The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-27
1.-THE WESTERN STAR. .
Seen Through the Lens Of Ca
tlloIicism.
One of Our Noted ssNsed Not APPLY Citi-
zens Scores the New Com
bination.

To the Editor OF THE HERALD.
| In last Sundays issue of The HERALD
appeared an article having reference to a
society - s'The Western Starr = which
was lately organized in this city, and
which has for its object the prevention
of Catholics and Mormons from obtain
ing office.
The writer Of this letter has already
learned that the existence of such So
ciety is fact, and that some of the most
enthusiastic of its proselyters are persons
who are living off of the city treasury and
the city's fat leases; but as l am not,
never was, nor never expect to be an as
pirant for office, l may be allowed to
show how un-American such an institu-
ton is when directed against Catholics.
In the first place no body of Catholics
IN America have ever sought to excite
prejudice against the members of other
churches, much less to persecute any per-
son for conscience sake; nor have they
ever formed themselves into a secret,
oath bound society, be it for good or evil
end. Their patriotism and devotion to
civil liberty is historical fact, which is
placed beyond controversy.
For the edlfication of the HWestern
Stars if they can be reached through
any just and enlightened medium, will
direct attention to few significant facts:
Catholics not only sought but were the
nrst to establish religious liberation in
America. Chancellor Kent in the second
volume, page 3d. fifth edition of his
Commentaries of American Law
says: 1.-The Catholic planters of Mary
land procured to their adopted country
the distinguished praise of being the first
OF the American states in which tolera-
ton was established by law
Charles Carrollss faith of Carrollton,
OF the signer of the Declaration of indie
pendence, who risked most. was never
questioned by his compatriots. Neither
the faith nor nationality of John Barry
was N obstacle to mis- becoming Wash
lngton's first commander of the navy
Washington himself, replying to an adj
dress from Catholic clergymen and lay
men, said: ''And presume your fellow
citizens will not forget the patriotic part
which you took in the accomplishment of
their revolution, and the esta blishment
OF their government, or the important
assistance which they received from ma
ton In which the Roman Catholic faith
is protested The father of his country
could not foresee the diminutive satellites
of the western horizon
Many signers of the Declaration of In
dependence were Irishmen and sons or
descendants of Irishmen, VIZ: Matthew
Thornton, James Smith, George Taylor,
George Read. Thomas Mexican, Edward
Purledge, Thomas Lynch, jr. That in
spired document was first printed by an
Irishman, Dunlay, and first read to the
people by an lrishman, Colonel John
Nixon.
Abroad who gave greater assistance
than the gifted Irishmen Edmund Burke,
Colonel Barre, r. B. Sheridan and Henry
Grathan? Down through the first century
of our national existence the history
of our country is blended with the
history of Catholics. President Grant
paid high tribute to the thousands of
Catholic soldiers who shed their hearts
blood for the federal union. What light
amongst the western stars will compare
in bravery and patriotism with little Phil
Sheridan?
The Catholics of Canada helped our
cause. From France and Spain we re-
ceived not only sympathy, but money and
supplies. They took part in our war of
independence by forming continental
combination against England. Catholic
Italy and Catholic Germany did their
part.
In our legislature, army and navy, who
were more active than Catholics? They
protected our northwestern frontier and
instructed our armies In European
science. Can the rays of the Western
Star" dim the historical light which tells
how Catholic France weakened the power
of England at New York, Savannah and
crippled her navy power in
the West Indies and utterly defeated her
off the capes of Virginia? Is reason too
blinded by prejudice to acknowledge
the historical fact that Catholic
France aided Washington in striking the
browning blow at CORVALLIS in Yor-
town?
Catholic Spain, before the western
Star" saw the horizon, helped to capture
the British posts on the western frontier,
and under Calves reduced the British and
Tories at Baton Rouge and Pensacola-alI
the rays of the "Western Star" concen-
trated on the history of the past can not
find in all the list of Tories the name of a
single Catholic.
The ''Western Star" hitherto an I'M
known planet. is "Know- Nothing' in
its origin, conceived in Orangeism, born
in bigotry, with darkened mind and
perverted heart. What may we expect
from such a conglomeration? The history
of the past supplies the answer.
The strength of society depends on its
Justice, and when few or many, no
matter how brilliant the light they radi-