The San Francisco call., 1895-12-21
MAJOR SHERMAN REPLIES TO THE MONITOR,

whether the rulers be Turks, Jews or Moham-
medans
In the year 1871, when the calumnies which
universally uni in Great Britain. William Pitt. the
English Prime Minister, sent the following
questions to the Catholic universities of Eu-
rope:
"First-Has the Pope, or have the Cardinals
or any body of men, or has any individual of
the church of Rome any civil authority, power,
jurisdiction or pre-emlnence whatever within
the realm of England?
''Second-Can the Pope, or Cardinals or any
body of men, or any individual of the church
of Rome, absolve or dispense his Majesty's sub
jects from their oath of allegiance upon any
pretense whatever?
"Third-Is there any principle in the tenets
of the Catholic faith by which Catholics are
other persons different from them in religious
opinions in any transactions, either of pub
lie or private nature?"
To these questions the universities answered
unanimously:
'First-That the Pope, or Cardinals, or any
body of men or any individual of the church of
Rome has not and have not any civil author
ity, power, jurisdiction or pre-eminence what
ever within the realm OF England.
"Second-That the Pope or Cardinals, or any
pody of men, or any individual of the church
of Rome, cannot absolve or dispense his
Majestys subjects from their oath of aliegi-
ance upon any pretext whatsoever; and
"Third-That there is no principle in the
tenets OF the Catholic faith by which Catholics
are justified in not keeping faith with heretics
or other persons differing from them in relig-
ious opinions, in transactions either of q pub
lie or private nature"
These, Mr.. Editor, are genuine expressions of
Catholic teaching. They show that the allegi-
ance OF Catholics to the civil power is as full
and undivided as the allegiance of any other
body of men whatsoever and they demonstrate
how utterly opposed to our doctrines are the
wild imprecations contained in the forged
oaths
The history of America, not to speak of the
history of all other countries, shows that Cath
olics, laymen and priest, yield to none in their
loyalty to patriotism. We can search every
page of the records of American history and
we shall search in vain II we look for the
name of a Catholic traitor. After the War of
Independence American Catholics were not
afraid to appeal to him who knew what they
had done and suffered to bear testimony to
their record. In an address presented in the
name of the Catholic community to George
Washington occur these words:
1.-The prospect of national prosperity is pecu-
1arly pleasing to us on another account; be-
cause, while our country preserves her free
dom and independence, we shall have a we'll
founded title to claim from her justice, the
equal rights of citizenship, as the price OF our
blood split under your eye, and of our common
exertions for her defense, under your auspicious
conduct"
Washington's answer admits the justice of
the claim. His words should be committed to
memory by every liberal American and re-
torted on those who would question the 10y
atty OF Catholics. He said:
LAS mankind become more liberal they will
be more apt TO allow that all those who con-
duct themselves as worthy members of the
community are equally entitled to the protec-
ton OF civil government. 1 hope ever to see
America among the foremost nations in ex-
amples of justice and iberality; and 1 pre-
sumo your fellow-citizens will not forget the
patriotic part you took in the accomplishment
OF their revolution and the establishment of
| their Government, or the important assistance
which they received from a nation in which
the Rom an Catholic faith is profeSsed."
This address is notable also, because among
the names signed to 1t occurs that of John
Carroll, first Catholic Bishop of Baltimore. The
alleged oaths are said to be taken by priests
and Jesuits, and here Is one who was both
priest and a Jesuit. In the great struggle for
was sent by the Continental Congress into
Canada to secure the adhesion or at least the
neutrality OF the French Canadians He was
sent to France to second the efforts of Franklin
TO obtain that alliance without which Ameri-
can independence could not have been won.
When the great philosopher was almost in
despair the humble priest was able to reach
the Queen and her in fiuence carried the day in
favor of America. Through all his life the
Father of his country entertained the deepest
respect for this priest and Jesuit, and Custis,
Washington's adopted son, wrote on the occa
sion OF Bishop Carrolis de ath:
From his exalted worth a minister of
God, his stainless character a man, and,
above all, his distinguished services as a pa
triot OF the Revolution DR.. Carroll stood high
very high-in the esteem and affections OF the
pater patriR.'
CliCc tuS udIo VI luc lOullueIS the loyalty
and patriotism of Catholics have not waned
In the second war with England, in the war
with Mexico, in the great Civil War. they
showed that in bravery and devotion they
were second to no other class of citizens in this
Republic. need not here dwell on the names
and the deeds of our Catholic heroes. These
oaths deal with priests, and merely call your
attention to one great priest who, in the dark
days of the Civil War did yeoman service for
the cause of union-John Hughes, the Arch
bishop of New York.
Let me quote from a non-Catholic publica-
ton, the National Cyclopedia of American
Biography-volume !, page 194-a single para
graph:
'.As soon as the civil war was formally
declared Archbishop Hughes placed himself
on the side OF the Government and asserted
that the most energetic measures should be
adopted for the support of the National
authority; and when his friend William H.
Seward was appointed Secretary of State he
wrote him every few days informing him
concerning the state of feeling among the
people. President Lincoln in an autograph
letter bore testimony to the value of the advice
| given. 1t was but natural that Secretary
Seward should turn to him when 1t was
decided TO send unofficial representatives to
| European Governments to present correct facts
| in regard to the breaking out of the war He
accepted the mission and left the country as
| plenipotentiary."
| The result of his work abroad may be in
| ferred from the following letter written by
| Seward on the occasion of the Archbishop's
! demise
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, J
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 1854
| To the Very Reu. Wiltidm Starrs Administrator
| of the Diocese Of Ne,o York-VERY REV. AND DEAR