The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-14

IN. CUnss OF sEcTAHIAS POLL
TICS.


II 10 matter for regret that the curse OF
ssctarianism in politics has received In
doraement in Portland. Or, III the election
of school director who is reported to
have been supported by the A. T. A. Tho
A. r. A. by iis lectures, its publications
and its activity In politics Is only repeat
ing the "Knownothing" blunder and
crime Of forty years ago. and is attempting
TO inaugurate a religious warfare between
nelghbors in every community.
This attempt is in direct population OF
the spirit Of our institutions OF course.
II the A. 4. A. IL an organization OF
American citizens for public and patriotic
has no need to surround itself with
secrecy, 10 practice dark-lantern methods
and to thus arouse natural suspicion Of Its
intentions. The orators Of the A. T. A.
in many parts of the West indulge in that
gross and frantic abuse of the Catholic
church which has hitherto been confined
to such cranks as the Rev. DIR. J.
d. Fulton. Of Brooklyn. The end
Of the A. +. A. will DO like
that of Knownothingsm. No political
party Of consequence can afford to exhibit
sympathy for secret political society OF
any description, much less give IL shelter,
and the A. r. A. will b ultimately obliter-
atsd between the upper and neither mill
stone Of the two great political parties Of
The country as Knownothingism was forty
years ago.
The melancholy transient effect OF oil
such sectarianisn In politics - that il
throws the American Roman Catholics on
their defense. Prejudice begets prejudice,
and bigotry always begets bigosry. and the
cause Of free institutions suffers by this
folly. which breaks mp that religious tran
quillity which our constitutional separa-
ton Of church ana state was wisely in
tended to nourish and maintain. Our
Law, and these public schools enjoy tho
sympathy and support OF ali the progress
I've Roman Catholic clergy of tho country.
II was in tho interest of these very
public schools and in sympathy with
the spirit Of American institutions
clergy appealed to the pope; the pope sus-
taincd their appeal and sent his viceroy.
Ratoili. hero 20 communicate his views.
II was only the other day that Arch
bishop Ireisnd, Of Minnesota. said that
the Roman Catholic church under the con.
stitntion had all the rights and privileges
she desired. Referring to the anti-Ca;ho-
iie agitation. tho rchhishop said II would
soon ole out II not noticed. lie strongly
deprecated mixing church affairs with
politics and said IL would be great mis-
fortune II the church we're TO be an ally Of
one special party.
Surely nothing fsirer or more patriotic
in spirit could be said than this by a
Roman Catholic rrelate. Archbishop Ire
land would not find fault with an open
declaration that We as Americans intend
TO sustain our schools and our free institu-
tions. aud that no interference
will be tolerated from any eccIs-
Protestant or Catholic. for tha.
would be only the reasirmation OF our
non-seetarian constitutional doctrine Of
tho total separation ef church and state
II was a, these American public schools
that Roman Catholic Archbishop Will
Jams. Of Boston, was educated: that gems.
Sheridan. Rosecrans and Newton Of the
Union army were educated. We have
separated forever church and state in this
country. and the leading bishops OF the
Roman Catholic church accept and SC
knowledge this pgiacsa,e an3 confess that
10 its strict enforcement the Roman
Catholic church oscs IT'S freedom 10 grow
ga America II u can. Cardinal Gibbons.
BISHOPS keane, Spslding and ireland
opcnjy express their satisfaction In tho
fact thA, the majority OF the members Of
the church In America aeeert the tonds-
mental American doctrine OF absolute
separation Of church and state. and
declare that tho best. il not the
only hope tor their church ia Amerscs lies
Ia 10 becoming thoroughly amsrsesnired;
q declaration that IS IN line With The
message Of tie pope to The Catholics Of
France to cast aside al noaarehlcai rrsia.
dices and sustain the French republic.
az course Theoretically many Roman
Catholics dc act believe tia, our public
schools shoald ee non-ye.l giou, because
they are uon-seetarian. bias this opinion
has been expressed by nany distinguished
Pretcsssn!s. both eleraes and iaymea.
The Catholic clergy are not peculiar IN
their support Of paroehjA schools. The
two great prs. Hodges of Prsncssoa fheo-
logical seminary urged Presbyterian, 10
establish paroeaiaI schools OF their own.
THE late James Russell Losesl. tie poes.
con ef famous Protestant clergyman ct
hosson, nd that the demand for ths
division OF the seAoe. fand vas pes.
iec,iy equitable. The Rev. Or. r. l.
nshrey, Of sae Presbyterian CHARGE
tSoa,hl declares that Americans are
worse than rasAas IN this natter" that
tes koaaa xasAsise hisrsTea - F.gas in