New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-07
OPINIONS ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
FATHER MALONE ON DR. McGLYNN.
MR. THOMAS C. coRNELL's VIEWS on THE DIS

Mr. THOMAS C. CoRNELL's VIEWS on THE DIS
CUSTOM OF "opEN QUESTIONS"
TO heEdftor The Tribune.
Sir: VIII You permit a Roman Catholic laymah ~
carry out little further the primo pies laid down in
Father sylvester Malones letter OF December 49, 1885,
to the Pope, which you print this morning. fa'her
Malone undertakes to defend freedom OF discussion,
and reminds the Pope OF the danger nom "thc
exercise of ecclesiastical authority when IL IN
wolves the liberty Of the citizen lie says that for
ecclesiastical authority interfere with the civil
rights of citizens deny their freedom to give their
views TO their scow-cltizcns IN all public ard open
questions would at challenge the whole people
10 the contest and bring about state OF Pubic sent
ment anagonlsc to the best interest OF the church,
No doubt the Pope will agree to this position OF
Father Malone, and it Will hardly be questioned by
any one And f. would seem 10 follow that no man
holding ecclesiastical authority should give the
weight Of such authority by taking pubic ana acVo
part in support Of either side OF puDhc anu open
questions, Where the church permits men TO differ,
the officers OF the church may OF course dncr' p''
It would hardly be thought fair for them 10 use INC
weight of their church autb'.ity against tue ia',y
of their focks whom the church itsen gave noof''
to hold contrary opinions.
Let me try to illustrate this point. am he'
publican but freely concede to my Depocratlc
friend, be he simple layman like myself or n omcer
of the church like Father Malone. to differ with me
I'm political opinion, and to support hfs opinion by his
vote But / think Father Malone will agree with
me that he a priest OF the church, would not have
the same right that I, layman, would have TO
go upon the campaign platform and speak for Cleve-
land or for Harrison. the case might be. Only
"open questions at issue between Republicans and
Democrats, and while Father Malone therefore may
vote as he chooses, he must not use the weight OF
his dignity and rank a priest Of the church against
those OF his people who differ with him in these open
questions ! believe that l held a pew In my parish
church of st. Mary Yonkers, before our present
honored rector born, and now If he should chance
tell me that he preferred Cleveland to Blaine or to
Harrison and should vote according his preference,
/ cannot take the slightest umbrage. But. II going
beyond this he should 20 upon the campaign plat
form take active part In the canvass Tor ClcNc-
to complain. lie would be using tho weight Of his
presty Office I'm the canvass against the ptinc pies
which the church permits me to hold And should
expect the Archbishop to interfere very promptly Tor
my protection. And think that Father Malone wouio
say that he ought TO interfere.
Now, as l understand Father Malone he claims
that theory Of land tenuTes advocated by Henry
George and by DR.. McGlynn, Is an "open question"
which Catholics may differ just as they can diner
between the Republican the Democratic parties
McGlynn any better right to take the campaign plat
form either side than he would have 10 take the
stump" for Cleveland or for Ia on the f1eetrade
protection issuef Dr. McGlynn was the zee,
cleSiastc2l authority" over great parish chnCh ana
yet took the platform open question:" using
the weight of his official dignity against those OF his
pcOnle who differed from him. On Father Malone's
principles do not how 1t was possible Tor the
Archbishop to do otherwise than as he did
von,,o.. >o % ,ooo' IHoMAe T. |ohNI1L