Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-05-25
ARCHBISHOP GROSS SPEAKS.
Synopsis Of His Talk at the Opera
House Last Night.


on the subject, "The Catholic Church;
a Friend and Not an Enemy Of the Re
public" He was introduced by His
Honor, Mayor Catch, and presented
his discourse in a pleasing manner.
The following sy nopsis will be Of inter-
est to our readers:
Voltaire, the great French infidel
said: "Lie, lie again, something VIII
remain of it," Calumny and misrep
resentation have been going on at all
times. George Washington was cal.
umniated; Lincoln was maligned.
Ascending from the human to the
divine, Christ himself was ridi'
culed. 1t is not astonishing then that
the Catholic church should have its
share of calumnies and misrepresenta-
tions. 1t is said for instance that sIns
are bought of by paying a stipulated
sum to the priest souls are paid out of
! purgatory, Catholics are not allowed to
read the Bible, even the devoted Sis
ters and nuns are subjected to vituper-
ations and abuses. So many calumnies
are brought forth that / could not
rehearse them all. But there is one
that |, as an American born citi-
zen, feel most keenly; it is this,
that the doctrines of the Catholic
church are incompatible with
the republican form of government,
and that Catholics, were they to come
in power would destroy this govern
ment. My forefathers, both on my
mothers and on my fathers side,
fought under George Washington, and
in the last war some Of my nearest rela-
tions shed their blood for the union. /
was then priest and could not on ac-
count of my calling shoulder the
musket, but 1 exposed my life minister
ing to the wounded and dying on the
battlefield. Personally / can and do
forgive all calumnies, but occupying
such a distinguished position in the
Catholic church, | cannot let slander
go by unrebuked.
| have lived in Boston, New York,
Baltimore, Savannah, Portland, ETC.,
have travelled in every state of the
union,I have been all over Europe, and
can say that of all nations, none like
ia play so much as the American
people, no ne are more willing to hear |
what anyone has to say in favor of the
c use he represents. Now gentlemen, /
assure you there is rot the ghost of a |
shadow of truth In all those accusations |
against the Catholic church. They |
from gross ignorance of the !
doctrines Of the church and of history. |
challenge any man to show me any
hing IN the teach ings of the church |
with our government.
There are two spheres in this world,
he civil and the spiritual and each OF 9
3 supreme in itself and neither one has
! right to meddle with the other. We
i've in this world but are fitting our
elves for the next; politics direct our
ivil duties here, the church teaches us
} secure our destiny hereafter. Christ
lid not teach politics, electricity, as
ETC., neither does the church.
jhrist said to give to God the things
hat are Gods, and Caesar the things
hat are Caesars, so says the church.
} said the present Pope Leo XIII when
'rince Bismarck asked him TO order the
atholics Of the Reichstag to vote for
ne septennate, "I cannot do that" he
nsw cred, sit Is not in the sphere Of
le church to meddle in government
ifairs." Hence there are Catholics in
j parties, Republicans, Democrats
nd Populists, and each can vote as he
looses. In England, the sovereign is
lie head Of the church but It is not the
atholic church; the emperor of Ger
any is the head Of church, hut it is
ot Catholic; so is Russia. Look now
Austria the emperor is Catholic but
, is not the head of the church. A
'ctor's sphere is different from a law
RS. SO there are the two spheres,
vii aud spiritual, each distinct and II
'art, supreme in itself. n
A tree is judged by its fruit. We A
nsider the republic great and beau
al fruit. Who produced it? Tho n
'tholic church. Look over Europe.
very republic that exists there now
that has ever existed was founded
Catholics, witness Switzerland, san 7
,reno, Venice, Florence, Bologua, W
noa, and France. And you would bl
: that the Catholic church Is opposed Il
republics! No, gentlemen, her doc IT.
mes do not change, =
let US now pass 10 our own country.
. are proud OF our constitution.
here did We get that constitution?
its main features II is taken from 4,
English constitution, the work Of -
.holie times aud Catholic peoples
m the Magma Charta, Itself the work
'atholics, long before the Protestant
'rmation was thought OF. So much !
n fact that Lord MAeaulAy asserts
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