Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25

Bishop Francis SIlas Chatard OF the Catho,h
Diocese OF vinccnncs. Indiana. and native OF
Baltimore, has written Q letter defending and
explaining the Cincinnati Pastoral" o publica-
ton which has excited considerable comment.
He says.
THE Cincinnati Pastoral has called forth a
great amount Of criticism, not a little OF which
L do not doubt, comes from honest love Of
country. but, at the same time, from want OF
thorough understanding OF what Ia criticised.
What Is intended TO be a crushing caricature,
not destitute OF artistic merit, adorned the
pages OF Puck on the 18th Of April. The ami
mus OF this cartoon In Of piece with the crit
cisms. Both sound q note Of warning Of
danger to the country. The Pope has the
bishops In chains; they are doing his bidding:
only look at them trampling on the Dec.
laration OF Independence. Strange as n
may sound. i, for one. am far from sorry
that the artists slightly malevolent fancy
took that direction l am glad the bishops
are under the control Of the Pope In this
matter and "a thoroughly an he implies In it
l see the safety OF the country, and here N the
reason why-because the Pope has said. In q
most oficial utterance for the whole world that
the republican form OF government OF the Uni
ted States In q just form OF government. and No
kingly power nor mob power has right TO over
throw it, Our form OF government Is q Just In
heritance from our forefathers, and We intend
to keep IT, and as far rs In us lies make all
Pope declare, when they make his words their
own, quoting from his encyclical of June 30.
1881. In speaking OF authority no lays down
the scriptural idea that all authority comes from
God, and. with regard to this. we call attention
to the consequence Of teaching that authority
belongs to the people. Disobedience 10 the
people would not be sinful as sin Is n violation
ofGods law only. Therefore all laws would
be but penal; there would be no obligation OF
conscience to obey, and therefore any one
could violate them provided he were In no dan
ger OF being caught. What delightful state OF
things and what q door would be opened To
iawlessness As things are now. the law
breakers are In the minority; with such teaching
the case would be reversed The Pope aud the
bishops teaching that authority comes from
God put an obligation of Conscience on every
citizen to observe the laws of these United
States.
"But the Pope and the bishops at Cincinnati
go further. They say that they who are to tie
set over the republic may. I'm certain cases. be
chosen by the will and the decision ofthe people
without any opposition or repugnance to Cath
Ole doctrine. BY this choice the ruler Ia desig-
mated, but the rights OF the government are not
conferred and power lie not given, but II is deter
mined by whom 1t is to be welded. There In no
question here Of the forms OF government, for
there is No reason why the rule Of one or sew
eral, should not be- approved by the church II
only 1t Is just and tends towards the common
good. Accordingly, justice being observed. peo-
pie are not forbidden to provide themselves with
that kind of government which ia most suitable to
their genius or the institutions and customs Of
their ancestors We present these words for the
calm consideration of all men who think So
Ear from the Catholic church seeking to inIure
our country, she seeks to benefit it in every way
by declaring its form of government lust one
and commanding all Catholics to obey IL under
pain OF resisting the ordinance OF God. and
therefore God Himself III there be ANYTHING in
the Declaration Of Independence that goes
against this doctrine. then, II seems to me, the
declaration is not as friendly to the welfare Of
our country as the Catholic church is In the
other points of the pastoral the bishops earnestly
seek to guard the rights Of every man-of Presl-
dent and people, of rich and OF poor. Of high
and OF low, OF employer and OF employee. In 20
doing they dwell on human inequality q fact Of
science and Of social life. and on the rights Of
property. Over all this presides Justice. It IA
Justice that strengthens government and raises
up people-Proverbs. XIV. 8, and XIV. 81
intoxicating the necessity Of being jast to all
men, the Catholic church consults the well-being
of all our people; who, instead Of malevolcntly
criticising her should regard her as their bene-
factor.
'tFRANcrs SuAs CHArARp,
"Bishop of Vincenncs.
tsTndiapapplia Ind Avrft 1900