The Washington times., 1894-05-20
COCHRAN RISES TO EXPLAIN.

Claims That His words Addressed to Arch
bishop Corrigan Were Misintcrpretcd.
To letter congratulating him upon his
speech at the opening of the parochial school
exhibit in New York city Congressman
| Cochran has sent the following answer:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, u s.,
WASHINGTON, ID. C., May 10, 1894.
My DEAR SIR: i received your letter, and /
thank you for the expressions OF approval which
you have bestowed on my address at the paro-
chial school exhibit in New York city. / think it
proper TO state, however, that while ] cannot
say the press report of my speech was verbally
inaccurate 1t was none the less entirely mis-
leading. 1t is case of misrepresentation by
suppression.
The remarks which addressed to Archbishop
Corrigan, standing by themselves, might ind-
cate that had assumed TO advise him as to the
limits of his spiritual powers. Such course on
my part would have been presumptuous and in
defensibie. No better churchman than Arch
bishop Corrigan Is to be found in the hierarchy,
and no better patriot than NJ. A. Corrigan In the
whole citizenship of the United States. 1t was
because felt certain of his cordial sympathy rs
| n prelate and as a citizen that l addressed him
directly when declared that no Catholic could
be faithful to the Church If he were disloyal to
the republic.
My whole address was an attempt to prove
that Catholicism was the parent of republic
ism, and that the Catholic Church could not,
therefore, in the nature of things be hostile to
democratic Institutions. had stated that the
triumph of Christianity necessarily meant the
establishments of free institutions. because the
universal domination of u church founded upon
the belief that all men equal in the sight of
God inevitably led to the establishment of po-
litical institutions based on the principle that
all men were equal before tho law; and i con-
tend that the democratic idea of political
equality was the necessary and inevitable fruit
of the Christian doctrine of moral equality. de-
mocracy was but Christianity applied to civil
government
Having stated that every step in the history Of
the Church was a step toward republicanism,
hat ttrip Of into "A rluas OH
had always held the light of liberty before the
faltering footsteps of humanity; that in the face
of privilege and ahsolution she had always in
sisted that the king was not better than the
peasant at the Judgment seat of God, l claimed
that this constitutional government was the
crowning fruit of.the seed which she had scat
tered from her pulpits for 2,tO0 years, and in
sisted that no hostility between Catholicism and
repu bcanism was possible, unless the source
was antagonistic TO the stream the mother
iDiinical to her own offspring
To emphasize this statement In the strongest
possible manner, turned to the archbishop and
declared that, venerable, respected, ana beloved
as he was, If he, from the pulpit or altar, could
ever permit himself 10 utter ono word hostile to
republican institutions, his lips would become
vehicles Of heresy, and If he became false TO the
republic, he would be false to the Church which
had touched his hands with holy oil for the pro-
lection and blessing of her children.
The enterprisng reporter who suppressed all
the context and reported only the language ad-
dressed TO the archbishop has fear, succeeded
in conveying TO some the impression that what
was merely intended TO Illustrate an argument
was the chief object of my speech.
No person in the hall misunderstood my mean
ing, and indeed no one applauded more vicor-
oUsly the views expressed than the patriotic
American who is the spiritual chief OF the New
York archdiocese.
The statement that used a warning gesture
in addressing the archbishop Is of such a rdicu-
lous character that would not stoop - charac-
teriZe IL. l would soon think of defending
myself from inputation that ! had been
guilty OF rudeness 20 the parent whose memory
| cherished beyond all my earthly possessions.
Yours, very truly, W. BoURKE COCHRAN.