Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
BISHOP COxE,s LETTER.
The Correct Text of His Message to
MOnsignOr Satollf.

The Star of Tuesday published letter
telegraphed from Buffalo. addressed by
Bishop A. Cleveland Coke. the Episcopal
bishop of western New York. to Monsignor
Satolli. the papal delegate. Several errors
were made in the telegraphic transmission
that so changed the meaning of important
sentences in the letter that The Star re-
publishes the letter in correct form:
"Monsignor: During the past twelve
month you have continued to place yourself
before the American people in a manner
alike aggressive and offensive. Offensive
not only to the Protestant convictions Of
our people. but to the honest citizenship OF
many who profess the Roman re-
ligion. 1 have hoped that some eminent
civilian would feel it his duty to inform you
that You are not qualified to expound our
Constitution to an intelligent people. nor
entitled as an alien to lecture us on our
duties. You are not only an alien, but the
emissary of a foreign court and evidently
as ignorant of our institutions as you are
Of our language. Since you have come to
the city where l dwell and where no incon-
siderable number of its prominent citizens
look to me as their CHIEF pastor. l cannot
permit your intrusive and gratuitous teach
ings to be placed before my people without
a courteous but firm rejoinder. My people
profess the Catholic religion. but they are
proud and happy to be reckoned among
their Protestant fellow cltlzens In all civil
relations.
1t was to define this fact of brotherhood
with the American people and of loyalty
to their Constitution. which embodies prin-
clpieS that Protestant nations only have
ever progressed or maintained. that our
fathers accepted local and civil name for
our American church. But that name de-
fines our civil estate-the Nicene Greed de-
fines our religion. 1 shall therefore express
myself as a Christian bishop should. but l
shall speak as one jealous of the freedom
which 1t has cost our forefathers so much
to purchase and to perpetuate. And shall
say to you nothing but what the noblest
oracles of your own religion have said be-
fore; nay, l shall quote the nlustrious pom
tin Clement XIV as fully sustaining my po-
sitfons. l shall speak for America as Bos-
suet spoke for France. / shall cite the
maXims of Mr. Brownson. the most eminent
and respectable convert among American
laymen, who has ever been led to cast in
his lot with your people. In everything l
mean to say, my fellow-citiZens Of your
persuasion shall find me. not their enemy,
but their champion. l make NO war upon
their right to enjoy their religion; but, like
the best and noblest man that for centuries
has been reckoned among Roman pontiffs
like him who earned the applause of all
nations when he condemned ard suppressed
the Jesuits, 1 am the antagonist of that
corrupt society. So are thousands Of pro-
fessed Roman Catholics. 1 trust many of
them will aid me to awake my countrymen
to the fact that 1t is a band of secret con-
spirators against all liberty and all laws.
shall prove that 1t Is the duty of all free
people to limit and control IL not to Danish
the Jesuits from their coasts.
For a few weeks my occasions may not
permit me to speak to you in another letter,
but in a short time you shall hear again,
by Gods leave. from your Christian brother
and sincere friend"