The sun., 1891-08-11
Catholics and Politics.

The remarks Of Father EGAN Mt the meet
ing of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union
IN Baltimore indicate that the influence Of
priests with Roman Catholic politicians Is
not 90 great as many Protestants imagine.
According to Father EaAN, when the
priests who are engaged In the temperance
movement went to our Excise Board with
their complaints the principal opposition en-
countered by them came from "the one
Catholic member Of the Board" Tho Com
missioner was ready to render them obe-
dience in spiritual matters, but when 1t came
to affairs concerning the administration OF
his public and secular Office he seems to have
made sharp distinction. They had no
more influence with him than other citizens.
and they criticised his course no less but
rather more. because he was OF their faith.
They were his spiritual advisers but they
became his political enemies.
Father EaAN declared that the temper
ance priests would treat in the same spirit
all politicians who venture to stand in the
way of their reformatory efforts. They have
determined to carry their grievances to AL
bany. he said. and If they do not hear from
candidates for election to the State Legisla-
ture, tho candidates will hear from them.
ance measures they advocate as their friends.
and those opposed to them as their renemies.
whether they be Catholics or Protestants.
Tsts is sort Of prlestly interference with
politics which even Protestants most fearful
Of the machina.ions Of the Pope will not de-
nouuce as dangerous. Apparently. too, the
Catholic Excise Commissioner Of whom
Father BaAN spoke, is not alarmed at the
prospect of the opposition Of these priests for
It did not influence his course. He seems to
have looked on them as individual citizens
only. with no political power peculiar to
them because Of their sacred Office. Tho
same was the view Of Roman Catholic men,
bers Of the last Legislature when they To-
vored measures strenuously opposed by
many priests who took different views as to
tho practical treatment OF the liquor busi-
ness by legislation. They voted not as
Catholics, but as Democrats. and manifestly
they had no concern lest their Catholic con-
stituents should punish them simply be-
cause they disagreed With the priests.
Whether they or Father EGAN and his
associates were right In the premises is
not tho question. We are not discussing
that matter at all. The point Is that Catho-
Ito Legislators and offlceholders have shown
anew that they are independent Of priestly
influence in politics, aud yield to It only
when 1t is In accordance with their own
judgment. They follow the priests as re-
ligious and not as political leaders. and in
politics party and not Church rules.
This has been proved throughout our po-
litical history. We have never had a Roman
Catholic President. and even now Roman
Catholic might not be elected to the Office,
because OF tho prejudices Of Protestants.
Vet the most faithful and ardent OF the sup
porters OF Protestant candidates for tho
Presidency have been Catholics. They have
never carried their religious pnrtisanship
into tho great political conventions and po-
litical campaigns. II IL hus ever been dis
played at all in q local contest. it has been
provoked by Protestant ennlity and suspi-
clon. Catholics seem to be less disposed
than Protestauts to favor or oppose candi-
dates on grounds OF religious faith merely.
At my rate, in spite OF the immense
growth OF the Roman Catholic Church in
this country during tho last generation. no
Justification whatever for tho old dread OF
Catholic influence in politics has been
furnished by experience. so far from that.
the feeling OF alarm has passed away from
all sensible Protestants. SO that even a
rigid Protestant like the Methodist Miss
FRANCES WILLARD appeared at the Bnlti-
moro Convention to applaud its spirit and
encourage its purpose.