The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-11-20
HOIST THEIR COLORS.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CONGRESS
ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Lay Delegates mt Baltimore Adopt heso-
buttons Declaring the Position oil tho
Catholic Church I'm Politics, Educationy<
Capital and Labor, and Other Questions.


buttons Declaring the Position OF tho
Catholic Church I'm Politics. Education,'
Capital and Labor, ana Other Questions.
baltimore telegram
The congress of Catholic laymen in
| Baltimore was n very enthusiastic gath
ering, the net result of which was the
adoption, with enth iastic unanimity,
of a platform embodying the following
| features:
| We rejoice at the marvellous development OF
our country and regard with Just pride the part
taken 10y Catholics in such developments. In the
! words OF the pastoral issued by the Archbishops
and Bishops of the United States. assembled In
the third plenary council OF Baltimore, We
claim 20 be acquainted both with the laws, in
| situations, and spirit OF the Catholic Church,
aud with the laws, institutions, and the spirit
OF our country, and emphatically declare
tnat there is no antagonism between them" We
iepudiate with equal earnestness the assertion
that WE need 10 lay aside any OF our devotedness
| 10 church 20 be true Americans the insinu-
alton that need 10 abate any OF our love Tor
our country's principles and institutions 70 be
trys heroes were the instruments OF the God or
nations in establishing this home Of freedom
| 10 both the Almighty and His instruments IN
| the work we look with grateful reverence, and
To maintain the Inheritance OF freedom which
they have left US, should il eyer-which God
| forbid-be imperiled, our Catholic citizens viii
he found 10 stand forward as one man, ready TO
pledge anew their lives their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.
many dangers that threaten the destruction or
| that social fabric upon which depends our
peace, our liberty and our free institutions.
Although our wealth has increased and pros
perity abounds our cities have multiplied, and
our States increased we find under the shadow
OF this system incipient pauperism, dicontented
men, women, and children without the DEMENT'S
OF education, without the advantages OF relig-
ion, deprived OF any share in that abundance
or participation i'm the blessings which, through
our free institutions, God Almighty has de-
signed for the people OF our land.
Remembering the distinction between Pagan
and Christian civilization as 10 the heed 10 be
paid TO the right of the individual, favor
those means measures and systems by which
these are TO be secured.
We recognize next in Importance TO religion
itself education as one Of the chief factors in
forming the character Of the individual, the vir
tue OF the citizen, and promoting the advance
Of true civilization. Therefore. com
united TO a sound popular education which de-
mands not only physical and intellectual, but
also the moral and religious training OF our
youth.
As in the State schools no provision is made
for teaching religion We must continue 70 sup
port our own schools, colleges, and universities
already established and multiply and perfect
others, so that the benefits of n Christian educa-
tion may be brought within the reach OF every
Catholic child within the United states. We
also recognize among the three great educational
agencies, besides the church and school, the
! Christian home. The root Of the common
wealth is in the homes OF the people There
fore we denounce the existence and develop
ment Of Mormonism and the tendency 10 null
l
on our civilization, discredit 10 Govern
ment, degradation OF the female sex and
standing menace TO the sanctity OF helnarriage
bond
We likewise hold that it is not sufficient for
| individual Catholics to shun bad or dangerous
societies, but they ought 70 take part in good
ana useful ones The importance of Catholic
societies, the eCessity OF union and concert OF
action 10 accomplish aught, are manifest.
The Sc societies should be organized ON rel gious
and not on n race or national basis. National
societies, as such have no place in the church
in this country but like this congress itself they
should be Catholic and American.
Another danger which menaces our Republic
is the constant conflict between capital aad Ia
| Dor. We therefore at all times must view with
feelings of regret and alarm any antagonism
existing between them, because Thereby society
! itself is imper!,ed With the church We con-
denim NihlisIn, Socialism and COmmunis III, and
we equally condemn the heHrtless greed OF capt.
tai The remedy must be sought in the media
ton OF the church through her action Oh the in
dividual conscience and thereby society,
teaching each its respective duties we'll
rights, and in such civil enactnlents have
been rendered necessary by these altered con-
ditions.
The atneioration and promotion Of the physi-
! cal and moral culture OF the negro race IS
subject OF the u most concern, and we pledge
ourselves TO assist our clergy in all ways tend
ing 70 effect any improvement in their condition.
We are in favor OF Catholics taking greater
| part than they have hitherto in general philan-
! thrOpic and reformatC ry veIncnts. The obli-
/ CATION 10 help the needy and 10 instruct the
| ignorant is not limited 10 the needy and ig-
! cerned both as Catholics and rs Americans, in
| the reformation OF AL the criminals and the
support Of all the poor in the country.
There are many Christian issues in which
| Catholics could come together with nom
! Catholics and shape civil legislation for the
/ public veal. In spite OF rebuff and injustice,
i and overlooking zealOtry, We should seek al
] lance with nOn-Catholics for proper Sunday
! observance. Without going To the Judaic
Sabbath we can Drlhg inc masses over 10 the
/ moderation of the Christian Sunday. To
/ effect this we must set our faces stern
/ ly against the sale OF intoxicating
| beverages Sunday. The corrupting in
| fluence OF saloons in politics, the crime
| and pauperism resulting from excessive drink
/ ~, require Legislative restriction, which we
Al aid in procuring by joining our influence
nth that of the other enemies Of intemper-
dnce. Let US resolve that drunkenness shall
be made odious and give practical encourage
ment aud Support 20 Catholic temperance So
cieties We favor the passage and enforcement
! OF laws rigidly closing saloons sunday aud for
bidding the sale OF liquors To minors and intox-
icated persons.
IL is our duty TO support literally good Catho-
/ lie journals and books and acquaint ourselves
with Catholic doctrine aud opinion on The i'm
I p0rfant questions constantly coming 10 the
front ana demanding right answers and Just,
practical solutions. There are comparatively
few Catholics WIG, cannot efford the cost of
Catholic journal or " no do~pot spend more for
story paper novel than the price OF one.
We not only recommend CathOlics.to subscribe
more generally for Catholic periodicals, quar-
torly. monthly, or weekly, but look wHth eager
ness for the establishm. mt OF daily Catholic
newspapers in our large cities, and CatE9Lc
associated press agency.
We cannot conclude without recording QUIZ
solemn conviction that the absolute freedom o.
the Holy See is equally indispensable 10 the
peace OF the church ana the welfare of mankind.
We demand In the name OF humanity and JUS
tfce that this freedom tie scrupulously respect
cd by all secular governments. We protest
against the assumption by any such government
of right TO affect the interests or control the
action of our Holy Father by any form az lecis-
lation or other public act TO which his full APP
probation has not been previously given.
THE French Chambers met. Nj. Pierre