The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-18

rations as we. They look forward to us
10 lead IN the vanguard of the progress oi
! civilization, to Int them up from the
! slough of despair into WHICH they are
| plunged by false system of government.
| ms Is my idea of Cit zenshp: FIRST,
in the purity and freedom of the ballot.
| second, the maintenance of the public
schools. Third, due attention to the So
/ cal question. Fourth. absolute separa-
ton of church and state.
There IS no need for me to dwell on
the need of purity and freedom of the
ballot. The man who uses the right of
suffrage as commodity and holds IL in
| the value OF dollars and cents is unworthy
OF citizenship and should be dsfran-
| chised. In this respect we have much to
learn from England, where, if it is found
mat ballots we're sold, the election Is set
aside and the men themselves disfran-
chlsed. On the second point | have al
ready spoken. The third question, the
social question, is a great question and n
question which demands solution. / can
not enter into that subiect tonight. 1t
devolves on us to see it properly solved.
have confidence that il will he solved.
AS to the fourth point, say, by all
means preserve the absolute separation
OF church and state. There is no place IN
America for a state church. We, as
Catholics, not only don't demand it, but
we are opposed irrevocably TO the union of
church and state. The state of its own
volltion has sanctioned violations of this
principle. / refer to the management of
certain institutions, but this has been
quite insignificant. When 1t is under
stood that we are opposed to the union of
church and state, what is left for those
who oppose our patriotism.
Il am minister of our church in good
standing, speaking with the approval and
knowledge of my archbishop, who knows
my thoughts, and who never opposed
nj e.-x.- Il
vanced often before, as / advance them
tonight. All know that if n minister of
the Catholic church advocates something
not orthodox he will very quickly be
called down.
1--WE enjoy our privileges, not by the
gracious condescension of our fellow
citizens, but by inheritance. Not for an
instant would disparage the heroes of
every race and every creed, nor have l
any thought OF instituting an inviduous
comparison. But to those who speak of
Catholics as having been granted privi-
leges in this country | would saw, if any
church has earned the right to flourish in
America 1t is the Catholic church. To
France, mainly perhaps, do we owe the
extension of federation. The first masses
In many states were said by chaplalns of
French armies, and IN some places the
laws against Catholics were not repealed
until the French arrived there.
he flags OF Catholic France and Cath
olic Ireland waved side by side over many
n bloody field. Our liberties were earned
Tor us, not given to us. A house divided
against itself cannot stand. America
cannot hope to stand if divided.
I'm the name of God and our country,
let these chickering's cease and let us ali
join hands, that the principles of this land
shall be perpetuated for ages to come.
There will always be men who hate our
religion and race. They will always argue
with vehemence to prove that Irish |
Catholics cannot he loyal citizens.
| answer if they will not believe our pro-
testations at least believe our works. In |
blood we have given our answer and what |
more can n man do to prove his loyalty to |
a country than to lay down his life |
for it ~