The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-08-29

tributiOn to the March lumber of the
Century he pays high and deserving
tribute to the present occupant Of the
papal throne, Leo XIII, glOriOusly
reigning.
'The occupant of the papal throne"
he says, sis perhaps the most enlightened
and the most progressive pontiff who has
ever occupied that throne. The whole
policy of the church under his admins
tration has been tending toward recon
ciliation with modern civilization. The
right of the people to govern themselves
under republican forms has been dis
tinctly affirmed by Pope Leo XIII. His
deliverances on social questions have
manifested large intelligence and
quick human sympathy, and we are told
by those who ought to know that the
pope is not alone in this liberalism, that
he is heartily supported by the whole
curia and by public sentiment at Rome.
This is the administration which the
anti-C Catholic zeolOts have chosen to at
tack. 1t is in the presence of these hope
full movements Of the Roman ecclesiasti-
cism that they are seeking to uncover
the smOldering embers Of religious ami
mostly"
In view Of this highly, deseryingly and
complimentary tribute l cannot under
stand how intelligent men will permit
themselves to be bambOozled by the utter
ances of few adventures, who, in order to
gain their own selfish ends, hesitate not
by fraud and Misrepresentation to lead
astray even whole community.
Anyone who attentively read the ac-
count Of the Polish convention in the
twentysecOnd inst. issue of the Cleveland
papers could not but be struck by the in
accuracies and contradictions therein
contained. Consistency thou art a
jewel"
The one styling himself Archbishop
Vilatte claims to be member of the
Catholic church. The Catholic church
is society, though of course divinely
instituted. Like other societies she can
make laws, legitimate and just laws,
binding her members. By the very fact
a member disregards those laws he
ceases to be member. IL a member dis
regard the laws of the Masonic fraternity
he is cut off from membership. His
mere assertion will not entitle him to the
benefits accruing from membership. The
said Vilatte has openly violated the laws
of the Catholic church. In order to give
a semblaNce of truth to his proceedings
he appeals to public sympathy, villify-
ing and misrepresenting the heads of the
Catholic church, in order to thereby de-
fend his position. He would have it ap-
pear that the pope is intermeddling in
the civil affairs Of this country and that
he can compel Catholics in the United
States to renounce their allegiance tC
this government. Once for all let us in
sist that the pope has no right to inter
fere in civil matters.
In testimony of this hear the learned
Archbishop Kendrick, "The bishop Of
Rome, Of divine right, has no political
or civil power" "The power of the
prince" he again says, ''in his work on
the primacy is supreme in the civil
order. The power Of the pOntiff is SUI
preme on things spiritual.
The pope of Rome has no intention Of
coming over here; would not come if he
were invited. Peter took up his resi-
dence in Rome and every succeeding pom
tiff, with few exceptions, has lived and
died in Rome. Rome with her works o.
art that are imperishable, with her mem
Ories and associations of the past, will
her tOmbs Of the illustriOus dead, viii
continue to be the center OF christendOn
and the residence of the supreme pOntif
until time shall be no more.
II there be any truth to the allegation
Of his enemies, the pope must he indeet
a wonderful schemer. A few years ag,
Germany thought the holy father had hi
eye on Berlin; France was trembling
about her Paris; the friends of liberty il
South America thought they could dis
Germ something in the papal policy tina
bOded no good to their dear country, an,
now the contagiOn has struck Columbia
shore.
Those self-appOinted guardians of free
dom and liberty perhaps l should hav
said license) the Irish 0rangemen, tru
to their oath to wade knee-deep in CathO
lie blood, are sounding the cry 'Bewar
Of Rome" Poor Leo, uneasy, is tn
head that wears the crown.
1t would seem, judging from
the utterances Of this self-appOint
ed refOrmer and champion Of A
P. A. ism and Irish 0rangeism, tn
Rev. Vilatte, that the society calling
itself the American Catholic churcl
arrogated to itself the right to impair
light primitive christianity, liberty
The true religion, he truthfully says
came forth perfect from the hahds O