The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-01-08

bere6, Cardinal TAsCHEREAU, head of the
hierarchy in Canada, proclaimed against
the knights, whose organization he classed
among the secret societies against which
the general inhibition of the holy see runs.
The cardinal had taken much time to con-
slider the matter, and had consulted the
Pope in the case, before he issued the fol-
lowing mandate which was read in all the
churches of Lower Canada:
Having learned that the delegates of a society
known as the knights of Labor have tried 10 re-
cruit members in parts of this province, we deem
it our duty, brethren, to put you on your guard
against it, and mark, we do not speak in our own
name but in that of the holy see, whose advice
we have sought. In October, 1885, We sent to
Rome an authentic copy of the rules and conSt-
holy Office having examined them with all due
precaution sent us this answer which should be
foryou an absolute rule of conduct and Keep you
away from the society of the knights OF Labor:
'On account of the principles, organization and
statutes of the Knights OF Labor, that assocla-
ton is to be relegated among those which are
prohibited by the holy see.'
Had it not been for Drained, far
sighted American Catholics that order
would have stood for this entire continent
and the knights would have gone down, the
victim of the church. Cardinal GIBBONS
took the matter in hand, and called to Bal
timore commission of archbishops who
decided that GIBBONS should ge to Rome.
He went, and represented to the Pope that
san organization, the head of which had
been called into conference by the Presi-
dent of the United States, cannot be deemed
hostile to authority" He also said that
workingmen not only had the right to pro-
tect themselves, but there was an obliga-
ton resting on the entire people to assist
them sin finding remedy for the dangers
with which civilization and social order
are menaced by avarice, oppression and
corruption" 1t was manly presentation
and appeal which the cardinal made, and
it was American The pleaded for working
men, and showed that the danger was not
from their banding together for protection
but from the combination Of employ
ers against the poor iaborers. The re-
suit was something almost unprecedented.
The Pope revoked the order which had
been issued on the representation of the
Canadian primate, and The Knights of
Labor organization which had been threat
ened with destruction, was saved.
We refer to this matter merely as an in
cident showing that there is not much dan
ger of the Romish church dominating this
country, as so many members of other
churches seem to fear, The being a
Catholic does not destroy the American in
an American born citizen. Cardinal GIB-
BoNs is churchman, but he is none the
less an American, loyal, patriotic and
devoted to the welfare and great
ness of the republic. He is i'm
bued with the American spirit, which
manifests itself in measures for the educa-
ton and improvement of the condition OF
the masses, in the strengthening of the ma
ton by making better citizens of the peo-
pie, and in the recognition of the principle
that the state Is supreme in matters of civil
government. With such men as Cardinal
GIBBONS at the head, and they will be like
him in sentiment if they are Americans,
the republic will not be in danger o. dom
ination by Rome if the Catholics shall mum
Der one-half instead Of one-slxth of the ma
ton, as at present