Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-30
Letter from Bishop Coke.

A dispatch from Buffalo, n. Y, last
night, says: The Ercaing Nc'rs to-day
prints the full text of a second letter
from Bishop A. Cleveland Coke, of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, to Mgr.
Satolli, the papal ablegate.
The Bishop says: Strong nations are
naturally self-reliant. Under God it is
their inalienable right to be so. To prof
fer the paternal care Of any foreign
court to any such nation is an imperti-
hence. Spain accepted it when she was
mighty and has enjoyed the full bene-
fits of such nursing for centuries.
"If you ask for the result, look at her.
"Americans are not anxious to be
adopted in like manner by the court
you represent. To be moulded into
such people as the Spaniards have be-
come under his Most Catholic Majesty,
or to be made like their republican prog
eny in South America and Mexico is the
distinction you propose for us. OF such
promotion we are not ambitions, hence,
without particle of personal unkind-
ness, 1 have reminded you that the ag,
gressive position you have assumed to-
ward US is offensive The father of his
country dwtlt on this point Of foreign
influence as perilous. Even as ac-
credited diplomat, it would have rem
dered you a persona non grata. Mr.,
Sackville West had claims to personal
respect, but for the mistake of mo-
ment he was very summarily furnished
with his passports. Yours, however, is
deliberate invasion of our capital and
practical intermeddling with our most
delicate domestic affairs, which you
threaten to make permanent.
"For centuries France has maintained
bars and bolts to keep out just such
visitors as you. The control and med
ding of the Roman courts she has al.
ways resisted, as do. If you do not
let Americans alone, your own people
here will soon remind the Pontiff that
what he consented to as law of the
French republic in 1901 is only their
natural right as republicans of the
United States in 1893.
"You profess to admire our institu-
tions. Reflect that our fundamental
institution is the right of self.govern-
ment. Our common schools are our
own concern and all our people have a
common interest in them. There are
honest Americans among Roman Cath
olics who begin to hate the chains you
are forging, and by their help we can
arrive at amicable arrangements among
ourselves if you will let US alone. You
have ever since your arrival posed as Il
sovereign prince and general meddler
with affairs everywhere, and chiefly
among the Jesuits at the national capt.
tai.
"Nor can you be congratulated with
any remarkable degree of success
among your own people. They do not
all admire a vice-Pope for America.
You are entitled to your passport and
to be dismissed at once. We wish
you long life and many happy New
Years-in Lepanto.
Meantime let me suggest that you
let us and our Roman Catholic neigh
bors alone"
In concluding the Bishop says that in
his next letter he will point out the fact
that a Jesuit party in our politics has
been formed, and, like the Windthorst
party in the Reichstag,, it will hence
forth proceed more openly to clog and
curse our legislation, and that this par
ty was introduced under the manage
meet of Lieutenant Governor Sheehan
and the ablegate's own supremacy to
the people of New York State on the
Sth of November, 1898.