The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-24
GERMAN CATHOLICS
Restoration of the Pope's Tenn.
poral Power Demanded.
THE SCHOOL QUESTION CONES UP
The Poughkeepsie Plan Condemned-Indian
Education-An International Catholic Con-
gress to be Called to Meet in Chicago.

BUFFALO, N. Y, Sept. 23.-To-night
ended all connection Of laymen with the
fifth congress of the German-American
Catholics. The final meeting tomorrow,
exclusively for priests and to be held in
private, will, it is thought, be the most i'm
portant Of the series, as being the one at
which the question will be settled whether
the widely commented upon clerical
union" will continue under the leaders that
have given it fame, or will select new
chleftains. The principal work in which
laymen participated was in voting unani-
nous approval of the platform, the framing
of which was guided largely, if not alto
gether by the clergy.
Replies to invitations to be present at
the congress were read tonight from long
list of prelates, including Archbishops Cor
rigans Ryan and Riordan, and Bishop Nc
Quade, OF Rochester. Archbishop Corri-
gan stated the reason for his absence was
Ignorance of the German language" Al
II ost GREATNESS attention was given to
Cardinal Gibbons reply to the invitation.
He wrote: while prevented by import
ant engagements from being present, beg
proceedings. l regard the German element
as most important factor in the develop
ment OF our country. AS citizens and as
Catholics, they have gained an enviable
reputation. l have no doubt your deliber-
ations will be marked by allegiance to the
holy father and by that sense of moders-
ton for which your countrymen are
noted"
Interesting papers on general topics were
read during the evening. The platform as
presented tonight, like all portions of the
proceedings, was in German. The follow
ing is an authoritative translation prepared
by three Of the most prominent priests in
the congress:
I'VE, Catholic Germans of the United
States, assembled in our fifth congress,
offer first our most devoted affection to the
supreme head OF holy church, express
gratitude for the holy fathers blessing and
promise anew and for all time filial devo-
ton and unfailing fealty. With delight the
congress embraces this opportunity of
pointing out publicly and distinctly our
position on the So called Roman question,
the temporal power of the Pope, deem
ing it our sacred duty to make
age Catholics to fearIessly defend these
rights. AS free American citizens we will
not tolerate any interference with the free
expression of our views on this extremely
important church matter. The false sup
position that it is lnopportune to discuss
openly the Roman question in our country
could only be explained by want of courage
in showing our truly Catholic convictions
The entirely free exercise of the highest
apostolic power is intimately connected
with the welfare of the entire church. 1t
is necessary to secure and accord that
freedom in the full meaning OF the word
1.-THE Pope's recent excellent encyclicals
on the most important aud burning topics,
especially on the condition Of labor, have
proved sufficiently that the entire freedom
of the holy see would be of the greatest
Importance to society, suffering already
from many ailments of the present.
century. With confidence we leave it to
divine providence by what means the res
toratton Of papal independence will be
brought about by the secular power
In the meantime, we will never cease to
courageously sustain the holy father,
every one to strike with all legal and legit-
innate means to regain the freedom due the
successor OF ST. Peter. For the reason
that political circum stances have prevented
the adoption of said resolution in Eur
ope, since we are not hampered by political
| prejudice and lntrigues, we believe our
country the proper place for holding such
congress. AS Catholics we consider it our
duty to adopt the resolution of our brethren
in Europe, bel ewing the time has come
when the holding of an international
purpose OF aiding the restora-
ton of the Pope's temporal power. No
time for holding such congress could be
more opportune than the occasion of the
| Worlds fair in Chicago in 1893 We sub
NIT this for the consideration and ap-
proval of all our brethren in the Catholic
faith, our bishops. his eminence, Cardinal
Gibbons, OF Baltimore, and our sovereign
pontiff, Leo XIII.
1--WE offer the holy father our sincerest
thanks tor his excellent encyclical on the
labor question. AS faithful children of the
| Catholic church we believe it superfluous
to state we shall use all our efforts to exc
cute practically the principles therein laid
down and secure them the recognition of
the public at large, believing them to be q
solution of this most important question of
| the day.
''The liberty, based on natural and con.
stitutional rights, of educating our youth,
is q boon which we demand, and we
most emphatically protest against every
interference with that liberty by unius,
legislation. We declare education without
relig ious basis can be but productive OF
evil results. We protest, therefore, against
every interference with our parochial
schools and especially condemn the So
called 'Poughkeepse plan, in which re-
ligion has been made a side show, and
hence can have little or no religious infiu.
ence in education. We demand full right
and liberty to retain without interference
our German mother tongue, together with
the language Of the country. At the same
time we protest most emphatically that for
this reason the Cry Of foreignism is raised
against us and that an attempt is made a,
denying US equal rights with other Ameri
can citizens.
"Our hopes for the future are based OF
the central union Of the German Young
Mems societies, so successfully brought
about in Pittsburg. We reiterate our con-
fidence in, and attachment to the reverend
bishop of the United States.
"We protest against all attempts to en-
crouch upon the rights of the Indians il
the selection and practice of their religion
We protest against in the name of liberty
and Justice, the attempts being made t.
withdraw from the Indian schools the sup
port OF the government under the hypo.
critical plea of supporting public school:
inasmuch as it is thereby an openly de,
clared opposition against Christian educa
ton, and especially against the Catholic
church,
The platform closed with resolution o.
regret at the death of the late member O
the German reichstag, Herr Windthorst
and pays tribute to his memory snt
pledges all profit by his example in uphold
ing and defending the great principles To-
which he man fully commended.
German American Catholic Congress.
BUFFALO, Sept. %. -To-day's session o
the Priesten Versin was occupied solel,
with dehntes IA To the methods of aIsc+in,