Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-07-19
A CHRIST-LIKE VIEW.
TOlERATlON THE GROUNDWORK
OF TRUE FAITH.

TOLERATION THE GROUNDWORK
OF TRUE FAITH.
The Present Crusade Is Not in Ac.
cord With the Princip pies of Our
National Constitution and Is In
Conflict with Christian Precept.
Rev. Leslie w. Sprague. in the
Christian Register says:
| would give word of interpreta.
ton and word of warming. The
anti-Catholic sentiment grows apace
throughout the country. Its explana :
tions, as well as its dangers, are found
in natural antipathies. There is a
peculiar law of evolution known as
the law of differentiation. 1t is part
ly by this law that species are formed.
First variation comes in; and the at
traction of like varieties forms a class,
differing perhaps but slightly from
other classes. Very soon a race feel
ing grows up; and, as the Jew and
Samaritan will not wed, so the child
rem OF the same ancestry, whether fish
or fowl or mammal, will not mate
This is perhaps the most law in the
evoltion of species.
Now, the same law is active in hu-
man society. Let the individuals of
society form into two different groups,
whether on intellectual or moral or
aesthetic or industrial grounds, aud
very soon there grows up class feel
ing. 1t is England and her colonies,
the war OF the Revolution standing as
the elimination of class antipathy. If
you have ever seen a church divide,
and become two churches, you have
seen the same process nearer home,
perhaps.
This is exactly what has taken place
in the division OF the Christian world
into Protestant and Catholic; in fact,
in all the subdivisions of the Protest.
ant world. 1t was all one religious
blood. There were many varieties,
but all were in one family. then the
law of differentiation set in, and each
class went its own way. This may
be very potent factor in the evolu-
ton of species, but it is not very con-
ducive to brotherly love nor to the
best civilization. The question is,
whether We want religious and social
species or whether we want a loving,
earnest and just humanity. If species
are wanted, this method OF race feel
ing and class feeling will surely pro-
duce them. If it is a better general
humanity that is wanted, some other
law must be brought into prominence.
We might carry our parallel further,
and say that the Catholics and the
Protestants have carried their class
feeling even to the warfare of species,
where each will live on the life of the
other or on the food needed to support
the others life. So we see the wrang-
ling over political spoils, over school
funds and the like. And, if the signs
Of the times are at all to be trusted,
this battle is rapidly entering the in.
dustrial world. 1t is said one pledge
in the membership oath of the A. P.
A. is that the candidate will not en-
ploy q Catholic if he can engage
Protestant to do the same work.
1t is time in country that boasts
its democracy, that founds its theories
of government and OF industry on the
equality of man, in a country that
has welcomed to its shores, and still
welcomes, all peoples, regardless of
their religion or previous condition
it is time that such feeling as this
should be outgrown.
Such feeling is unjust. 1t is a
remnant OF the old caste feeling. 1t
used to be said that, because a mans
name happened be So-and-so, he
could not enjoy the highest society or
privileges. Now it is said that mans
ancestral religion units him for the
worlds confidence. It is unjust to
class all Catholics as scoundrels. 1t
is no more just as DIR. GLADDEN. says.
to claim that present Catholics are to
blame for the conduct OF the church
in the past than it is to accuse Jews
OF to-day with crucifying Christ.
Whatever may be the attitude OF the
Catholic Church toward our institu-
tions. it does not follow that all who
are by birth or training Catholics as
sumo the same attitude. Much less
does it follow that all Protestants are
trustworthy. This antagonism is not
in conformity with justice, because
each man lives or dies on his own
merits in a republic like ours. 1t is
not only unjust, it is un-American,
and violates the spirit as we'll as the
letter of our National Constitution.
This is not theocracy nor an anti
theocracy, but civil and secular
government. Citizenship and Office
holding are specifically conditioned
on no religion or race. Whoever,
therefore, pledges himself to keep
Catholics out of Office is pledging him.
self against his vows of citizenship.
The Federal Constitution also grants
the right of every man to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness so that
whosoever shall condition industrial
position on religious faith is trespassing
upon the spirit OF the Constitution.
Because this is unjust and un-
American, it is dangerous. Take it
for granted that Catholics are all the
most rabid anti-Catholic claims they
are, that they plot and plan to secure
our government, that they are d" clan
nish" and help their own at the ex-
pense of Protestants; grant that the
danger is all that the A. P. A. claim il
is, which 1 would not grant except fol
argument, but granting it's this