The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-26
SEATTLE. MONDAY. DEC. e6.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE
COLOR LINE.

strong words the social ostracism from
which the coIored people suffer. declaring
it contrary to humanity. to Christian re-
ligion and to the spirit of the American
republic. The Catholic church. he said.
was opposed by its principles and; history
to all discrimination because Of race or
color
Archbishop Ireland spoke the truth of
the Catholic church. At least one OF the
popes issued a bull denouncing negro
slavery, and the remarkable success of the
Roman Catholic church, compared with
other Christian denominations. in making
converts from paganism has been due
chiefly to the fact that It's missionaries
get down closer to men of all colors
than those of other churches, for they
never permit the color line TO be directly or
indirectly drawn within the church. If
an Indian or a negro proves himself to be
fit mentally and spiritually for the func-
tons Of priesthood there is no color line
drawn against him after he becomes an
ecclesiastic of the church of Rome. 1t is
this policy that has always been the life
and soul OF the Catholic church. 1t Is this
the savages of civilization and the heather
of barbarism than any other church save
the Methodists, who have reached SINH
lar though not equal success by acting
upon kindred line of democratic policy
in church affairs.
1t cannot be denied when We read the
history of the superior success of the
Catholic church in China and other parts
of Asia, among the Indians of Canada
and the United States, that for worldly
work and influence the old-fashioned way
early adopted by the Catholics of getting
right down into the mud with the people
when they prayed for the people shows
most wonderful results. The Indian loved
the Jesuit missionary as he loved no other
Christian evangelist, because the Jesuit
treated the Indian literally as if he were a
man and brother: he drew no color line
against either Indian or negro, and Arch
bishop Ireland voices the hereditary poll
icy and humanity Of the church of Rome
when he denounces the brutal and vulgar
social ostracism of the negro in hotels,
theaters, railways, PUBLIC schools,
churches, etc.
These views of Bishop ireland are in
accord with those of Cardinal Gibbons and
all the patriotic, advanced thinkers among
the clergy of the American Catholic
church. This action Of Bishop ireland
will ultimately exert a powerful influence
in abating some of the great wrongs in
ficted upon the negro in the United
States. The fact that one of the great
popular churches of America, 100000
strong is pledged by its traditional church
policy to protest against the cruel and
unjust drawing of the color line of con-
tempt and exclusion against the negro in
the matter of ordinary public rights of
transportation, public lodging and amuse-
.ment. will not be without excellent effect
upon public opinion. In their shame the
other great popular denominations of
America viii be driven to initiate the
Church of Rome in its reputation and
denunciation of the color line.
The honorable progress made by the col
ored race both in the British West Indies
and in the United States since emancipa-
ton ought to make friends for the negro
among all thoughtful men of Christian
peace and good will. The census of 1880
shows that the negro population of the
United States has added $50 427 TO its num-
hers since iSS0, making the total colored
population in $500 $4,000. Itis most en-
couragng 10 know that there were in the
South in tho same year c2s, 80 colorei
children in the public SCHOOLS and 10000
colored teachers and sixty-six colored
academies and high schools and seven coll
ored colleges.
The 1000 college-hred negro preachers.
the ia newspapers edited by colored men.
the 80 negro lawyers, the 749 negro physi-
clans and the 24T negro students now pur-
suing studies in European universities
are proofs Of the substantial progress of
the race. The acquisition of s26i oO0, 900
in property by the Southern colored peo-
pie is proof that the negro is neither in
dolent nor :hriftess.
The colored race is growing AZ normal
rate, l. increasing IN intelligence ami prop
erty aud all the qualities that 80 20 make
good citizens. The negro is fixture at
the South and his rapid progress in
twenty-five years of freedom shows that
BE will happily solve the negro problem #
ne - sh~" AA-a'1 N'iSiNS ~ t'4e fHtiILt-
glasses at the South. The recent stale
campaigns ~ the South showed decided
division in the colnred vote. The black
vote is TO longer solid for the Republican
party. In Texas and Alabams tie two
races divided nearly equally. The thought
90 men Of the South sre many OF them
coming To agree with the Blrmin CHAM,
Ala, 49e-Htra'd. which says that the
South must settle the suffrage question in
she South ana settle il honestly or be De-
ssroyed By il.
There never was y race more grossly
slsndered than the negro when be is de
scrlbed as ''hopelessly dull, ssnp.d Ani IN
dolent. in mind like chtid. This de-
sosipiion viii Ct most any race 81 sons