The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-06-08
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HosTlLlrY 70 THE ArHoLlc e g

HOSTILITY 70 THE 4 HoLlc CHURCH I,
:tAli ths usmssrats IN. tho ststs Senate
w voted so,idiy against tho .5 4.
si :5 I'd Oalous Measure. is
"A special correspondent OF the Bali
stimore Mirror, writing from Eiarrls-S
burg, Pa, says; .,ss54
v. gain has bigotry. raised its mon
strous head in the legislative halls OF
4 Pennsylvania, and on its grim vlsagei
is the grin Of exultant victory. lhe
lower chamber of the house was the
scene Of his vicious exploits. This time
1t chose the djgnifed senate chamber
for its diabolieal movements.
II The occasion OF this manifestation OF
ignorant bigDtry was. the Introduction
into the senate on last Tuesday Of the
religious garb bill, which had previously.
been brought into the lower house by
a certain Smith, Republican delegate
from Philadelphia.
The bill is nothing else than the in
SEPARATION of partisan hostility to the
Catholic Church in Pennsyl vania. but
in order to strike blow at her, the leg
rislature is compelled to strike an equal
blow at all other churches. That the
bill was opposed by other than Cathe-
lies became evident to the delegates
when two hours before the measure was
reached the Hobbies were crowded with
members of the denomination OF Men
nonites from Lancaster county, IN which
IS 600 of the: $4,000 in this state are SAID
70 reside. Many of these visitors were
women, whose heads were adorned With
neat white caps, a part of their dress
which their religion requires them to
wear.
The discussion was opened by MIR.
Kaufman, of Lancaster, in opposition to
the bill, who said: .s4@.f
"Since the adjournment of the senate
on last Thursday ] have been spoken
and written to by Lutherans, Presbyter-
ians, Methodists and Episcopalians,
members of the Christian Endeavor So
ciety,. and Brotherhood of ST., Andrew
against the passage of this bill, and L
am here now to protest in their name,
and in the name of $4,000 Menonites
and Dunkards in the state of Pennsyl-
vania, $4,000 Of whom reside in my own
county. These people are a peculiar
people. They are never seen in jail,
never in the poor house and never in the
courts of law l say am here to pro-
test in theirsnames against the passage
of this bill, which in their judgment
would prevent their teaching in the pub
lie schools, unless they remove from Off
their heads their simple white cap.
This cap is part Of their religion, the en-.
blen of their piety and purity, and it is
Just as sacred and just as dear to them
as ever was your Now lay me down to.
sleep Hsped from your baby lips with
your head pillowed on the lap Of your
now saintsd mother.
"Mr. President continued Senator
Kaufman, what would we not do in de-
tense of the religion Of our mothers:
methinks, if need be, we would die for
it. This being the case, can you wonder
that these people plead so earnestly for
the defeat or modification of this meas
ure 1t is claimed that this bill does not
apply to them; If this is the case why not
say so in the body of the bill. It is also
claimed that this law will never be en-
forced, but so conscientious are these
people, that this being the law, whether
enforced or not, it would prevent their
teaching in our public schools under 1T.
Had any one predicted a few short years
ago that a bill of this character would
be passed by this legislature they would
have been laughed at. This is vicious
bill, but as has been truly said;
Vice Is monster of such hideOus Mien
That to be hated needs but to be
seen; ~
But seen too off, familiar with its face,
First we pity. then endure and then
embrace. a = gl
IT sincerely appreciate the efforts Of
the patriotic societies of Pennsylvania
in their efforts to promote allegiance to
our flag, and obedience to the laws of
our country I have faith in their sin
certify, and admiration for their enthusi-
assn. No man will 60 further than to
encourage, assist and sustain them in
their loyalty and devotion to patriotic
purposes. L have 'valiantly and enthu-
siastically supported their measures in
this direction Their influence over
our young men of the state and nation
lis beneficial This country needs patri-
OTIS, and it needs organized effort to make
us all more Intensely American, and less
subject to foreign influences and GUS
toms. But am constrained by nay duty
and my devotion to many OF my cOnstl-
tuents, Mennonites, Dunkards, to raise
my voice in opposition to this particular
bin, and would be false to them if l
did not present their interests ,
A MATTER OF. CONSCIENCE. Y
s1Their garb is matter OF conscience
This bill will deprive them Of entering
public employment and of obtaining
means Of livelihood, unless they renouuce
their faith and conform to law which
interferes with the free exercise of their
conscientious convictions They are a
quiet and unobtrusive people, and never
force their religious views Of convictions
on anybody, in social, domestic or COM
mercial life. li,
.sMr. President, this is too grave: a
question to be decided upon political
grounds, or as mere matter Of policy;it
BIS; higher, greater, deeper, and hoiier. It
is a question of heart and home and con- on
science. If you pass this bill then strike
from off the masthead the emblem that
this is the home Of the brave and the
Hand of the free. Trample beneath your
feet that part Of the constitution which
H.