations-haviDg rejected many truths
revealed by GOd-stood on what was to
them uncertain ground. To Catholics re
lIgion was thing clear, certain and de.
nHed. The truths Of revelation were known
60 them with . mathematical certainty,
Shrough tue inerrant voice Of the Church of
God. And this gave them @ strong and
stable foundation on which to stand. Take
for instance the Liberal party. On Satur-
day, the right hon. gentlemen at the head
OF the party, (Mr Gladstone), addressed a
meeting at the Liverpool College, happy
iamliy, consisting, as he himself said, OF
Anglicans, Presby terlaus, Baptists, Wesley
ans Roman Catholics, Uuitarians; Greeks,
and Jewe-and he delivered an admirable
address, In which he clearly laid down that
the doctrines of revelation ought to bee
Iangnt IN education. He went even, it
might DO said, out of his way to condemn