The Irish standard., 1890-05-03
A PROMINENT PROTES-' -'ANT,
NJ. George Baber, Tells at Length
What He Thinks Of the Cath
olic Church.
EARLY CATHOLIC PATRIOTS,

tARLY CAIHOLiC "A klUI y
How They Served Their Church and
Country With Honor and
Credit.
| In letter from Washington to the
Catholic Advocate, Mr.. George Baber,
Protestant gentleman. gives his ideas
about the patriotism Of Catholics. and
pays his respects to the bigoCs. He
says: In the United States. as else
where, there have been periodical! reYi-
vals of religious bigotry. These reyi~
walls occur about the beginning or the
ending of each decade. They usually
appear in the guise of political clamor,
and are always sensational, affecting
the fears of men aud women. Between
184O and 1915, the sensational bigots
endeavored to alarm the country by
proclalming that the Pope and his in-
creastng followers IN America were
aiming to possess and destroy our free
institutions, but the alarm was super
fetal and disappeared like mere gust
Of wind. Between 1853 and 1856. the
alarm was again sounded along the lines
of religious blgotry across the wreck Of
the gallantWh hig party, /, in nconsequen Sc OF
the organic .tion of the SO called Know
nothing" movement with its Jack O.
Lantern headlights, lit by intolerance
apd prescription. Again, futile alarm
was raised between 1872 and 1873, and
both pulpit and stump were used as
sounding boards for the startling cry.
And we are yet in the midst Of another
periodic revival of the same spirit of
bigotry which, developing it's propor-
tions in 1885, has been struggling since
for sufficient influence to convert our
political arena into theatre for
spolitico religious strife between the
Protestants and the Catholics of Amer
ica. The alarmists now pretend to see
on part of the Catholics q we'll settled
plan to DESTROY our system Of govern
ment and to turn the control of the
country over to the Pope. ln NV iudg-
ment this is, at once, the boldest and
cruelest pretense Of the century: and,
as Protestant, thoueh not sectarian.
am free to denounce it with emphasis.
Professionalism cannot be strengthened
bv such pretense, nor Can the Catholic
church be weakened by it. Its only
practical effect will be jealousy. hatred
and reckless controversy at the expense
of the republics happiness and peace.
The cause of American liberty is
vastly indebted to
THE HEROIC SERVICES OF CATHOLICS
This was true in the struggle for inde-
pendence. The armies OF Washington
contained many Catholics whose sacri-
dces in the field were largely impelled
bv the voice of the church. This was
true, likewise, OF the war Of 1872 H.,
and OF the war with Mexico; while, IN
the recent struggle for the UnlOn, the
volunteer ranks abounded with Cath
olics fighting side by side with Protes-
tants under the leadership of such
courageous spirits as RosecIans. Sheli-
dan, KearneY, Sickles, Mulligan, Cor
coran and Meagher. The blood Of
Catholics has been split On every field,
In everv contest, to maintain the insti
tutiuns founded by Washington and
Carroll, by Adams and Jefferson. In
fact. the country's history shows that
the horrors of battle grounds and of
council chambers have not been con-
fiued to Protestant believers, but have
been shared almost equally by Protes
tants and Catholics, from the formation
of the government until now. Neither
can assert superiority over the other.
Recent expressions Of eminent Cath
olics may be readily quoted 10 refute
the cry Of the bigots who are endeavor
ing to awaken needless alarm. These
expressions are full OF loyalty to Amer
ican freedom They are pledges Of de.
vOtiOn to American institutions. For
instance, Feb. % last was celebrated by
raising the stars and stripes over Cath
olic schools and enthusiastic demon
stratioBs of patriotism. At FitchDurg.
the occasion was marked by ceremonies
of special interest. the flag that was
raised being the gift of Rev DR.. Garri-
gan, the vice-rector OF the Catholic
University. Here Mr.. Baber quotes
DIR. aARRIaAN's 8 LETTER.
published at5t 5th&t time. He then says:
IN harmonious keeping with DR.. Gar
rigan's letter was the eloquent address
which, on similar occasion, was made
at North Adams. Mass. by Father
Burke. the pastor OF st. Francis Church
OF that place. In the course OF his
eloquent remarks, Father Burke said:
:. We are assembled here today. not
to show our patriotism, not to show our
love of country, because both are mat