Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-17
THE "TRIBUNE" AND THE ENCY-
CLICAL.

communicated
The Salt Lake Tribune has favored the
public with what purports TO be faith
full construction on the Pope's recent En-
cyclical.
That it is faithful Interpretation may
be doubted, since his inference is pre-
scented from single extract. Such pur-
port is more likely to represent the views
OF the editor than the author. II this
editor were merely private citizen, APP
pearing as such in the columns OF paper,
his utterances, however at variance with
historical accuracy or volative OF good
taste, might be passed over in silence.
But inasmuch rs he boosted that his
journal was the foremost one within a
radius of thousand miles, il will GER
tainly be admitted that he should be held
to a fair and reasonable account for his
insulting public declarations. The only
excerpt he dwells upon is the advice to
Catholics to take an active part in cleo
tons. This is his imbecle interpreta-
ton
Surely that injunction is unnecessary,
and we fear 1t is n covert way of telling
Catholics to vote for Catholics always and to
get as many nominated as possible and the
aim is to finally divide the school fund and
to acquire political control which will be
more or less the creature Of the Church."
1t is hard to exercise patience while
reading such villainous insinuations, and
to find language strong enough to char
acterize them. This bigot is either a
malicious hypocrite or a fanatic. Appar-
emily he lives in fear. "Cowards die
many times before their DEATH" And
since he can neither eight nor fly" it
will be charity to inform him that the
first sentences of the Pope's Encychcal
readas follows:
st is oalumny to suppose that the
Church is incompatible with the principles
of modern civil government and society as
now constituted. The participation of the
people in State government should not be
blamed but encouraged"
Here Leo overtly says the people, re-
gardless OF creed, should take an active
part in elections. And nowhere does he
covertly infer that Catholics should vote
men of their belief into office with the
aim of getting control OF the school fund !!
Yet, this editor Suspects that he had
these thoughts in his mind" There is
nothing new in that, either in statement
or in thought; nevertheless, repetitions
of old falsehoods have to be met with
truths still older.
What has the Church to gain by ally
ing itself with any party? What are par
ties but changeable organizations? They
spring up in day, and they seldom last
for the space of one generation. What
has the Church, who counts her age by
centuries and has an abiding faith that
she will continue as long as the world en-
dures, to do with such short-lived ex-
istences? The Church never put trust
in politicians, whether they SIT upon
thrones and wear crowns or manage pri-
mary meetings and caucuses. What has
politics ever done for the Church that she
should labor to build up or secure the
success Of any party? Catholics do not
constitute a political party in this country,
and never have done So There are no
reasons why they should attempt to form
an organization, but many and strong
ones why they should not.
Possibly this editor is surprised that a
Pontitf should undertake to speak of pub
lie rights and popular liberties. We tell
him it is not new thing, and was to be
expected, since Leo and his predecessors
have fostered everywhere the principles
which form the only enduring basis OF
our own civil liberty, in curbing the
tyranny OF kings and emperors, defend,
ing the rights. OF the people, and encour-
aging everywhere throughout Europe the
establishment OF republics, free cities and
municipalities. 1t is not surprising, how
ever, that this editor, who is a man of the
liberistic school, should endeavor to put
| T., III
probability, when the Pope prepared the
political portion OF his Encyclical, he had
Just such men as,this editor in view. The
object was to counterfeit the influence OF
those who constantly speak of Justice and
liberty, of enlightenment and progress,
OF morality and religion, rs if they were
the born champions OF all that is good.
The history of modern times, and sad
experience, have taught him that liberal
Ism is not synonymous with liberty, but
rather with despotism. In the present
case, what surprises us is, that an editor
who respects himself would make n reck-
less and laundering statement as he did,
without considering that what he was
gong to say had been most thoroughly
refuted in the very letter that he attempts
to construe. The fact, however, of his
venturing to engage in the shameful task
admits OF an excellent explanation. He
knows that there are in this city, as we'll
as elsewhere, class OF thinkers who can
gobble down absurdities, relish sophistry
and applaud everything that opposes the
Catholic church on any subject what.
ever, and especially on education. So he
boldly undertook to tel what the Pope
"covertly thought" In doing SO he is
not only guilty OF false assumption, but
also mean and malicious calumny. The
late Encyclical declares in the most ex-
plicit and unmistakable terms that Cath
olics ask no favor, no special preropative
no privilege, no right that they do NOT
concede to others; in other words. "they
seek equal rights for all, favors for none. y
This journalist would have shown n
greater love OF truth, and would have
been more readily believed, had he told
ms readers that Il great many people will
say: Surely, that injunction to the
Catholics is simply TO vote for the per-
sons you conscientiously believe TO be
the least likely TO injure your country
but do not mortgage yourselves for life TO
any party. The preservation OF your re-
publican institutions depends in no small
degree upon you. BE on your guard
against the seductions OF political reyolu-
tionlsts and radicals who have fled from
the Old World. And above all. be on
your guard against natiye-born dema-
gogue editors who pose before the people
as representative Americans Hold
yourselves at all times free to support the
party which appears to you TO be the most
deserving OF your support as simply loyal
American citizens" No one but shai.
low bigot would construe the letter other